What I Packed for My First Time Flying With a Baby | Junyuan bagsr - Custom Golf Bags & Sports Bag Manufacturer | JUNYUAN BAGS (Since 2004)

As much as I love to fly, I was dreading my first flight with a baby. I typically have air travel down to a science, but between not having flown for a while due to the pandemic and bringing my four month old along for the first time, I was pretty nervous in the days leading up to our trip.

We were headed on a short flight to Chicago, where we’d be spending the night with friends who also had a newborn. Then, a big group of us—eight adults, two babies—would take a short drive to Lake Michigan for another two nights. We opted for an Airbnb so we could all stay together, and because having access to a full kitchen was important to us. But that also meant we’d need to bring a lot of things for the babies, including a place to sleep. All told, we had to pack for a plane ride, a short road trip, and spending the night in two different places.

Flying with a baby means bringing a ton of extra bags (and yes, checking them, something I haven’t done in ages). I pored over stroller comparisons, packing checklists, and helpful advice from other frequent flying friends to figure out what I needed to buy for the trip. It was a ton of research, but these hardworking items were more than worth it—and they’ve earned a permanent spot on my packing list.

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Guava Family Lotus Travel Crib
We have a Graco Pack ‘n Play, where my son slept before we were ready to move him into a crib in his own room. But after traveling with the Pack ’n Play on a road trip, we knew it was too bulky and heavy to bring on a plane. Enter the Lotus Travel Crib, a portable crib that has gotten rave reviews. It was easy to set up, and I loved that it folded into a compact backpack or carry bag for lugging around (at 13 pounds, it wasn’t too heavy at all). The mattress is on the floor (and therefore there’s no weight limit for babies), which extends its shelf life quite a bit. As a short person, I really appreciated the side zipper. It meant I didn’t have to bend over and try to reach the baby over the walls of the crib, and instead, could unzip the sides when I needed to soothe or play with the baby. Just make sure you pick up a crib sheet as well, as one doesn’t come with the crib itself.
$239 at Amazon
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Doona Car Seat and Stroller
The big question when taking a flight is always whether to buy the baby a seat, or to get them an infant-in-arms ticket—which essentially means they have a boarding pass, but not a dedicated seat. Since it was a short flight, we figured we would be okay keeping the baby in our arms or on our laps. While many families choose to gate check both a car seat and a stroller, the Doona Car Seat and Stroller is an ingenious all-in-one system, especially for flying with a baby. The wheels fold into the car seat so the whole thing can be easily installed on a plane (if you choose to buy a seat for the baby, or if an empty one is available in your row) or in a rental car, without having an extra stroller piece that has to be gate checked or stored in the trunk. And when you’re traveling with a big group, every bit of car storage space helps. The Doona rolls incredibly smoothly and is a nice, lightweight stroller with an adjustable handlebar. The only things I really missed, compared to our regular car seat and stroller system, were a section for storage and more of a sunshade, but Doona sells accessories that serve the same functions if you choose to kit it out.
$549 at Babylist
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Kibou Diaper Bag
I resisted jumping on the fanny pack train for so long, but the Kibou finally converted me. It’s the most portable bolsa de pañales I’ve found, as it’s a belt bag with a built-in changing pad. It also has a waterproof compartment for wipes, a main section for diapers, burp cloths, and other essentials like your phone and cartera, plus a pouch in front for other small items like keys. It fits an incredible amount inside and takes the place of a big bolsa de pañales, and is completely hands-free. This was a total lifesaver when we needed to do quick changes at the airport, because I didn’t have to dig through my carry-on to get everything I needed. It comes with a rectangular hand sanitizer that I thought was totally brilliant as its slim profile didn't take up too much space, and the Kibou also served as my purse for the entire trip. Anything that means I can bring one less bag is a total win.
$89 at Kibou

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MiaMily Baby Carrier
Since we didn’t get the baby his own seat on the plane, a carrier was essential so that I could actually use my hands once in a while. We brought our MiaMily Hipster Plus, with a variety of carrying options and a 3D seat that feels much more supportive than a cloth carrier. The carrier seat has built-in storage for more essentials (when I truly don’t want to bring a bag, I can fit diaper changing essentials in there as well). And there are six different ways you can carry your baby in it, though we found that the inward-facing position was best for sleeping on the plane. One unexpected bonus: I wore the carrier the entire flight, and when the straps were off, the structured seat provided a well-positioned ledge for breastfeeding on the flight.
$139 at Amazon
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Copper Pearl Baby Bandana Bibs
Babies come with a lot of drool and spit up, and while I typically have burp clothes scattered in every room in my apartment, sometimes there just isn’t time (or elbow room) to reach into a bag to grab one on a flight. That’s where bibs come in handy. I love these Copper Pearl ones because they come in great designs and don’t scream “bib”—instead, they look like a chic, color-coordinated accessory. We go through so many of these a day that I always had a spare in my Kibou, for times when we would soak through one in a matter of hours.
$22 at Amazon
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Yogasleep Hushh Compact Sound Machine
We’ve come to depend on our portable white noise machine to help the baby sleep on the road—it’s fantastic on car rides, in the stroller, and next to the travel crib at night. We used the Yogasleep Hushh to keep my son sleeping in the airport, and it helped block out some of the noise from the constant announcements coming through the speaker system. The Hushh is great because it clips easily onto a stroller or bag, and also has a variety of sound levels and white noise options.
$30 at Yogasleep
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Pipette Mineral Sunscreen
Since we were headed to the beach, I packed sunscreen for moments when I couldn’t keep the baby completely covered in the shade. We chose Pipette, since it provided plenty of protection with zinc oxide and SPF 50. It’s a lightweight mineral sunscreen that blends easily without any white cast—and yes, the whole family shared the same sunscreen.
$12 at Pipette

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Honest Company Travel Kit
We use a ton of Honest Company products at home, and I love that they come in travel sizes for when we’re on the road. The travel kit has lotion, body wash, and balm for any rashes or irritation, and fits easily into my toiletry bag. They even have travel-size wipes, so you don’t have to lug around a huge bag all the time.
$12 at Honest Company
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Carhartt Deluxe Lunch Cooler
I wanted a cooler bag that wasn’t obviously made for storing breast milk but was still insulated and heavy-duty enough to keep things properly cold, and this Carhartt cooler fit the bill. The large bottom compartment fits my entire pump—the portable and rechargeable Spectra S1—and the top fits additional accessories, a few bottles, and cooler packs. It has a cross-body strap for toting around, and we’ll be able to use it as an actual lunch bag when the time comes as well.
$25 at Carhartt