Packing for ten days away with a baby sounds like it would require bringing half the house, but I really wanted to keep things simple. I packed the things we use and love at home, left behind what we could, and tried not to overthink the rest.
It ended up being much easier than I expected. A few thoughtfully packed cubes, our favorite everyday essentials, and a little planning ahead were really all we needed. If anything, the trip reminded me that traveling with a baby doesn’t have to mean traveling with everything.
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How We Packed for 10 Days Away
I love being organized when I travel, so packing cubes were one thing I knew I wanted to use. We shared one suitcase for the trip, and giving all of the baby things their own little place made it surprisingly easy to stay organized for ten days away.
Instead of packing by day, I separated everything by how we would actually use it. Sleep things stayed together with her pajamas and sleep sack, while cozy basics like short and long sleeve onesies had their own cube. I kept smaller things like burp cloths, hats, and socks together, and saved another cube for the cute outfits I had picked out for our days in California. It made getting her ready feel almost as easy as it does at home, without digging through an entire suitcase to find one tiny pair of socks.
I also brought a small toiletry bag with the things I like having nearby, including travel size laundry detergent, her hairbrush, nail file, and nasal aspirator. Staying with family made it easy to leave some of the bulkier everyday things behind since they had baby soap, lotion, and a bath towel waiting for us.
What We Kept in the Diaper Bag
I tried to keep our diaper bag just as simple. For travel days, I packed a changing pad, a handful of diapers, wipes, diaper cream, a small blanket, and just a couple of toys. At this age, she really doesn’t need much to stay entertained, so two little teething toys and a favorite sock toy were plenty.
One of the best things we did was skip packing enough diapers and wipes for the entire trip. Instead, we ordered a box of diapers and a pack of wipes to where we were staying and only carried what we needed for the travel day. For a ten day trip, this saved so much suitcase space and is something I would absolutely do again.
The biggest thing I learned was that less really is more. Having a diaper bag filled only with the things we actually reached for made getting through the airport and being out during the day feel so much easier.
The Baby Gear We Actually Brought
When it came to the bigger baby gear, we kept it as minimal as possible. Our BabyBjörn carrier was an absolute must and probably one of the most used things we brought. I wore her through the airport, but we also reached for it throughout the trip anytime she wanted to be close or we wanted to be out without worrying about a stroller.
We also brought our Doona, which made traveling so much simpler since it worked as both her car seat and stroller. We packed it in the Doona travel bag for the airport and gate checked it before our flight. Having one piece of gear that could take us from the airport to the car and then around California was exactly what we needed.
Since we were staying with family, we were lucky enough to have a pack and play and play mat waiting for us. We also brought a simple HelloBaby monitor with its own display, which ended up being one of my favorite things we packed. Once she was asleep, we could spend the rest of the evening with family while still being able to keep an eye on her. It was such a small thing, but it made our nights away from home feel a little more relaxed.
Keeping Feeding Simple
One of my favorite parts of traveling with her at this age was how simple feeding could be. I decided not to bring bottles or my pump, and it ended up being one of the most freeing parts of the entire trip. There was nothing to wash, prepare, pack for the day, or keep track of. I just brought myself.
More than anything, the trip gave me so much confidence nursing her wherever we happened to be. I nursed her on the plane, while we were out for the day, and whenever she needed me in between. Instead of worrying about when or where the next feeding would happen, I knew we already had everything we needed.
After months of thinking about feeds, bottles, pumping, and all of the little logistics that can come with having a baby, leaving all of that behind for ten days felt like such a weight off my shoulders. It was easily one of my favorite parts of traveling with her and something I’ll always remember about this season.
The Things I’d Bring Again and Again
Looking back, there were only a handful of things we reached for constantly. The BabyBjörn carrier was easily at the top of the list. Between the airport, walks, and moments when she simply wanted to be close, it was one of those things I was always glad to have with us.
Her sleep sack and plenty of burp cloths were other little pieces of home that we used every day. I loved having her usual sleep sack with us, especially when so much else about her surroundings was different. And burp cloths somehow ended up everywhere, just like they do at home.
The Doona made getting around incredibly easy, and our little baby monitor was something I didn’t realize I would appreciate quite as much as I did. Being able to put her down for the night and then stay up visiting with family made the evenings feel like a vacation for us too.
If I were packing for the same trip again, these are the things I wouldn’t think twice about bringing.
Final Thoughts
Packing for a baby can make a trip feel complicated before it even begins, but this trip reminded me how little we actually needed. Having a few familiar things from home, borrowing the bigger items when we could, and keeping everything else simple made ten days away feel surprisingly easy.
If I could give one piece of advice, it would be not to pack for every possible scenario. Bring the things you know you use every day, make life easier where you can, and trust that you’ll figure out the rest along the way.
Traveling with our baby ended up being one of my favorite experiences from this season of motherhood. It gave me so much more confidence to keep taking her places with us, and I’m already looking forward to wherever we bring her next.
Looking for more? Read our full guide to Traveling With a Baby: Finding Our Rhythm Away From Home.