Imagine exploring the charming streets of Europe with your little one in tow. Seeing the world through their eyes adds a new dimension to your travels—watching them taste their first spaghetti or savor gelato for the first time is a magical experience. Each new sight, sound, and flavor becomes an adventure in itself.
With the right packing plan, you can help ensure that traveling with your mini-adventurer is stress-free and incredibly enjoyable.
Essential Packing List for Traveling With a Baby: What Do You Really Need?
As a mom who has traveled with my baby across the globe—from New Zealand to Hawaii to Europe and back, and even on a solo trip to Italy with my son —I’ve learned firsthand what makes the journey smooth and what can stay behind.
Unlike lists with 50+ so-called “essential” items, I am staying focused on the absolute must-haves. After all, who wants to navigate public transportation or hop from city to city in Europe while hauling around 1,000 things? The key is to pack smart and keep it minimal.
Here’s my ultimate minimalist packing guide for traveling to Europe with a baby— everything you need and nothing you don’t.
Note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you.
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All the baby gear suggestions listed below are items that I actually own, use, and have loved for international travel with my baby!
- Baby’s Passport
- Easy Single Hand Fold, Lightweight but Robust Travel Stroller
- Breathable Baby Carrier
- Lightweight and Effortless Pack-n-Play
- Mini Diaper Bag
- Adjustable Buckle Straps with Clips
- Ease to Wipe Clean Bib and Placemat
- Sound Machine
- Bottle Brush or Travel Bottle Cleaning Kit
- Pain Medicine: Motrin and Tylenol
- A Babysitter!
What to Pack for Traveling to Europe With a Baby:
1) Baby’s Passport
This first packing item may be really obvious, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention it: your baby needs a passport to travel internationally. Yep, even the tiniest of infants need one. If you already have your passport for your baby in hand, skip to tip #2; if not, keep reading.
We applied for our son’s passport when he was just seven weeks old because we had a trip to New Zealand lined up for when he was three months old!
I’ll admit, getting a photo of a newborn for a passport is quite the adventure—our little one had to be alone in the picture, with just his head and torso in the frame, looking straight at the camera, and not smiling or crying. Easier said than done, especially with an infant who can’t even hold his head up yet!
We successfully tackled this challenge and got his passport, but it took some time. If you don’t have your baby’s passport yet, be sure to plan ahead.
2) Easy Single Hand Fold, Lightweight but Robust Travel Stroller
One of the best decisions I made before traveling solo to Italy with my baby was investing in this lightweight but robust, compact travel stroller that folds with just one hand!
First, the one-hand fold is an absolute game-changer and definitely the most important key feature of your travel stroller. When juggling a baby, luggage, and maybe even a glass of wine—because, hey, you are in Europe, right? The convenience of a one-hand fold can’t be overstated. I cannot tell you how many times I was saved because I could fully set up my son’s stroller with just one hand.
(Note: In my research when purchasing my travel stroller, I also had this Babyzen Stroller at the top of my shortlist due to its lightweight and compactness, but this stroller does not offer a one-hand fold, which, in my opinion, is a dealbreaker.)
Besides the fold, you’ll want to find a lightweight and compact stroller, making it easy to pack away for flights or train journeys. I didn’t use my stroller in airports or on public transport; instead, I wore my baby in a carrier (more below), but I knew that when I arrived, I would need the stroller, so I loved that it folded up small enough to fit in my luggage or be carried over my shoulder without adding much extra weight during travel.
Durability is another must—especially for those charming but bumpy cobblestone streets that are everywhere in Europe. Not all lightweight strollers can handle rough terrain, but you’ll be grateful for one that can. This travel stroller easily handled cobblestones, uneven roads, and old-town alleyways in over eight different towns.
Finally, a stroller with a built-in shoulder strap makes life even more accessible. The Joolz Aer has a super convenient one located right on top of the stroller when folded, making it easy to grab. It was a lifesaver while navigating the countless stairs in hilly towns like Vieste and also helped keep my hands free to carry other things while on the go.
3) Breathable Baby Carrier
Baby-wearing is your best friend when navigating airports, train stations, and other crowded spaces. It’s far more seamless than using a stroller because you can effortlessly move through escalators, moving walkways, and stairs, and avoid gaps on and off buses and trains.
Being completely hands-free also allows you to manage luggage with one hand while handling travel documents or tickets with the other.
I love this version of the Ergobaby Carrier with its mesh body for better airflow. It’s perfect for our family living in a warm climate, and it also made travel more comfortable, particularly as we maneuvered through non-airconditioned train stations in the middle of summer.
As an added bonus, a baby carrier is ideal for short hikes or exploring off-the-beaten-path spots where a stroller simply won’t cut it.
4) Lightweight and Effortless Pack-n-Play
If your European adventures are limited to just one destination or if you’re sticking to one hotel or Airbnb and have prearranged a crib for baby, you can skip this rec.
But, if you’re like our family and your plans are more flexible, a lightweight, easy-to-set-up pack-n-play, like this one we have from Guava Family, which deserves a 12/10 in my book, becomes indispensable. It gives you the freedom to adapt your itinerary on the fly—whether you decide to linger longer in a charming town or need to switch accommodations at the last minute.
For instance, on our trip to Vieste, Puglia last summer we were looking forward to taking a private boat tour throughout the Gargano Coast but it got canceled last minute due to unexpected wind. As a result, our option was to skip the tour although or stay an extra day in Vieste to try again.
As our original hotel was fully booked and the new one available didn’t have a crib, our pack-n-play saved the day, allowing us to stay the extra night wherever we wanted without missing a beat.
Lastly, bringing a pack and play that your baby is already familiar with is also helpful to provide a similar sleeping space for your baby – our son has never had any trouble sleeping or napping when traveling internationally and I believe this is due in part to him having a familiar place to sleep.
5) Mini Diaper Bag
I love having a smaller version of my diaper bag for day trips or tours while travelling to Europe with a baby. During our trip to Italy, I used a mini Lululemon backpack (which is unfortunately no longer sold, but I found this almost exactly similar backpack instead that is much more affordable than the lulu option).
I love love love this for travel because unlike my full size diaper bag, it fits perfectly into the compact storage compartment underneath the travel stroller. It also holds all the essentials—diapers, wipes, bottles, etc.— while still being easy to throw into or pull out of the underneath compartment. And as a bonus, it leaves plenty of room to store other items accumulated throughout the day as well such as water bottles, shopping bags, etc.
6) Adjustable Buckle Straps with Clips
Now, this might seem like a weird addition to add to your packing list for traveling with a baby to Europe, but trust me on this one.
In many European restaurants (honestly about 75% of the ones we visited), high chairs don’t come with straps, but are instead just taller and smaller chairs for the baby (pictured above).
My wiggly son would constantly try to squirm out of or stand up in his chair, which was not only frustrating during mealtime but also dangerous for his adventurous self.
Having these adjustable buckle straps that I could wrap around the bottom of the seat and strap baby in with just like a normal high chair was a true secret weapon. It’s a cheap and simple solution that will save unexpected challenges at mealtime!
7) Ease to Wipe Clean Bib and Placemat
Speaking of eating, one hack that I use when packing for traveling to Europe with a baby is packing only one wipe-clean bib and placemat for meals. This is a space saver because you can easily clean them with water and napkins right at the table after each meal, so no need to pack multiple bibs for each day. This also reduces laundry while traveling!
8) Sound Machine
Staying directly in the city or town center in Europe can be noisy, especially if you’re staying in a bustling area. A portable sound machine will help drown out the street noise and ensure your baby sleeps soundly.
I personally love this version of the Hatch Sound Machine because it stays charged for a long time, but it is a bit large and bulky for travel. If you’re tight on space, this Yogasleep option is a more affordable and packing-friendly alternative that still works like a charm and works off just battery for up to 6 hours!
Insider tip: Make sure to remember to check the power voltage at your destination and pack the proper converter for your sound machine and other electronics.
9) Bottle Brush or Travel Bottle Cleaning Kit
Most European accommodations won’t have a dishwasher, so you’ll be washing bottles by hand. A compact bottle brush and drying rack kit are perfect for this.
I’ve used this mini set every single time I have traveled with my baby. It’s ideal because it has everything you need it one compact kit and also is a space saver for drying bottles in small kitchens or even on bathroom sinks (which I have had to do on many occasions).
10) Pain Medicine: Motrin and Tylenol
I try to pack just the essentials when it comes to first aid supplies – especially because I know I can find any baby medicine I need in European pharmacies, and probably ones that are better quality than in the the US.
However, it’s always good to have some pain relievers on hand in case of sudden fevers or teething pains. I try to pack just the essentials, knowing I can get anything else I need while abroad.
11) A Babysitter!
Last but not least on the packing list—a babysitter! Just make sure they’re compact enough to fit in your suitcase 😉
All jokes aside, I can’t recommend enough the value of having a babysitter when traveling internationally with a baby. Whether you’re lucky enough to have a family member or nanny join you from home, or you hire a local babysitter at your destination, it’s a game-changer.
For every international trip we’ve taken with our little one, we’ve opted to hire a sitter at our destination, and it’s always been an excellent decision.
Traveling with your baby is an amazing experience, but having some baby-free time to recharge or enjoy activities that aren’t baby-friendly is a must. It makes the trip that much more relaxing and enjoyable for parents—and your baby will love seeing you refreshed and ready for more adventures!
What Not to Pack for Traveling to Europe With a Baby:
Since this is a minimalist packing guide for traveling to Europe with a baby, I’ve also put together a quick list of things you can leave behind when packing for traveling to Europe with a baby. These items are either unnecessary, not worth the hassle, or easily available to purchase once you’re there—so save yourself the extra baggage!
1) Bulky, Tough to Fold, or Heavy Stroller
While I absolutely love my Thule Urban Glide Jogging Stroller when at home (seriously if you are a parent in need of a new stroller or not sure what to buy, our family loves this one and it is badass and can tackle all terrains, even the beach we live on), it’s not practical for international travel. It’s too heavy and bulky, and while it’s great for rough terrain, it’s overkill for a European vacation.
Stick with something lighter, more foldable, and easier to carry.
2) Too Many Diapers
You don’t need to pack a mountain of diapers for your trip—European pharmacies and grocery stores, which you can find one or the other on basically every block, are well-stocked. I usually pack enough for the flight and the first couple of days, then buy more as needed.
3) Tons of Extra Baby Food or Formula
Similar to diapers, baby food and formula are easy to find in Europe and often better quality than what’s available in the U.S. I discovered some fun and unique options like prosciutto-flavored baby food in Italy, and to our surprise, our son loved it!
Insider tip: At the pharmacy, they typically keep the baby formula behind the counter, so if you are at the pharmacy and cannot find formula, ask the pharmacist and they will go to the back and bring you options.
4) Car Seat
When traveling to Europe with a baby, I recommend leaving the car seat at home.
In most places, you’ll be getting around by planes, trains, and buses, which are often the best and easiest ways to travel in Europe anyway—no need for a car. Skipping the car seat means one less bulky item to lug around on your trip.
If you do know you’ll need a car seat while you’re there, don’t worry! You can rent one from most car rental facilities in any city, so you can still pack light and travel hassle-free.
