Packing for a baby is where confidence goes to die. Pack too little and you're hand-washing a bodysuit in a hotel sink at midnight; pack too much and you're dragging a suitcase full of clothes your baby never wore. The sweet spot exists, and it's more generous than adult packing but far less than most parents' first instinct. Here's a practical packing list for baby clothes — how many of each, what to leave at home, and the things that actually save the trip.
The Rule That Sets the Whole List
Everything depends on one question: will you have access to a washing machine?
- Yes (apartment, villa, family): Pack for about 4–5 days regardless of trip length, and wash mid-trip. This is the single biggest space-saver there is.
- No (hotel, hopping around): Pack for the full trip, plus spares — and expect to hand-wash something anyway.
Answer that first, and the numbers below fall into place.
How Many of Each, Per Day
Babies go through more clothes than you'd believe. A realistic daily rate:
- Bodysuits: 2–3 per day. The number one thing people under-pack. Spills, leaks, and heat mean multiple changes.
- Outfits / rompers: 1–2 per day. One-pieces are your friend when travelling — fewer items, faster changes.
- Sleepsuits: 1 per night, plus 1–2 spare. Night leaks happen away from home more than at home, oddly.
- Socks: 1–2 pairs per day. They vanish. Bring more than seems sane.
- A layer (cardigan or knit): 2. Even in hot destinations — air conditioning and evenings are colder than you plan for.
Multiply by days (or by 5 if you can wash), then add two full spare outfits on top for the journey itself.
What to Pack for a Hot Destination
- Light, breathable pieces: Muslin and thin cotton beat anything synthetic in heat — they let air move instead of trapping it (see our muslin edit). Our Koala & Coconut Palm Romper and Little Golfer Summer Set are the kind of thing that lives in the suitcase.
- A wide-brim sun hat — the most important single item, and the one most often forgotten. Bring two; one will be lost (see our sun protection guide).
- Lightweight long sleeves and trousers: Counter-intuitive, but they protect from sun and evening mosquitoes better than bare skin.
- One warm layer anyway: Air-conditioned restaurants and planes are cold.
What to Pack for a Cool Destination
- Layers, not bulk: Several thin layers adapt better than one thick coat, and pack smaller (see our layering guide).
- Hat, mittens, and warm socks — small, easily lost, worth bringing spares.
- A waterproof outer layer if you'll be outdoors.
The Carry-On (Where Trips Are Won or Lost)
Whatever else you do, get the hand luggage right — checked bags get delayed and changes happen mid-journey:
- Two complete spare outfits (not one — two). Blowouts have a sense of occasion.
- A spare set for you. Ask anyone who's been vomited on at 30,000 feet.
- A muslin or two: Blanket, sunshade, changing mat, burp cloth, feeding cover — the hardest-working item you'll pack.
- A warm layer, whatever the destination — planes and stations are cold.
- Nappies, wipes, and bags for far longer than the journey should take.
What to Leave at Home
- Fancy outfits you're precious about — they get stained on day one, and you'll resent it.
- Anything with fiddly fastenings — changing a baby on a plane floor or a beach towel is not the moment for twelve tiny buttons.
- Shoes for a non-walking baby — they'll be lost by day two and were never needed.
- The “just in case” third of your pile — be honest: if you can wash, you don't need it.
The Bottom Line
Pack around laundry access, not trip length — 4–5 days' worth if you can wash, the full trip if you can't. Budget 2–3 bodysuits a day, favour one-pieces and two-piece sets in breathable cotton or muslin, don't forget the sun hat (times two), and get the carry-on right with two spare outfits and a muslin. Leave the precious outfits and the fiddly fastenings at home. Do that and you'll have exactly what you need — and a suitcase you can still lift.
Browse our lightweight, easy-change travel pieces in the collections, and see our day out dressing guide for what to wear once you're there.