Traveling with Mom and Baby / Packing Tips for Family Trips

Text by 'Li Peixuan | Interview & Consultation / Photos provided by popular blogger Xiao Bei Ma'The Moo Family - LOVE 'EAT 'PLAY！　Cover Photography / Hair & Makeup in Benetton ad style | Cover Models / Mom Shuling & Baby Pinyu

This year’s Spring Festival holiday is shorter than last year’s, but many parents are already gearing up to take their kids out. Before embarking on a fun trip, it’s essential to pack everything you need—otherwise, you might find yourself unprepared when your baby has an urgent need while you’re away from home.

Part 1: Principles of Packing Luggage

Xiao Bei is now 1 year and 9 months old. During this time, Xiao Bei Ma has taken him to many places, even traveling abroad. From each long-distance trip, Xiao Bei Ma reminds parents of the importance of having a “checklist”—going through items one by one ensures nothing is forgotten, avoiding spoiling the fun of the trip.

Estimate Your Baby’s Needs During the Trip

When traveling with a baby under one year old, the most important things are meeting their needs for “eating, sleeping, and playing.” While planning the trip, parents can pack according to the baby’s usual routine—items like formula, baby food, and items needed for naps must all be brought along. As for the destination, it’s also a good idea to check in advance whether there are places to rest or change diapers.

Make a Checklist and Pack Carefully

Watching others pack may seem simple, but doing it yourself is another story. Xiao Bei Ma says, “When my husband and I first took Xiao Bei out, we often forgot things—like bringing formula but no hot water, or only diapers but no wipes. It happened so many times. We even blamed each other, which led to some unpleasant moments.”

After several inconvenient experiences, Xiao Bei Ma and her husband decided to sit down seriously and list everything they needed to bring when traveling with Xiao Bei.

As long as they followed the list and made small adjustments based on the specific destination, they were usually about 80–90% prepared.

Therefore, Xiao Bei Ma sincerely suggests that new parents make a checklist of necessary items before traveling. If something is missing during the trip, they can note it down right away for future reference. After a few trips, they’ll find the frequency of forgetting items significantly reduced.

Minimize Luggage Volume

Many parents end up carrying lots of bags when traveling with their babies, especially for overnight stays or overseas trips—they wish they had Doraemon’s fourth-dimensional pocket to fit everything in.

Xiao Bei Ma says that after listing the essentials, parents should find ways to reduce the volume. The more luggage you bring, the more inconvenient it is to move around, it drains the parents’ energy, and items are also more likely to be left behind at the destination.

She believes the most space-consuming items are clothes, small blankets, and other textiles. She usually uses vacuum compression bags to save space. “Once you use a vacuum to remove the air, the clothes become much smaller, leaving more room in the suitcase. Not bringing a big bag really makes life easier!”

Inquire About Facilities at Travel Destinations in Advance

Whether traveling domestically or abroad, if you need to stay overnight, Xiao Bei Ma suggests asking the hotel in advance if they provide items like a sterilizer, crib, or baby bathtub—so you don’t have to bring them all yourself.

If you need to store breast milk, pay special attention to the fridge temperature, as the freezer in most guestroom fridges isn’t cold enough. It’s best to ask the hotel to store it separately to avoid spoilage. In short, knowing what support the accommodation can offer helps reduce the amount of gear you need to carry.

How to Estimate Suitcase Size? Based on Xiao Bei Ma’s experience, for a family of three traveling abroad, a 24-inch suitcase is usually sufficient, and they often bring an extra 24-inch suitcase as backup for items bought during the trip. For domestic trips where driving is common, Xiao Bei Ma prefers using soft, foldable large bags—they’re lightweight and save space when not in use.

Part 2: A Well-Stocked Mom Bag Does the Trick

Xiao Bei Ma points out that for a one-day domestic trip, usually just a mom bag plus some consumables like formula and diapers is enough. But taking the baby overnight is more challenging. To prevent the baby from getting fussy, parents are advised to let the baby practice getting used to it beforehand.

Practice Overnight Trips in Advance

Every baby has a different temperament, and staying overnight outside is not the same as being at home—the change in environment can affect the baby.

The adventurous Xiao Bei Ma shares, “Before actually taking Xiao Bei on an overnight trip, I once booked a hotel within our local area and spent a night there with my husband and Xiao Bei, observing how he reacted and what he needed.”

So Xiao Bei Ma suggests that while you don’t necessarily have to do a full “test stay,” understanding what kind of environment will help your baby feel secure at night and preparing and practicing in advance is very important. Otherwise, if the child has trouble sleeping all night, the next day’s itinerary will be ruined.

Xiao Bei Ma’s Suggestions

Xiao Bei Ma once heard about a friend whose child had allergies, so they even brought their own bedding when traveling, changing the hotel sheets to their own as soon as they arrived at the accommodation. Therefore, she suggests that parents should not take their children on long trips right away. Instead, start with a short two-day, one-night trip close to home, and then consider a full island tour or an overseas trip. This way, parents can more accurately gauge their child’s reaction to unfamiliar environments.

※Originally published in the January 2014 issue of “Mom & Baby Magazine”.
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