Packing for a baby is not the same as packing for yourself. A short list that you can tick off makes it much easier, and keeps your nerves calm. Start with the paediatrician, because a baby under about 2 to 3 months should travel only with a doctor's go-ahead.
Get this checklist on WhatsApp
Tap the button and the full checklist opens in WhatsApp, ready to send. Type your own number to send it to yourself and keep it, or leave it empty to pick a chat. Your number stays on your phone: we do not collect it.
Before you go
- Ask your paediatrician if the trip is fine, and for a plan if the baby gets a fever or a cold
- Check the baby's vaccines are up to date, and carry the vaccination card
- Note the name and number of a paediatrician and a hospital near where you will stay
- Check the airline, train or hotel rules for babies, and book a bassinet or a cot if available
- Book a refundable stay, in case the baby is unwell
- Keep the trip short and slow
Documents
- Baby's birth certificate or hospital discharge card, as proof of age for the airline
- Vaccination card
- Photo ID for you and your partner
- Passport and visa, for international travel
- Insurance card, and the doctor's notes or prescriptions
- Printed tickets and hotel booking
Feeding
- Nursing cover or a light scarf, and a nursing pillow if you use one
- If bottle-feeding: clean bottles, enough formula in a dry container for each feed plus spares, and a flask of hot water
- Sterilising tablets or a travel steriliser, a bottle brush and dish soap
- Expressed milk in a cooler bag with ice packs, if you use it
- Burp cloths and a few spare bibs
- Safe, boiled or sealed water for formula, and a clean cup or spoon for yourself
Nappies and hygiene
- More nappies than you think: about one for every 2 to 3 hours, plus extras for delays
- Wipes or cotton wool, and a small bottle of plain water
- Nappy rash cream, if your doctor has suggested one
- Changing mat, and nappy-disposal bags
- Hand sanitiser (at least 60% alcohol) and a small soap
- Spare clothes for the baby, and a spare top for you
Clothes and sleep
- One extra layer more than you need, in cotton: bodysuits, sleepsuits, socks, mittens and a cap
- A light cotton wrap or two, and a warm one for cold AC or hills
- Sun hat or a shade cover. Keep a baby under 6 months out of direct sun.
- Favourite swaddle or blanket, and a firm, flat sleeping surface at the hotel, such as a cot or a travel crib. Avoid pillows and soft bedding.
- A portable night light and a white-noise app, if the baby likes them
Health and comfort
- Thermometer
- Any medicine your paediatrician advised, with the dose written down
- Saline drops and a nasal aspirator, if your doctor approves
- Mosquito net for the cot or pram. Ask your doctor before using any repellent on a baby under 2 months.
- Your own medicines and a basic first-aid kit
- A soother or pacifier if the baby uses one. A feed or a pacifier at take-off and landing helps with ear pressure.
Gear
- A rear-facing infant car seat for road trips. A newborn should not be held in an adult's lap in a car.
- A baby carrier or a light stroller
- A diaper bag that stays with you, packed with feeding, nappies, spare clothes and documents
- A power bank and chargers
- Rubbish bags and a waterproof bag for soiled clothes
For you
- Water and snacks, especially if you are breastfeeding
- Comfortable clothes with easy feeding access
- Your own medicines, and nursing pads and sanitary pads if needed
On the journey
By car
- Use a rear-facing infant car seat, fitted properly, and never leave the baby alone in the car.
- Stop every 1 to 2 hours to feed, change and take the baby out of the seat. Do not keep a young baby in a car seat for long stretches.
- Keep the car cool and avoid the hottest part of the day.
By air
- Infants fly in an adult's lap, usually with a loop belt. IndiGo's official pages count a baby as an infant from over 3 days, and Air India's from over 7 days. Younger babies need a doctor's certificate and the airline's permission, so check before you book.
- Carry the birth certificate or discharge card as proof of age. Without it, an airline may charge a full fare.
- Ask for a bassinet if the airline offers one, and for a bulkhead seat. Both depend on the aircraft and are not guaranteed.
- Feed or offer a pacifier during take-off and landing. Board when it suits you, and not the first or last.
- Take extra nappies and clothes in your hand baggage in case of delays.
By train
- On Indian Railways, children under 5 generally travel without their own ticket, with no berth. Check the rules, and book a lower berth for comfort.
- Wipe the seat and tray, and keep the baby's things off the floor.
- Carry water you have boiled or sealed bottled water.
When you arrive
- Wash your hands before feeding, and keep the baby away from crowds and sick people.
- Keep the room clean and dry, the room temperature comfortable, and the baby in light clothes. Do not over-wrap.
- Keep to the baby's routine as much as you can.
- Do not feed the baby anything new, including water, honey or local remedies. See our newborn care myths guide.
When to see a doctor, at once
For a baby under 3 months, a fever of 38 °C (100.4 °F) or above is an emergency. Go to a hospital straight away. Also seek help for fast or difficult breathing, repeated vomiting, a baby that is very sleepy or hard to wake, refuses feeds, has fewer wet nappies, or just does not seem right to you.
Looking for a place? Read our guide to places for a first trip with a baby.
Please note: this is general information, and every baby is different. Always check with your paediatrician before travelling with a young baby, and follow their advice if it differs. Airline rules, train rules, prices and weather change, so confirm with the airline, railway or hotel before you book. We have no ties to any hotel, airline or brand.