How to pack for a short stay trip with your baby

Staying overnight with family and friends could mean excitement at an extra pair of hands and a much-needed break. Or you could feel overwhelmed by all the packing involved for a tiny human. If that’s the case, here is a complete packing checklist for your baby and some things to make a Christmas stay easier and the journey lighter.

SLEEPING

Unless your baby usually co-sleeps in bed with you, you will need to take something for them to sleep in. And if you do usually co-sleep, it’s probably a good idea to check you’ve actually got a bed at the place you’re staying. And will not just be sleeping on an inflatable pool lounger in the kitchen. Here are all your options:

travel cot

Travel cots fold down fairly small and often come with a bag to make transporting them easier. Instead of bars, they have breathable mesh sides so you can still keep an eye on your baby. They can also double up as a playpen or just somewhere safe to place your baby. This might be useful if you’re going somewhere with pets that you’re not used to.

9 of the best travel cots

pram carrycot

If your baby is still small you could detach your pram carrycot and use this at night during short trips away. Just check that is suitable for overnight sleeping.

co-sleeper/bedside crib

If you use a bedside crib at home, many of these are designed to be portable and come with travel bags. E.g. the Tutti Bambini Cozee and the Chicco Next to Me. If you do find yourself on an inflatable pool lounger these can also be used as free-standing cribs.

Purflo sleep tight baby bed

If you’re not used to co-sleeping but want to take something lighter than a travel cot, you could get a Purflo Sleep Tight baby bed. This is similar to a baby nest/sleeping pod but it has been approved for overnight sleeping. It’s suitable from birth until 8 months old and has a firm, flat, waterproof, breathable base and firm, breathable sides.

baby monitor

If you’re going from a small flat to a bigger house, this might be the first time you’ve needed a baby monitor. You will be used to hearing every snuffle your baby has ever made and suddenly – silence. I only ever needed mine when I went away. For occasional use, I’d particularly recommend the BT Digital Audio baby monitor 400 as it’s compact, light and reasonably cheap.

10 of the best baby monitors

The place where you’re staying may even have – excitingly – an upstairs! Actually, not so exciting if your baby has begun to crawl. In which case, stair gates will be needed or just a beady eye kept on your child at all times.

Room thermometer

You’re probably used to the temperature of your home and know what to put your baby in at bedtime. But the house you go to may be hotter or colder. A room thermometer is very useful to let you know what you’re dealing with. So you could, for example, add a bodysuit under a sleepsuit if it’s cold. You can also order your hosts to adjust the heating as you’ve got a baby and anything goes.

This GroEgg2 doubles up as an adjustable nightlight so will be handy in unfamiliar rooms. Meaning less toe-stubbing yells when creeping out of the room.

travel blackout blind

This is definitely more useful in the summer. But if your baby will only nap in a darkened room, save yourself the hassle of trying to drape towels over curtains that are too thin. (I’ve been there.) Instead, take along the Tommee Tippee blackout blind. This comes with a travel bag and fixes to the window with suction cups.

CHANGING

For changing your baby while away, make sure you have enough nappies to last you through the period when the shops are shut. Bring your usual changing bag with wipes and nappy cream. Your host might appreciate you using nappy sacks even if you don’t normally. You don’t want to ruin the Christmas for someone with a very sensitive sense of smell.

You probably already have a travel changing mat for your usual on-the-go nappy changes so bring that instead of any big, foam one used at home. Otherwise, an extra-large muslin cloth will do the job.

FEEDING

Solely breastfed babies make life a lot easier when you’re away.  But at Christmas you might want a few sherries, in which case, you’ll be glad of a breast pump. Just don’t forget the breast milk storage bags and bottles.

15 of the best breast pumps

Bottles for those under one year old should be sterilised. You won’t want to be lugging along a big steriliser so you could just boil the bottles in water for 10 minutes. But if the stove is going to be very busy with Brussel sprouts and potatoes, take these travel microwaves sterilising bags. Each bag can be used 30 times and fits one big or two small bottles. They are brilliant. (As long as your host has a microwave. Otherwise, they are terrible.)

If you are using formula, ensure you take enough for the whole trip, especially if you use one that’s not widely available. Some are so reliant on their Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep machine they’d rather put that on the suitcase than any presents. If that’s you - don’t forget to pack it!

BATHING

Depending on how long you are staying away, you might be tempted to skip bath time and just do a quick top and tail with warm water and cotton wool. But if your baby likes the routine of it and you don’t want to bring a baby bath, bathe them in a basin or washing-up bowl. That bowl might have other plans on Christmas day - but hopefully not involving you. A baby is a great excuse to get out of any washing up.

TRAVELLING

If you’ve got a long car journey in sunshine, a car window sunshade will stop your baby from overheating and prevent their skin from being harmed by UVA rays.

Bring a baby carrier or pram or both. You will hopefully leave the house at some stage - even if it’s just to get the baby to have a nap. If travelling by car, take some things to entertain them and a child-view mirror to keep an eye on them. Or if there are two adults in the car, one can sit in the back and pretend it’s a taxi.

the best child view car mirrors

ENTERTAINING

Hopefully, your baby will get given lots of new toys for Christmas and they can have a wonderful time playing with the box and wrapping paper. But you could also make them a little portable activity gym with an extra-large muslin cloth and a few toys.

You may also want to take a baby bouncer. The Baby Bjorn one is very portable as it folds flat. And it’ll be good to put the baby down when you’re doing a particularly complicated charade.

THE COMPLETE SHORT STAY CHECKLIST FOR BABIES

FOR A DOWNLOADABLE/PRINTABLE LIST CLICK HERE.

sleeping

▢ Travel cot/bedside crib/carrycot/baby bed

▢ Sheet

▢ Baby blanket or baby sleeping bag

▢ Sleepsuits

▢ Night light

▢ Baby monitor

▢ Room thermometer

▢ Travel blackout blind

▢ White noise cuddly toy or phone app

changing

▢ Nappies

▢ Baby wipes or cotton wool

▢ Nappy rash cream

▢ Nappy sacks

▢ Travel changing mat

▢ Changing bag

Feeding

▢ Bottles

▢ Sterilising bags

▢ Formula (if used)

▢ Powder formula dispenser pots (if used)

▢ Bottle warmer (if used)

▢ Flask or baby bottle maker (if used)

▢ Breast pump (if breastfeeding)

▢ Breastmilk storage bags (if breastfeeding)

▢ Muslin cloths

▢ Bibs

bathing

▢ Travel-sized baby body wash (if you use it)

▢ Travel-sized baby body lotion (if you use it)

▢ Baby washcloth, sponge or cotton wool

travelling

▢ Pram

▢ Baby carrier or sling

▢ Car seat

▢ Child view mirror for car

▢ Car seat adaptors for pram

▢ Toys for a long journey and/or a tablet for an older baby

health

▢ Calpol (if your baby is two months or older)

▢ Baby thermometer

clothing

▢ Enough daytime clothes for your trip

▢ A special Christmas day outfit

▢ Pramsuit

▢ Hat

▢ Scratch mitts or gloves

▢ Socks

▢ Bodysuits

miscellaneous

▢ Dummies

▢ Baby bouncer

▢ Extra-large muslin cloth

weaned babies

▢ Travel high chair

▢ Jar or pouches of food

▢ Baby spoons

▢ Sippy cup

▢ Bibs

Have a lovely safe and happy trip away from home. If you have any top short-stay tips to add, please use the comment box below.

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