Holiday travel with a baby or toddler can feel like a game of “what did I forget?” This guide shares a simple, repeatable way to pack kid essentials for flights (specifically what to put in your under-seat personal item) or road trips—so you can swiftly grab, not rummage for what you need. You’ll find baby/toddler travel essentials, an easy packing checklist, and set-ups that work in tight spaces and during delays.
Our main packing philosophy: pack by “moments”, not categories.
The Moments Method: Pack by moments, not categories
Think about the day in bite-size moments you’ll need to handle—not in giant packing categories. This makes packing faster and mid-trip access way less chaotic.
The 3 core moments (always needed)
Moment 1: Change & Clean: How do I handle a diaper/outfit change fast—on a plane or at a rest stop?
When the seatbelt sign pings or a parking-lot blowout strikes, you need one grab—not a bag dump. Aim for a small, self-contained “change kit” that is easily accessible within your diaper bag. Keep wet/dirty items away from snacks, and give yourself a buffer (one more change of clothes and 1.5x more diapers than you think). Have a “contain the mess” move ready so you can fix it and get moving again.
Moment 2: Snacks & Soothe: What items help with preventing meltdowns while traveling?
Hunger and delays happen. Portion snacks so you can pace them, mix familiar favorites with a couple special “treats”, and make opening/closing snack containers easy with one hand. Keep wipes handy and stash a secret morale booster for gate holds or traffic jams.
Tip: pack 1–2 “new to them” small snacks for morale during boarding or traffic.
Moment 3: Entertain: How do I keep my baby/toddler busy without packing the whole playroom?
Rotation beats volume. Bring a handful of compact wins you can reveal over time. The goal isn’t more stuff—it’s the right stuff, at the right moment.
Implement the Moments (seamlessly) in your Diaper Bag
We prefer to have each moment organized in its own section or packing organizer. It’s the main reason we designed the Sliders, the ultimate packing accessories for hyper-organization on the go. Each slider has clear windows, color-coded zippers, and smart compartments so that you can easily grab exactly what you need.
We dedicate a separate color for each moment: change & clean, snacks & soothe, and entertain.
BONUS: The three sliders were sized perfectly to fit the Getaway Bag, our award-winning travel diaper bag. The pieces stack and slide out so your bag works like drawers — on planes and in the car.
Let’s dive in below into each moment and what our recommended packing list is for your baby and / or toddler.
Moment #1: Change & Clean
What we’re bringing:
- 2 spare outfits
- 1.5x as many diapers as you think you’ll need
Slider choice: The Big Slider (the soft-stuff compressor). This was designed to store diapers, wipes, spare outfits, pajamas - the squishy things. It’s expandable/compressible, has two interior mesh pockets for small items, and a hanging loop if you want quick access mid-flight. It’s a great place to stash spare diapers or spare outfits.
Moment #2: Snacks & Soothe
What we’re bringing:
Baby: bottles + formula + pacifier + pacifier wipes
Toddler: 1.5x as many snacks as you think you’ll need + children utensils
Slider choice: The Medium Slider. Holds snacks and bottles without getting crushed thanks to a spacious, structured shell. Hide surprise treats in the concealed back zipper pocket (out of sight, out of mind), and use the hanging loop when you want it within arm’s reach.
Moment #3: Entertain
*For our link to our favorite list of 10+ New Activities, be sure to read our guide to survive long haul flights
What we’re bringing:
Baby: spinner toys + soft books + blocks and shapes
For a baby we focus on a couple sensory toys and high contrast books, as their wake windows are shorter and they don’t require as much “entertainment”. Often they’re must super interested in the novel environment of an airplane!
Toddler: magna-tiles + trains + small books + connecting toys
For a toddler we typically like to pack around 5 activities spread across the following categories:
- Art supplies (e.g. crayons or washable markers, play dough, mess-free water painting books, etch-a sketch, drawing pads)
- Magnetic building toys (e.g. Magna-Tiles, Tegu Blocks)
- Connecting toys
- Small vehicles, trains and road tape
- Sensory toys (e.g. Squigz suction toys, pop it toys)
- Small Set of Figurines (e.g. small set of animals, familiar characters from Bluey or Paw Patrol)
- Books (e.g. “I Spy” type Books, sticker books, activity books)
Slider choice: The Medium AND/OR The Mini Sliders. The Medium Slider is perfect to hide surprise gifts in the concealed back zipper pocket, and roomy enough to combine multiple types of toys and books.
The Mini Slider is designed to fit smaller toys or tech items like building toys with multiple pieces (think: Magna-Tiles, Squigz, LEGO, small figurines, Plus Plus blocks); the Yoto Player and a few cards, and mini-sized books. BONUS: This Slider is the perfect size for first-aid items like bandages, tylenol, a thermometer, extra pacis, etc.
Packing Configurations:
Best Packing Layout for Flights (Fast Changes, Under-Seat Access)
Why this layout: Keep the quick-change gear one reach away during boarding and seatbelt-sign moments.
How to set it up: Big Slider on top; Medium and the two Minis in the middle; lunch bag at the base. Sidekick stays on the left for wipes and quick grabs.
Caption for Image A: Flight-first layout — Big on top for lightning-fast changes; Medium + Minis visible below; lunch bag base.
Best Packing Layout for Road Trips (Snacks & Play On Repeat)
Why this layout: A stable base and easy pass-back for snacks and activities.
How to set it up: Big Slider in the bottom compartment; two Medium Sliders stacked up top (one for snacks, one for activities); Minis side-by-side in the bottom shelf (one for an activity, one for first aid); lunch bag in the middle.
Caption for Image B: Road-trip layout — Big on bottom for stability; two Mediums stacked for snacks & play; Minis bottom shelf.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, this isn’t about packing everything—it’s about packing for moments. If you keep “change & clean,” “snacks & soothe,” and “entertain” as your mental checklist, the rest of the trip gets easier. Want to go deeper? Try our Long-Haul Flight Guide, Carry-On Only Travel with Kids, and Red-Eye Sleep Tips.
