Exploring the Outdoors with A Baby: Essential Minimalist Gear for Travel and Hiking Trips
As someone who values sustainability and dual-purpose functionality, I always prefer to purchase simple and practical items. When my husband and I had our baby, we consciously tried to stick to a budget and invest only in necessary items. We have tried and tested these essentials, and I wanted to share our experience with others. We were fortunate enough to have our loved ones gift us most items from our baby registry and receive pre-loved clothes from friends and family, which warmed our hearts. Now that I have prepared myself for Pregnancy, it's time to focus on my baby's needs and essentials. Let's go!
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Travel Tips
- For flights, Skyscanner is excellent for comparing the best airline deals.
- For accommodations, our family trusts Booking.com for reasonable prices.
- Organize your trips easily with a Travel Planner.
- For tried-and-true travel and hiking gear, check out our Amazon Storefront.
Here's our Sustainable and Practical Guide to Baby Essentials
Our 5-month-old baby comfortably embarks on a long road trip in his Chicco Infant Car Seat.
1. Baby Transport: Car Seat and Stroller
Infant Car Seat: Road Trip Safety
Travel with Ease Using Chicco Baby Gears
When our baby was in the newborn phase, we took many road trips, and our top priority was his safety. After researching various car seats, we chose Chicco due to its credibility and functional features. We appreciated its ease of installation and durability, which made it the perfect choice for our long drives. Investing in a Chicco car seat was our best decision to ensure our baby's safety.
One of the best features of Chicco car seats is that they are FAA-approved for use on airplanes. This means that all Chicco infant and convertible car seats are certified for usage on aircraft.
- Infant Car Seat: The infant car seat is a must-have as your hospital will ask you for it after you deliver your baby. This also goes to your hospital essentials, check out the full list here.
Baby Stroller
- Chicco KeyFit Caddy Frame Stroller: We initially found a free stroller on Facebook Marketplace but eventually passed it on for a more compact option. We highly recommend the Chicco KeyFit Caddy Frame Stroller for its simple design and ample storage. Just open the frame and attach the Chicco infant car seat. It’s lighter and less bulky, making it ideal for travel.
- For travel convenience and when they're more than 6 months old check out GB Stroller, it's lightweight, easy and you can carry it inside the plane. For budget-conscious check out Mompush - this is my favorite!
Bonus tip: Car seat cover/nursing cover
- Car Seat Canopy & Nursing Cover: I used this cover for the infant car seat and to protect my little one from the sun, wind and dust. Aside from that, it's also a seat cover for grocery carts and for breastfeeding sessions in public. Sometimes I even use it for impromptu diaper changes when traveling.
.jpg "What to do in Sequoia National Park in March")
Save money on unnecessary baby gear by bringing your own Graco Pack n' Play on your travels. Our family brought our own crib to our hiking trip in Sequoia National Park and our baby slept comfortably.
2. Crib: Graco Pack n' Play
The Pack n' Play was the perfect choice for our baby's sleeping arrangements. Not only does it come with a diaper changing area and a flat mattress for infants, but it can also convert into a toddler bed, making it versatile and practical. We have used it both at home and while traveling, so it serves a dual purpose.
3. Clothing: Sleepers and Onesies
These are my ultimate favorites : my kids wore 0-3 month-sized onesies right after birth. These are the clothes that we loved. It turns out we're big fans of plain old-looking onesies.
Newborn Stage: Less is More
- Gerber Baby Sleepers Unisex 4 pcs. - We want efficient and safe clothes for the baby. In his newborn stage, we wanted all of his clothes to be easy to wear and as first-time parents, we made sure everything looked simpler during a diaper change. We ordered newborn zippered sleepers that already came with mittens and footsies, they cover his hands and feet for comfort and the zipper makes it easy to change his diapers at night.
Clothes for 0 - 12 Months:
- Onesies: Gerber Short Sleeve Onesies Unisex 8 pcs - These were soft and gentle on my baby's skin, and pretty easy to change when traveling.
- Onesies: Marvel Baby Boys' 5 Pack Bodysuits - The Hulk, Spiderman, Iron Man, and Captain America - My favorite! I was able to dress up my baby with his awesome Marvel onesies every day without buying those expensive costumes. Here's for the Justice League Fans featuring Batman, Superman, The Flash, Aquaman and Green Lantern.
4. Diapers: Cloth Diapers, Diaper Mat, and Diaper rash balm
- Waterproof Changing Pad Liners 3 pcs. - I used this pad for the bedroom, and the living room and I also packed one in our diaper bag.
- For an Eco-friendly approach: Baby Cloth Diapers with 12 inserts
- Earth Mama Diaper Balm - I'm proud to say my baby did not have any diaper rash, as I try to prevent it by applying this diaper balm especially if I see any redness on his skin during a diaper change. It's organic too!
5. Bathing: Bathtub, Washcloth, and Potty training
- Fisher-Price Whale of a Tub Bathtub: At first we didn't want to buy a baby tub for bathing, but this one became more useful for us, easy to store, and easy to wash afterwards. The tub also grows with the baby till the toddler years. We were able to use it till 2 years old. This one stays at home, please.
- Baby Muslin Washcloth 10 pcs. - I used this for bathing my baby as it's gentle on his skin, and also as a burp cloth.
- OXO Tot 2-in-1 Go Potty - This made potty training easy as we can use it in our bathroom and outdoors too. I started potty training around 18 months old, my baby would go around the corner or near the bathroom to poop, so by 23 months I knew he was ready. It took him 2-3 days to figure out what was going on and before he turned 2 years old he was potty trained.
If you're getting one of those Free welcome kits from the baby registry sites, you will get lots of free samples like pacifiers, breast pads, and baby bottles. I used the samples first to check what my baby wanted, and then later on we bought the one he liked.
.jpg "Baby Carrier Convertible for Newborns and Older Babies 8-32 lbs")
Pullover Baby Bibs - The perfect bib for hiking as it stays in place and also serves as a neck warmer, ahahaa. This is during our hike in Sequoia National Park, also check out my Favorite Hiking Boots.
6. Feeding: Burp cloths, Bibs, Feeding set, and Teething
- Baby Pacifier Clip/Blanket Leash - My baby didn't really like using a pacifier but during our first international trip we made him use one as it helps with the ear pressure. I used this leash to hold his pacifier in place and it even holds his toys and teether too. (Check out: Travel Tips When Flying with a Baby)
- Never Drop from Hand Baby Teething - A very useful teething toy especially since our baby loves to throw things all the time. This really comes in handy when you're traveling and you're baby is teething.
- Silicone Baby Feeding Set - A perfect feeding starter pack for babies, includes a waterproof bib, suction bowl, and a spoon. We started using this when he was 6 months old.
- Organic Burp Cloths - Soft, thick and with great shoulder coverage.
- Pullover Baby Bibs - These do not have any velcro on them and they stay on during feeding and are great for drool protection. Best bib on the market! I have many of these as you can never have enough bibs with a growing baby, as it's always in demand. My Most Favorite Baby Travel Essential!
7. Breastfeeding: Breast Pump, Breast Pads, Baby Bottles, and Nipple Cream
- Earth Mama Nipple Cream or Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Cream for nipple protection.
- My Best Friend Nursing Pillow - This is great for back support during breastfeeding, or you can always use a regular pillow too.
Formula Feeding:
- Bottle Brush Cleaner and Tray - This is not a must-have if you're exclusively breastfeeding, but it comes in handy when you want to separate the baby items from your utensils when you're ready to use the breast pump for bottle feeding.
- Formula Milk - We chose Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease Baby Formula as our baby boy loved it from day one.
- Philips Avent Natural Baby Bottles - My little one loved this bottle because its natural nipple shape facilitated both breastfeeding and bottle feeding. The wide, breast-shaped nipple promoted a natural latch, and the ultra-soft, flexible design replicated the comforting sensation of breastfeeding.
8. Sleeping Hacks: Muslin Swaddle, White Noise Machine, Humidifier, and Nasal Aspirator
- Bamboo Cotton Muslin Swaddle 3 pcs. - I tried so hard to use this on my baby as it's the softest cloth I've ever touched. However, he didn't like it at all so we ended up using it as a diaper change mat, burp cloth, and even as a breastfeeding cover.
- Zippered Swaddle (0-3 months) - This worked for us! Another great option if the baby doesn't want to be swaddled in a muslin blanket.
- Zippered Sleeping Sack ( 3 months onwards) - We used this one when our baby graduated from his newborn stage and this was our lifesaver! We all slept like a baby after using this swaddle.
Optional items but not really needed, it always depends on your baby:
- Yogasleep Portable White Noise Machine - This one helps with the baby's sleep as it mimics the sound inside the womb. You can also use an air purifier as an alternative.
- Humidifier and Essential Oil Diffuser - This helps when your baby is sick or has a stuffy nose.
- FridaBaby NoseFrida Snotsucker 24 filters - This nasal aspirator will get rid of the mucus when the baby is having a cold. Also, those small suction bulbs come in handy like the ones they use in the hospital, sometimes even more reliable than Nosefrida. Some days I just use his onesie, mould a sharp tip and insert it on his nose, it works for me!
.jpg "Best time to visit bear bear lake")
9. Carriers: Baby Carrier and Diaper Bag
These items are my favorite baby travel essentials for traveling, hiking and road travel:
- Ubon Lightweight Backpack 20 - I'm not your ordinary momma I prefer to buy things with a dual purpose. Our hiking bag came in handy as a hospital bag and diaper bag. Keep in mind you can always use any kind of backpack or shoulder bag.
- Infantino Flip 4-in-1 Carrier - My husband and I loved this carrier for long walks as it provides good back support, especially on our hikes and grocery shopping.
.jpg "Baby Car Mirror, View Infant in Rear-Facing Seat")
Baby Rear-Facing Video Camera: Peek-a-boo! Mommy and Daddy see you! Don't want to break your neck looking back on baby? We thought we'd be fine until our friend bought it for us. And then our necks said, "Thank you."
10. Gear: Play Mat, Bouncer, and Toys
Toys we bring on the plane or on our road trips:
- Bath Books – Set of 4 Black and White Waterproof Books - Newborns love black and white pictures so this came very handy during tummy time, later on, we used it for bath time as it's waterproof, and when he started to see more colors this book was even more entertaining to my baby. We sometimes bring just two books with us on our plane travels as it's light and small.
- Sea Animal Fabric Cloth Book - This second book features sea animals I wanted my baby to be acquainted with loving the ocean as he grows up and the scratchy sounds on each page made him giggle.
- Colorful Stacking cups - Our baby loved this toy! We brought this to most of our travels, road trips and even at the beach. Also, it is easy to please a child and sometimes kitchen measuring cups are all you need!
- Stacking Toy with Colorful Rings - Another great and affordable option for playtime.
Baby Floatie with Sun Canopy for Summer Fun in the Sun!
Playtime at Home:
- Large Waterproof Foam Play Mat - You can always purchase a Yoga mat instead and place a blanket on it for tummy time - viola, dual-purpose! We still have this foam play mat and it has been very durable for more than 2 years now.
- Infantino Activity Gym & Play Mat, Tropical - This is great for babies' tummy time. Another option if you want a dual-purpose mat is you can always to purchase a yoga mat and then place a thick blanket on top of it. I loved the Yoga mat option as it's non-slippery and thick enough for my yoga routine and my baby's tummy time.
- Fisher-Price Fawn Meadows Deluxe Bouncer - I can't live without this bouncer! My husband's cousin gifted us a baby bouncer and it really helped us out when we needed to do something or wanted to get to the bathroom. Just make sure you don't use it as a crib replacement and I always check on my baby every few minutes.
- Baby Floatie with Sun Canopy - If you're looking for a way to keep your baby safe from the sun's harmful rays when swimming in the pool. Consider checking out this baby floatie. After being in this floaty, our baby started to splash around the pool and moved his legs even more.
11. Things I thought I didn't need
- Baby Car Video (Infant in rear-facing seat) and Baby Home Video Monitor - We were privileged to have such loving friends and they gifted us these two gears for our car and house to monitor our baby's safety.
- Electric Nail Trimmer - Lifesaver! Save your sweat from cutting those precious nails. We got this trimmer and it works wonders, my husband and I usually sneaked in trimming our son's nails while his breastfeeding. They also sell Replacement Nail Trimmer Pads so we were able to use them for our second son.
- First Aid Kit (also bring a Thermometer as babies are very unpredictable!)
- Baby Logbook - As a new parent, I was unaware of the significance of monitoring my baby's feeding, diaper changes, and sleeping patterns. However, since I started using a baby logbook, it has been an essential tool for me during my journey. Here's another option: a travel-size baby logbook.
- Baby-safe sunblock - I've never been picky about my sunblock but then I found out babies are very sensitive to sunbock. We have to make sure all our products are free from chemicals like Oxybenzone, Avobenzone, Octisalate, Octocrylene, Homosalate, Octinoxate, Parabens and Fragrance. We discovered Reef Repair which is mineral-based and contains "non-nano particles so it's Coral Reef Compliant.
More Baby Tips: Free Products
By creating a baby registry with different sites you'll be able to accumulate free baby items and breastfeeding samples.
How To Redeem Free Baby Registry Welcome Kit
Amazon
- Sign up for Amazon Prime
- Add 10 unique items to your baby registry
- Make a purchase of 10 USD from your registry (can be by you or others)
- Click “Claim Now” to receive the Welcome Box
- Enjoy a 15% Completion Discount valid until months after the due date
- Benefit from free 1-year returns on eligible gifts from your registry
Buybuy Baby
- Go to the website and create a baby registry. Buybuy Baby also does not ship out welcome kits to your address. All you need to do is walk into any Buybuy Baby store and tell them you registered for the baby registry and you're there to claim your free welcome kit.
Walmart
- Go to the Walmart website and create a baby registry. Type in your details, due date, and shipping address. They will automatically send you a free welcome kit in around 4-6 weeks.
Target
- Create a baby registry
- Add 10 unique items to the registry
- Purchase over 10 USD from the registry
- Wait 24-48 hours for Target Circle Bonus
- Find the bonus on the registry dashboard
- 15% completion discount available 8 weeks before the due date
How to get Free Breastfeeding products
The Medela Moms' Room
- Sign up with "The Medela Moms' Room" and put in your details and due date. It will prompt you if you want to receive some free samples, and you will then provide your shipping address.
How to get Free Breast Pumps (depends on your insurance coverage)
- It will be on the same website where you sign up with "The Medela Moms' Room" for your free breastfeeding products. Click on the website's Moms' Room Concierge Team and fill out your insurance information. This is one way of knowing if your insurance covers your breast pump, or you can always call your insurance company to make sure about the cost and all other inquiries.
- As for me, I simply filled out the form from the website and received my free electric breast pump the following day by mail.
How to Get Free Baby Formula Samples
Enfamil
- Go to the Enfamil website and sign up with your details, and they'll send you free Free Enfamil baby formula samples. Enfamil is also giving out cash rebates, make sure to keep your receipt as I was able to get 10 USD for our Enfamil purchase.
Similac
- Go to the Similac website, register, and expect to get Free Similac baby formula samples in the mail for free too.
Budget tip for Baby items
- For those moms who are on a tight budget here's one tip for you, try hand-downs from families and friends or shop for secondhand baby gear. My husband and I were able to get free stuff for our baby from people we know and even purchased a car seat mirror for only 5 USD on the Facebook marketplace.
Where to get Free baby items or second-hand gear
Facebook Marketplace
- If you're on a tight budget and don't mind using second-hand items like cribs and all kinds of baby gear, check out Facebook Marketplace. There are tons of free items to choose from and some baby gear is also sold at half the price instead of buying a new one that your baby is only going to use for a few months (you can even bargain if you want).
- Take note: Baby car seats have an expiry date, check with the seller before buying used seats. Check the model number at the bottom of the seat where you'll find the expiry date details.
Diaper Assistance for Cloth Diapers
- theclothoption.org or nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org
- For "theclothoption", the applications are reviewed no earlier than 45 days from your due date or expected placement. The diapers will be sent to your address within 30 days of the due date.
Explore our Amazon Storefront for more ideas on must-have travel items for babies. Plan memorable family trips without overspending.
Enjoy your pregnancy, have fun with your baby and be safe ^__^
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