When traveling with Harris, I have two conflicting priorities: Harris’s needs and space. On the one hand, I want to bring everything he needs to be happy, comfortable, and engaged. But I also want our space to be less cluttered and our trip to be easy. Here’s my tried and true list of must brings and some things I thought I needed, but didn’t.

1. Baby Bjorn Bouncer: If you want to know why this is my number one, check out my product review of it here. But really, any swing or bouncer your baby likes should come. I believe Harris found comfort in having his favorite place to be (other than our arms) right there where we were staying. Maybe it made it feel a bit more like home, something so important, especially for the colicky baby that hates change.

2. Diapers and Wipes- This is a given of course, but how many to take is the question. I recommend using the Huckleberry app for at least three days prior to the trip to see how many diapers your baby goes through per day and then bring 2-3 diapers per day more than that. A good rule of thumb is one pack of diapers for every five days.

3. Favorite Toys: I highly recommend limiting this to three to five of his favorite toys. Keep in mind, he will be stimulated by the new people, sights, and sounds already. The toys should be the toys you know he can’t do without. For us it is a winkle, the Captain Calamari by Lamaze, and the basic Fisher Price stacking toy. He just loves these and gets endless entertainment from them. Remember, you can always makeshift sensory toys on the road with water bottles, rocks, shells, twigs, etc. But these special toys cannot be duplicated. They are essential in making your baby feel at home and be happy. Even if they take up a lot of room, it is worth your sanity!

4. A Lovey- On our first trip with Harris, he was not yet using a lovey, but I threw one in the bag anyway. It was a game changer for us. I used it to stroke his cheek and let him snuggle with in his new room. I would carefully remove it when he fell asleep. I think he found comfort in the smell of home and the softness. Anything that will add some comfort as he adjusts to his new environment is a must.

5. Baby Brezza: If your baby is using formula, the Brezza is just so convenient its hard to leave at home. If you’re driving, I recommend taking it. Absolute must to make your life easier on the road. Fumbling around in a dark hotel room or unfamiliar house in the middle of the night can be difficult. This makes things that much easier for you. Be sure to get filtered water to bring because you never know what’s in the tap where you are.

6. Pack n Play- I really don’t know what else Harris would sleep in. He is too big for a Moses basket or bassinet, and we don’t co-sleep. So the pack n play is just a necessity.

7. Diaper Bag- We take the diaper bag no matter where we go, so this is a given for us. If you don’t use it that often, travelling is a great time to use it. It contains all you need, right there, and when you are going to be in several locations throughout the day or one place all day, its just too convenient to leave behind.

8. Sleep Routine Essentials- Whatever this means to you. If your sleep routine is a bath, bring his favorite bath toy and the same soap and lotion. For us, its the onesie, sleep sack, and a book. Don’t change his sleep routine just because you’re traveling. He needs that familiarity.

9. Pacies- The more the better. I originally only brought two, and it was so problematic. We were always looking for the pacies. So now we bring a lot. We put two in the diaper bag, one on the car seat, one for the pack n play, and one for my purse. I find these always get lost during travel, so definitely bring these extras.

10. Sound Machine-If you use it for sleeping at home, don’t skimp on it away. Your baby may have some trouble sleeping out of his normal sleeping place, so help him any way you can.

11. Bottles- On our first trip with Harris, we brought five bottles with all their parts. This proved unnecessary. Two bottles will do. Just wash more frequently and save your space.

Things I Thought We Needed, But Didn’t:

1. Changing table: Some moms don’t feel comfortable changing a diaper any old place, so this item may be a must for you. But most of us can change our baby’s diaper on the bed or couch wherever we are staying. I say save space on this one and leave the changing pad.

2. Too Many Clothes: One outfit per day with two extra back ups should suffice. If you pack a few bibs, your outfits will go a longer way. I made the mistake of bringing all my favorite outfits for Harris’s first trip, and he wore maybe three things other than bibs. It was hot and he mostly stayed at the house. So his clothes could fit in my bag, and the bag I packed for him just wasn’t necessary. I recommend fitting all his clothes in your bag, and if you can’t you’re probably bringing too much for baby.

3. DIY Toy Supplies: On our first trip, I imagined making the cutest things for Harris with glue, glitter, and shells. It was a waste. It may seem like a cute idea to bring your craft supplies, so you can make some sensory bottles or pom pom boxes, but you can do without these things. Your baby will be stimulated by the newness already, and an easy makeshift bottle isn’t hard to make with what you can find on the road.