Carry-On Packing List for a Baby and Toddler: The List I Wish I’d Had
If you’re putting together your carry-on packing list for a baby and toddler and you’re reading this in a panic before your first flight, firstly: you’re going to be fine. Even the worst flight experiences come to an end eventually.
For example, on our overnight flight to Japan, our then one-and-a-half-year-old screamed for so long that the cabin manager quietly pulled me aside and offered to call the onboard doctor. She wasn’t sick. She was just so overtired she’d gone completely feral. Fourteen hours without sleep and absolutely furious about it.
She finally passed out at top of descent. We landed twenty minutes later feeling frazzled and exhausted. But we survived and wrote it off as just one of those things.
And secondly: let me save you some of the anxiety that trial and error packing can bring. This is the list I’ve built up over several trips with our two under four, and it’s made a genuine difference to how prepared (and sane) I feel getting on a plane.
How I Organise My Carry-On
Before we get into the list itself, it’s worth talking about the bag situation. I travel with one proper carry-on and one personal item that lives under the seat in front of me, and that personal item is the one I pack for easy access.
I use a nappy bag with multiple compartments as my personal item, which means everything has a place. Nappies, snacks, the dummy, the beloved stuffed rabbit who cannot under any circumstances end up in the overhead locker: all within reach without any excavating.
My bag also has a waterproof compartment which is particularly worth having as any wet or soiled clothes can go straight in there and stay contained until you get on the ground.
What to Pack: Carry-On Essentials
What to Pack for the Baby
Nappy changing
Pack more nappies than you think you need, then add two more. A rough rule I follow is one nappy per hour of travel time, plus three extras. Plane changing tables are tiny and stressful enough without running out.
I also never travel without a portable changing mat (the ones that fold into a small pouch are brilliant) because those plane change tables can be nasty, a good supply of thick wipes, nappy bags, and a small tube of nappy cream. Airplane air is dry and long-haul flights can be brutal on sensitive skin.
Feeding
If you’re formula feeding, a formula dispenser that pre-measures your scoops is a genuine lifesaver. No fumbling with a tub of powder at 3am somewhere over Asia. Bring more than you think you need here too.
For babies on solids, pouches are your best friend on a plane. Easy to pack, no spoon required, minimal mess. A few favourite snacks in a small container rounds this out nicely.
If you’re breastfeeding, takeoff and landing are great times to feed if your baby’s ears are bothering them, as the sucking helps with pressure. A nursing cover is worth packing if you’d feel more comfortable with one.
If you’re heading to Japan, my guide to Tokyo with toddlers covers nursing spots and feeding on the go so you’ll feel sorted from the moment you land. Send it straight to your inbox!
Sleep and comfort
Whatever your baby sleeps with at home, bring it. The familiar smell of a comforter or a favourite toy is worth its weight in gold at 2am when you’re trying to resettle a baby in a bassinet. A portable white noise machine or a white noise app downloaded offline can also make a real difference in a noisy cabin.
If your baby sleeps in a sleep sack, bring that along too. Nothing signals sleep like being zipped up snugly in your sleeping bag.
Spare clothes
At least two full outfit changes for the baby. You know why. Onesies with zips are super easy to navigate inflight and they don’t take up much space.
What to pack for the Toddler
I cannot stress this next part enough: do not rely on inflight entertainment. On our flight to Singapore (and Singapore with kids is one of my favourite destinations with little ones, by the way) the inflight entertainment didn’t work for a single minute of the flight.
We also sat on the tarmac for two hours before we even took off. Luckily we had brought a tablet along with a few movies downloaded. I think our three year old watched Mulan four times in a row… whatever keeps them quiet and calm.
Download everything before you leave the house. Films, shows, audiobooks, whatever your toddler is into. Assume the screens won’t work and pack accordingly.
Entertainment
A tablet with a good selection downloaded offline is the cornerstone of toddler entertainment on a long haul flight with a baby and toddler. Pair it with a decent set of toddler headphones (we love the kids JBL wireless ones) as the volume-limiting ones are worth it for your own sanity as much as everyone else’s.
Also consider a couple of age-appropriate games for the tablet. Our kiddo loves this Disney princess colouring game that we found in the app store and it keeps her entertained for a decent amount of time.
For screen-free backup (see above), I love reusable sticker books, a small colouring set, and a couple of new small toys that haven’t been seen before. The novelty factor buys you a surprising amount of time.
Snacks
Pack more than you think your toddler will eat, because the moment you’re trapped at 35,000 feet they will become ravenous in a way they never are at home. And of course, they’ll refuse the inflight meal.
Pouches, crackers, pastries, sultanas whatever they’ll reliably eat. This is not the time to introduce anything new.
Comfort and sleep
Whatever comforter, dummy, or beloved toy they need to sleep goes in the personal item where you can reach it, not buried in the carry-on overhead. If they’re still using a sleep sack, bring that too.
Spare clothes and underwear
One full change of clothes. Yes even if they’re three. Yes even if they haven’t had an accident in months. Trust me on this one.
What to Pack For You
This section is short because honestly, you’re last on the list and we both know it. But there is one thing I’d urge you not to skip.
Pack a change of clothes for yourself.
I learned this lesson on our flight home from Japan when my toddler managed to spill an entire glass of white wine down my trousers. Not a baby blowout. Not a snack situation. White wine, at cruising altitude, with eight hours still to go. I sat in damp, wine-smelling pants until we landed. Don’t be me.
What I Took Off the List
- A bulky traditional changing bag without compartments. I used to travel with an oversized changing bag and half the stuff in it never got touched. Now I use a streamlined nappy bag with proper compartments that fits neatly under the seat as my personal item. Much less bulk, much more function.
- A travel bottle warmer. Never once used it on a plane as the flight attendants will warm a bottle for you if you ask, and it frees up space for things you’ll actually reach for.
- Bulky toys. I used to overpack activities out of anxiety and then stress about fitting them all in. A tablet, one backup activity, a couple of small toys for the baby and some snacks covers ninety percent of situations. Honestly, a plastic water bottle handed out inflight can provide hours of entertainment for the baby!
A Note on Getting Through the Airport
The flight itself is honestly the easier part. You’re seated, contained, and there’s nowhere to go. The airport is where it gets chaotic.
A few things that help: baby in the carrier for security so your hands are free, reins on the toddler if yours will tolerate them, and liquids like formula and breast milk in a separate bag to declare at security. You’re allowed to bring them through in quantities over 100ml, but do check the rules for your specific departure airport.
I also often take our travel pram as carry-on luggage, which sounds counterintuitive but works really well with two little ones. The baby goes in the carrier, the three-year-old goes in the pram, and I can actually move through the airport without losing anyone.
Most airlines will let you take a stroller to the gate and check it there, but a compact travel pram that folds small enough to count as carry-on is a game changer if your airline allows it. We love our Baby Jogger City Tour 2, which has been in overhead compartments across Europe and Asia without a problem. Always check your airline’s specific stroller policy before you fly as it varies a lot.
For more on surviving the actual flight, head to my guide on long flights with a baby and toddler and if sleep is your biggest worry my guide on how to protect your baby’s sleep while travelling has everything I’ve learned the hard way.
The Quick-Reference List: Everything I Pack
Short on time? Here’s everything I personally have in my carry-on packing list for a baby and toddler complete with links to the exact products I use. If you purchase any of these products via my link I may earn a small commission at no cost to you.
- Nappies (one per hour of travel plus three spares)
- Portable changing mat
- Thick wipes
- Nappy rubbish bags
- Nappy cream (travel size) – we use sudocrem
- Spare clothes for baby (x2 full outfits). I recommend Bonds Wondersuits as they’re so easy!
- Spare clothes & undies for toddler (x1 full outfit)
- Spare top and bottoms for me
- Food pouches: our bub loves the Rafferty’s Garden varieties
- Toddler snacks (crackers, croissants, pouches)
- Nursing cover (if breastfeeding) – we use a light muslin that can double as a pram cover
- Baby sleeping bag
- Toddler’s favourite toy
- Downloaded white noise (on phone)
- Toddler iPad (with movies/games) downloaded
- JBL Toddler headphones (volume limiting & wireless)
- Reusable sticker book
- A colouring set: colouring book and pencils
- Two or three new small toys: suction spinners, the Dimpl are both great ideas
- A book or two: our baby loves Spot books
- Baby carrier: we actually use the Portier one now, but also love the Momcozy
- Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Travel pram
- Baby panadol/neurofen just in case
- Reusable water bottles x2
FAQs for Carry-On Packing List for Baby and Toddler
What should I pack in my carry-on for a long haul flight with a baby and toddler?
The essentials break down into four categories: nappy changing supplies, feeding, sleep and comfort, and entertainment.
For the baby you need nappies, wipes, a portable changing mat, feeding supplies, a comforter, and at least two spare outfits.
For the toddler: a loaded tablet, toddler headphones, snacks, screen-free backup activities, and a spare change of clothes.
And for you: spare clothes. Don’t forget.
How many nappies should I pack in my carry-on?
This is probably a little age dependent, but for a young baby a good rule of thumb is one nappy per hour of total travel time, plus three spares. So for an eight-hour flight, pack eleven. As they get older, you can reduce the number and travel lighter.
It sounds like a lot until you need them.
Can I take formula and breast milk through airport security?
Yes. Formula, breast milk, and expressed milk are exempt from the usual 100ml liquid rules in most countries, including the UK, Australia, and across the EU. You’ll usually need to declare them separately at security. Always check the rules for your specific departure country before you fly as requirements can vary.
What’s the best bag for flying with a baby and toddler?
A nappy bag with multiple compartments works brilliantly as your personal item. Look for one with a waterproof compartment for wet or soiled clothes, easy access pockets for the things you need constantly, and a size that fits neatly under the seat in front of you.
For the main item, I usually go with a carry-on case. In recent times, I’ve been obsessed with the Grace Carry-On Case from Level8 which does the job beautifully.
Do toddlers get their own carry-on allowance?
This depends on the airline and whether you’ve purchased a seat for your toddler. If your toddler has their own seat, they typically get their own carry-on allowance. Lap infants usually don’t. Always check with your airline before you fly.
What should I keep in my personal item vs. my carry-on?
Personal item: anything you might need mid-flight, including nappies, wipes, snacks, comforters, a change of clothes, and entertainment.
Carry-on in the overhead: extras, your own things, anything that can wait until landing.
Can you take a pram as carry-on luggage?
Some compact travel prams fold small enough to qualify as carry-on luggage depending on the airline, though most airlines will at minimum allow you to take a stroller to the gate and check it there. Our Baby Jogger City Tour 2 weighs less than 7kg and folds up small enough to fit in the overhead locker. We’ve taken it all around Europe on full service and low cost carriers without issue.
Always check your specific airline’s stroller policy before you fly as the rules vary significantly.
Ready to pack?
There’s no such thing as a perfect long haul flight with a baby and toddler. If anyone tells you otherwise, they’re lying or they’ve forgotten. But being prepared genuinely makes a difference, and hopefully this carry-on packing list takes some of the guesswork out of it.
Still figuring out where to take the kids? I have guides to Japan with kids, Osaka with a toddler, Singapore with kids, Rome with a baby, Vatican with kids, and Puglia with kids to help you plan your next adventure.
And if you have something you swear by that I haven’t mentioned, get in touch. I’m always adding to the list.
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