What should you be packing for your 3-6 month old? Hopefully you’re in a groove with your child where you know what they like, what they need, and how messy or neat they are.

What’s unique at this age, for packing?

As your baby grows older, they may have “favorite” toys like teethers, basic books, rattles to grab onto or things they like to look at. Bring along:

  • Age-appropriate toys (rattles, a book, teething rings, items for the car ride or plane ride)
  • Teething rings, teething necklaces or anything bite-able!

Feeding

By the end of the 3-6 month range, you may be starting solid foods, which is a huge change from a milk-only diet! For most babies in this age range though, a diet of milk (breastmilk, formula or a combo) is typical. Pack everything you need in order to feed your baby with their milk supply.

  • Bottles (enough of them for the feeds in a day, in case you’re out with no access to washing)
  • Breastfeeding and pumping items (see “Pupming”)
  • Bottle brush & travel bottle stand
  • A milk cooler
  • Burp cloths
  • Fabric bibs
  • Vitamin D drops (optional, if using)
  • Your baby’s formula, or a sure way to find it when you land/arrive

Pumping (if applies)

  • Breast pump
  • Pumping bottles and covers
  • All required pump parts
  • Milk cooler with ice pack & frozen milk supply (if traveling with milk)

Solid food

For families who started their infant on solid food before 6 months, pack your early-phase eating essentials like:

  • Baby spoon
  • Food bib
  • Any transport-able travel-friendly baby foods from home like puree pouches.
Helpful Tip

You can also have a plan to pick up purees when you arrive at your vacation destination and continue baby-wed weaning as you would at home with soft solid foods.

Diapering

  • Diapers
  • Changing pad
  • Wipes
  • Diaper cream
  • Little garbage bags for dirty diaper disposal
Helpful Tip

We also sometimes travel with regular-sized plastic bags so that we can use one in the hotel for throwing out our dirty diapers and taking out that trash separately, if housekeeping does not come every day.

Clothes

  • Zippy pajamas (3-4)
  • Daytime outfits (onesies/shirts + shorts/pants)
  • Socks
  • Booties
  • Sun hat or winter hat
  • Layers like jackets, outerwear, sweaters or snowsuits
Helpful Tip

Be sure to pack multiple outfits (to remedy diaper blowouts), and the same goes for multiple or extra pajamas, swaddles or sleep sacks! Consider that lots of what you bring can get soiled by spit up, diapers, milk or first foods. This was the case for us.

Hygiene & Medicine

  • Nail file & nail scissors
  • Hair comb
  • Bath supplies (Travel-sized body wash and travel tub)
  • Travel tub (see our Munchkin travel tub review)
  • Thermometer
  • Baby lotion
  • Medicine (Tylenol, Motrin, allergy relief, nasal remedies)

Stroller & Transport

Your baby carrier and stroller are crucial items for getting around during traveling! By this point, your child may have reached a weight where you can use a baby carrier that you’ll use into toddlerhood. You also may be scoring naps with the baby carrier while out and about.

  • Travel stroller
  • Stroller parent organizer
  • Stroller bug net, wind shield or rain cover
  • Stroller travel bag (if flying)
  • Compact travel baby carrier
  • Outdoor blanket(s) - depending on weather
  • 1-2 rattle toys, teethers

Sleep

Like we mentioned on the Managing Sleep page, get ready for some sounder sleep in this age range, but with some surprises.

  • Sleep sacks (2)
  • Travel sound machine (& charger)
  • Pacifiers (if applies)
  • Room thermometer
  • Travel crib
  • Travel crib sheet
  • Travel crib blackout cover (specific to a Pack’n’Play style, or Guava Lotus Crib)