Packing for travel with baby requires an entire production crew complete with roadies. Inflatable baby baths, mosquito netting, collapsible play pens, strollers, car safety seats for baby, and not to mention all the snack, bottles, changes of clothes, baby diaper bags and more baby bags, toys, educational activities..... You will find that the camel is pretty loaded and the Range Rover is dragging on the safari trails before the humans have even sat down. Let us start with a simple 2 or 3 day adventure. That should reduce the baby collateral by one third, anyway.

Start With the Basics

1. The number one item on your list is not baby diaper bags. Number one is the sole, single item that never fails to calm baby and put her to sleep. You can always buy more diapers. You cannot replace sleep - yours.

2. The ultimate in baby bags; this is the kind that organizes for you, is roomy enough to hold extra blankets, a changing pad, wipes, powder, all the normal daily essentials but with many secure pockets to remind you to put something in them.

3. Diapers need to be plentiful. Depending on how you are travelling and for how long, you may be able to get away with just what you expect to use, but be prepared to get more along the way. If you will not be near a store, bring at least twice as many.

4. A stroller, even though it may seem cumbersome, could be the saving grace of the trip. It protects baby from sun, rain, wind, rescues your back, and keeps her by your side.

Adding to the Basics

Once you have the basics in place, you need to refine your list with all the necessities that you have at home, and never worry about carrying with you. The main item on the list is:

The ultimate in baby diaper bags. Yes, this was on the basic list, but needs further definition. While you are dashing from the house to the car and back again with a slight variant of perhaps the office or the market, the ultimate baby bags for normal living could be quite different from those for travel. For example, you need the large sized bags, not a cute little clutch or elegant Mia Bossi that can be stored in your suitcase for an evening out, but is not going to handle The Trip. Try StorkSac, Reese Li, or OiOi who have baby diaper bags large enough to carry your things as well.

You need the baby bags that have adjustable straps for hanging on the back of the baby stroller, totally washable liners, and zipper bags for soiled anything. Insulated bottles are handy for longer strolls, and as many organizer pockets as possible. Reese Li is very understanding in this department. When you are travelling, make sure you have pockets on the exterior of the baby bags to handle your keys, a map, your cell, a snack, a bottle, a soother, and maybe some tissues.

On the inside of the baby diaper bags, you want to have fast access to sanitary wipes, teething gel, first aid items, rattle, sun bonnet, change of clothes, food, many bottles, a bottle of water for you, snacks for you, additional booties, towels, bibs, and perhaps a change of shirt for yourself, just in case.