Have Baby, Will Fly: 10 Awesome Travel Essentials

The tickets are booked and the bags are packed; the only thing left to prepare is baby. And we all know that’s an adventure in itself! Here are the absolute must-have items, plus some I can’t believe I didn’t know about this! products that could make your trip easier.

BabyBjörn Travel Crib Light
Parents rave about its simplicity and ease of use. Pull it out and set up in one fluid motion — no more dealing with random pieces clanking to the floor in the dark while baby screams. With a super-soft mattress and weighing only 11 pounds, it helps little dreamers get good sleep on the road. Available at rightstart.com, $250.

photo: BabyBjörn 

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Gro Anywhere Blackout Blind
It’s 5:30 a.m. and your bundle of joy will be cooing and giggling long before you are ready to greet the day. Block the sunlight (hopefully tacking on another hour or so of sleep) with these dark, portable shades. No more rigging up blankets and sheets that may slip and fall at any given moment. Velcro sides and suction cups will help you get a custom fit and help baby head to dreamland. Available at babiesrus.com, $50.

photo: Gro Anywhere Blind

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Aden + Anais Serenity Star
This the ultimate soother, for you and baby. It does everything from being a sound machine to clocking how long (and on what side) you last breastfed — all while keeping track of the room temp. Consider this all-in-one item instead of juggling five different apps on the iPhone. Available at adenandanais.com, $90.

photo: Aden + Anais

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Lobster Portable High Chair
Forget about asking the grandparents to pick up a high chair for your little chomper! Super easy to stow away, this fold-up version from Phil and Teds can live in the back of the car. A quick-clamping feature allows babies to join the whole family anywhere, anytime. Available at philandteds.com, $99.

photo: Phil and Teds

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B.Box Travel Bib + Flexible Spoon
Compact equals cool while traveling with a baby, and this travel bib-flexible spoon combo fits the bill. Best part about this piece of gear? When baby is finished, simply fold the bib into the catcher and zip closed. Wash and dry and it’s ready for the next adventure. Available at bbox.com, $18.

photo: B.Box

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Flyebaby Hammock/Harness
Imagine being able to feed your baby, change your baby and nap your baby, all without leaving that cramped seat in coach. Impossible? Not if you’ve got the Flyebaby Hammock. Not only does it create a little face-to-face action for baby but it also becomes a five-point harness seat and can even double as a high chair, streamlining the packing process when flying. Available at amazon.com, $50.

photo: Flyebaby

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Bebe au Lait Wet & Dry Bags
It’s the middle of the night, you’re making killer time on the highway and baby has a blowout. Keep it clean with a wet-dry bag. These stylish but functional plastic pouches have two separately lined zippered spaces, providing tons of room to keep the yucky stuff separate from the clean stuff. Just toss the bag in the back and keep on truckin’ (don’t forget to grab it when you get to your destination!). Available at bebeaulait.com, $20.

photo: Bebe au Lait

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UPPAbaby G-Luxe Umbrella Stroller
If you want to splurge on a fantastic set of wheels that does almost everything except push the baby, the UPPAbaby G-Luxe is your go-to pick for traveling. The lightest model out there, the seat can be positioned at all sorts of angles, making it easy for tired eyes to rest. It’s a snap to fold up, and parents will love the carry strap attached. Available at giggle.com, $250.

photo: UPPAbaby

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Skip Hop Grab & Go Stroller Organizer
Keep drinks cool or warm, get essential items organized and chat hands-free — all while getting your push on. This comes in handy when trying to get from one delayed plane to the next, before pre-loading time is over. Available at skiphop.com, $20.

photo: Skip Hop

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Jet Set Babies Delivery Service
Talk about packing light. Parents, consider placing an order with Jet Set Babies and having infant essentials delivered to your destination doorstep. From diapers to bottles and even toys, parents can browse the online store and put the “what did I forget?” worry to rest. Find out how to place an order here.

photo: Jessica Lucia via flickr

What is your favorite item to help when traveling with baby? Share with us in the comments!

— Gabby Cullen