Essential Winter Packing List for Baby

Traveling with a baby is so tough because there are so many elements and scenarios to consider. Especially in the winter/holiday travel! And you want to be prepared for all of them! We need to get ourselves and our babies ready for holiday travel with car seats, car seat footies, strollers, bottles, snacks, etc! Which is why I’m excited to share my essential winter packing list for baby with you today!

When we took Sidney on her first flight to NYC last month, I did my best to pack light while still bringing her essentials. After asking all my mom friends for their advice, I felt really confident that I had everything I needed.

So here is all the advice boiled down to one post, and the items that made our trip SO smooth and wonderful. You can find all of these winter travel products at Walmart! There are a few things I’ve learned since the trip, like what I wish I had brought. So in addition to of the things I loved having, here are the products I wish I had with me!

Sleeping and Comfort

If you’ve read any of my previous baby posts and/or watch my Instagram stories, you’ll see that we always bring our dock-a-tot with us. Whether we go on a road trip or a flight, I find a way to bring it. For our flight, I checked one large rolling suitcase and put her bed on one side, and all our clothes and toiletries on the other. The bed slips easily into a hotel crib, pack and play, or if you choose to co-sleep, in your bed. I can’t recommend this product enough.

Speaking of pack and plays, this one is a great option if you’re going to visit family for the holidays! My mom has one, and I know we will use it for years and years once she outgrows the Dock a tot.

Pacifiers are a must, especially if you are flying. It soothes the baby and helps them adjust from the changing air pressure if they’re refusing a bottle or breast. Sidney likes the Nuk pacifiers.

On the Move

We like to travel with our stroller and car seat. It is nice to use the undercarriage of the stroller in the airport for extra storage. Just make sure you know how to fold it up properly to get through security!

The car seat is an obvious must if you are going to take a cab or an uber, too. Most car seats have a way to strap in the car seat without having to bring the base. In the winter I suggest getting one of these car seat footies to keep the baby warm. It is like a snuggly little sleeping bag!

A friend of mine suggested purchasing cases for the car seat and stroller so they don’t get banged up when you check them at the gate. and I’m SO glad we did! Your travel system is an investment, so it is smart to protect it. Our carseat and stroller arrived safely when we got off the plane. Just make sure you do a dry run of putting the stroller and car seat in the case before you get to the airport so you don’t run into any surprises.

If your baby loves a carrier, bring it! It is nice to be hands free when you’re sitting on the plane. And if you go to a city that isn’t very stroller friendly (lots of stairs, hard-to-find elevators, etc.) it will come in handy.

Diapering

Bring more diapers than you think you will need. I pack at least 10 in my diaper bag and a sleeve in my suitcase. And make sure you have extra warm clothes for the unavoidable blowout! I also really like these wipes – as they are gentle and can double as hand wipes if you need one.

A changing pad is a must, especially when you’ll be changing baby in crazy places when you travel. On the floor, on chairs you push together at a restaurant, and in some sketchy airport or rest stop bathrooms. Gotta keep them clean!

I personally wish I had a diaper bag with an insulated pouch for bottles. This one has it all.

Feeding

I started using this nursing scarf on our trip to NYC and it is really easy to use! It has a rigid neck so you can see the baby when you’re nursing.

Something I didn’t bring on our flight, but I wish I had, is a bottle. I tried to nurse Sidney on the way up and the way down, but she was too distracted and got upset. When she is really squirmy it is difficult for me to get her in position. I wish I had a bottle to pop into her mouth, which she takes easily and quickly. We love these silicone bottles and use them at home all the time.

I hope you have safe travels this holiday season, and that this post helps you gain some confidence about traveling with your baby! Preparation is key!

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