Ultimate Travel Guide for Parents: Navigating Trips with Infants and Toddlers

April 4, 2025

Stephanie Giustino

Traveling with kids can be both an adventure and a challenge. As parents, we know how much thought and effort goes into making sure everything runs smoothly, from packing the right gear to handling unexpected surprises along the way. Whether you're setting out on a road trip or taking to the skies, planning ahead is key. This guide will help you navigate every step of the journey, ensuring a stress-free experience for you and your little ones. Let's dive in!

Packing: Setting Yourself Up For Success

Packing efficiently is crucial when traveling with kids. Babies and toddlers need a surprising amount of gear, and fitting everything in while staying organized can be tricky. Before you start, consider the space you have—whether it's the trunk of your car or the limited luggage space on a plane. Prioritize must-haves like car seats, strollers, and sleep solutions. For older infants and toddlers, feeding accessories are also essential. By planning ahead and selecting travel-friendly gear, you can make packing a breeze and avoid unnecessary stress once you're on the move.

Pro-tip: If you're planning to purchase new gear for an upcoming trip, be sure to order well in advance to avoid stock shortages or shipping delays that could leave you scrambling at the last minute. We recommend ordering at least a couple of weeks before your departure to ensure timely delivery and give yourself time to get familiar with all the features of your travel-friendly gear. In fact, some of these items are so versatile that you may want to add them to your gear arsenal even before your trip is booked—many travel-friendly options also work great for everyday use!

Road Trip: Mastering the Art of Packing the Car

Packing up the car often feels like a game of Tetris, but a little organization can make all the difference. The first priority? A safe and comfortable car seat. Make sure it's properly installed and suitable for long journeys.

You’ll need to pack the car strategically— start by assessing your available space, from the trunk to the back seat, and prioritizing the essentials.

Evaluate your stroller needs. If you'll primarily be navigating smooth, paved surfaces, a compact travel stroller will suffice and save space. However, if your trip includes off-road adventures, you may need a more rugged stroller. If space allows, a mid-size stroller or an all-terrain option with a compact fold is a smart choice. For nature-focused trips, a Veer Cruiser provides a flat fold and is perfect for multiple kids.

Sleep solutions are also key. For newborns, a collapsible overnight sleep approved bassinet with a foldable stand is ideal for travel. Older infants and toddlers will benefit from a compact travel crib, which doubles as a safe play space. If you have extra room, a collapsible baby lounger is a great addition for newborns, offering a safe and comfortable spot for hands-free time.

For feeding, traditional highchairs aren’t practical for travel, but there are great alternatives. A portable highchair that attaches directly to a table—like the Inglesina Fast Table Chair—is a lifesaver. The Stokke Clikk with included travel bag is another excellent option, breaking down into packable components for easy transport.

Road Trip Pro Tips:

Minimize car seat time to two-hour intervals. Stop for diaper changes, feedings, and stretch breaks.
Keep essentials within easy reach during the drive.
Consider booking accommodations that provide baby gear to lighten your load.
If you frequently visit family, invest in a second set of gear to leave at their home.

Air Travel: Packing Light and Smart

Flying with little ones requires a different kind of strategy. Unlike road trips, where you can pack everything you might possibly need, flying demands a more streamlined approach. Prioritize lightweight, essential gear that will meet your needs at your destination.

First, think about your car seat and stroller. The good news? Airlines allow you to check these items at no extra cost.

Plane Travel With A Car Seat

Before booking your trip, you'll need to decide on seating arrangements. Infants and toddlers up to two years old can be considered a “lap child,” meaning they won’t have their own seat and will need to be held for the duration of the flight. In this case, your car seat will have to be checked.

Pro tip: Invest in a comfortable, age-appropriate baby carrier. This allows for a hands-free experience in-flight and can aid in navigating the airport.

If you’re checking your car seat with your luggage, portability and weight are less of a concern. However, investing in a high-quality travel bag is essential to protect your car seat, especially if you're bringing your primary one to ensure consistent safety.

If you purchase a separate seat for your child, you can opt to bring their car seat on board. Make sure it’s FAA-approved—this will be indicated on a sticker on the car seat’s body. Consider a lightweight car seat for easy portability through the airport.

For a full guide on travel-friendly car seats head to >>> Travel Car Seat Run-Down

Plane Travel With A Stroller

Compact Travel Strollers UPPAbaby Minu V3 and Silver Cross Jet 5

Compact, cabin-approved travel strollers are now the go-to for air travel. These strollers provide peace of mind by staying with you throughout the flight, reducing the risk of loss or damage. However, they often have limited storage and may not perform well on rugged terrain.

When choosing a stroller for travel, consider the full scope of your trip. If your destination requires long periods of stroller use on uneven terrain, it may be worth bringing a more robust stroller and opting for gate check instead.

Gate-checking is a fairly simple process: you’ll have access to your stroller in the airport and hand it off to the flight crew at boarding. It will be stored in cargo and returned to you at the plane’s exit upon arrival.

Pro tip: Airlines are notorious for damaging strollers beyond use, and while you can seek reimbursement, that won’t help if you’re left stroller-less for your trip. Invest in a high-quality stroller travel bag to protect your gear.

Bonus pro tip: Maximize the space in your stroller travel bag! Once the stroller is packed, you’ll likely have extra room. Plan ahead and use the extra space to stash diapers, blankets, or other soft essentials. And best of all, this bag checks for free!

For a full guide on travel-friendly strollers head to >>> Best Travel Strollers

Sleep Solutions For Travel

For newborns, opt for a stroller with an overnight sleep-approved bassinet. The bassinet can be stored in the stroller travel bag along with the stroller frame.

For infants and toddlers, bring a lightweight, compact travel crib and check it with your luggage. A travel crib doubles as both a sleep system and a safe play space during your trip.

Diaper Bag Travel Essentials

Packing your diaper bag requires meticulous planning. As with all travel, prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Pack enough supplies to cover an extended airport stay in case of delays, as well as the duration of your flight.

Choose a bag with plenty of interior and exterior pockets to stay organized on the go.

Pro tip: Security will likely rifle through your bag, and they move quickly—things will get pulled out and tossed back in randomly. Don’t get discouraged. Take a moment to reset, reorganize, and move on when your ready.

Traveling with little ones may require extra planning, but with the right gear and mindset, it can be a smooth and enjoyable experience!

What to pack in your diaper bag

For Diaper Changes:

Portable changing pad
Diapers
Portable wipe dispenser with wipes
Disposable diaper bags
Diaper cream
Baby lotion
Extra outfit and onesie

For Feeding:

Formula/bottles
Breast milk in a cooler bag
Bib
Burp cloth
Nursing cover
Baby food and spoon

To Keep Baby Happy:

At least two pacifiers with a clip
Pacifier wipes
Age-appropriate toys (rattle, lovey, soft book, etc.)
Snacks for toddlers

For Protection:

Sunscreen
Hand sanitizer
Light blanket
Weather-appropriate hat
Small first aid kit

For Parents:

Water (especially for nursing moms)
Extra shirt (because spit-ups happen!)
Snacks
Essential: Wallet, keys, phone and charger

Pro Tips for Air Travel

Try to book direct flights whenever possible to avoid the hassle of layovers and missed connections.
If a layover is necessary, allow ample time to navigate the airport with your child.
Arrive early! Rushing through security and boarding with a little one in tow is never fun.
If checking a stroller, use the travel bag’s extra space for lightweight items like diapers or blankets—it checks for free!
If bringing your baby on as a lap child bring along a comfortable, breathable baby carrier
Invest in high quality travel bags for your gear- consider brands that offer travel protection with their travel bags.
Keep a pair of diapers, a small pack of wipes and an extra onesie inside your portable changing mat. Most airplanes have at least one bathroom equipped with a changing station- but space is tight! Stay organized so you can quickly grab only the essentials needed.
Feed baby or have them suck on a pacifier during take off and landing to reduce ear discomfort from changes in pressure on the way up and the way down.

Best Travel Gear

Now that we’ve covered the type of gear you need, we’re here to offer a curated list of our favorite travel essentials, including car seats, strollers, travel cribs, bassinets, highchairs, and more. Regardless of where you're headed or how you're getting there, our top picks are guaranteed to make your journey smoother.

Best Travel Strollers For Overhead Bin Storage

Not all travel-size strollers are cabin approved. It’s important to check with your airline for approved carry-on dimensions. While not all travel strollers meet these criteria, all the recommendations on our list do.

For newborns, we recommend the Silver Cross Jet5 and UPPAbaby Minu V3. Both strollers provide a fully flat, newborn-approved recline, ensuring your baby is in the most comfortable position while you navigate the airport. They are also infant car seat compatible.

For infants and toddlers (6 months and up), we recommend the Bugaboo Butterfly. It offers the tallest seat in the travel stroller category, providing plenty of room for growth. Additionally, it features a generous and easily accessible storage basket.

Best Strollers For Gate Checking

Nuna and UPPAbaby have earned their reputation as go-to travel brands, thanks to the protection provided by their dedicated travel bags. Both brands offer model-specific travel bags:

UPPAbaby provides a Travel Safe Program
Nuna’s travel bags include their Boarding Pass Program

These programs give families peace of mind by ensuring their stroller is secure inside the travel bag and protected against any damage incurred during transit—both brands will cover the cost of repairs if damage occurs while packed in their respective bags.

Given the rough handling gear can experience at gate check, investing in the appropriate travel bag is essential. This added protection is one of the many reasons Nuna and UPPAbaby enjoy such a loyal following among parents.

For newborns, we recommend the Nuna TRIV with LYTL Bassinet—the bassinet is approved for overnight sleep, covering two essential needs in one!
For toddlers, we recommend the UPPAbaby Cruz. Its user-friendly design and extra-large storage basket (30 lbs weight capacity) offer a ton of utility on the go.
For families traveling with two children, we recommend the Nuna TRVL Dubl and UPPAbaby Minu Duo. Both strollers offer a newborn-friendly environment with independently reclining seats, perfect for an infant and an older sibling.

Best Strollers For Road Trips

For families seeking a compact fold without sacrificing performance, a mid-size stroller may be the best choice. We recommend:

For more on mid-size strollers, check out our blog: Best Strollers of 2025: Mid-Size Lightweight Category

For families seeking off-road adventures, we recommend any Veer Cruiser Wagon. These systems are built for exploration, offer plenty of storage space, and fold down to a compact size.

Best Car Seats For Plane Travel

If you plan to maneuver the airport with a car seat for onboard use, consider a lightweight, FAA-approved option:

For newborns and infants: Nuna PIPA Urbn and Doona Infant Car Seat
For rear-facing toddlers: Maxi-Cosi Romi
For forward-facing toddlers (harness seat): Wayb Pico
For booster-age children: Cybex Solution G2

Best Sleep Solutions for Travel

For newborns, we recommend opting for a stroller that pairs with a sleep-approved bassinet:

Nuna LYTL Bassinet With Stand
Any Bassinet included with a Bugaboo Stroller (stand and stand adapters sold separately, but the bassinet stand folds down to an ultra-compact size—about the size of a diaper bag!)

For toddlers, opt for a lightweight, compact travel crib. We recommend:

Best Baby Gear for Travel

Highchair: Stokke Clikk (comes with a travel bag included)
Baby Lounger: UPPAbaby Mira (comes with a travel bag included)
Best Baby Carrier: Nuna Cudl Clik
Best Diaper Bag: A backpack diaper bag offers convenient carry for travel. Check out the Bugaboo Changing Backpack and the UPPAbaby Changing Backpack

Embrace the Journey

Traveling with infants and toddlers may feel overwhelming, but with careful planning and the right gear, it can be a smooth and enjoyable experience. Whether you're packing the car for a road trip or navigating airport security, taking the time to organize, prioritize, and prepare will help you focus on making memories instead of managing chaos. Every trip will have its challenges, but with each adventure, you'll become more confident and seasoned in traveling as a family. So, pack smart, stay flexible, and most importantly, enjoy the journey! Safe travels!

Why should you trust Bambi Baby?

At Bambi Baby, our decades-long commitment to quality and customer satisfaction has established us as a trusted authority in the baby products' industry. With over 40 years of experience, we have developed a deep understanding of what parents require when choosing the perfect stroller. Our expert team is dedicated to guiding you through this important decision with personalized recommendations, ensuring that the stroller you pick perfectly matches your lifestyle and needs.

Still have questions?

Bambi Baby experts are ready to connect! If you have any more questions regarding the right gear for travel you can reach us at cs@bambibaby.com or chat with us on our website. We would love to hear from you!

We would also love to see you in store! Feel free to visit any of our store locations in New York, New Jersey, or Miami if you prefer personalized assistance from one of our experts. We're here to ensure you find the perfect gear for your baby with confidence and ease.