What Do You Need to Travel With a Baby? A Dad's Carry-On Checklist
By Adiyah Bell, founder of Llama Momma Company · Updated October 2026
When you travel with a baby, let dad carry a hands-free backpack holding diapers for the whole travel day plus extras, wipes, a changing pad, two full changes of baby clothes, feeding supplies, a light blanket, a wet bag, documents and chargers. Mom carries her own things and feeding essentials. Splitting the load makes the day calmer.
The first trip with a baby feels like a moon landing. You will overpack. Everyone does. The best thing he can do is own the carry-on.
How should parents split the bags?
- Her bag: her things, documents and what she needs for feeding.
- His backpack: the diaper station, spare clothes, snacks and entertainment.
A backpack is the right call for him. It keeps both hands free for the car seat, the stroller and the boarding passes.
What goes in dad's carry-on?
- Diapers for the full travel day, plus a few extra. Delays happen.
- Wipes and a changing pad. Airplane changing tables are tiny.
- Two full changes of baby clothes, and a spare shirt for him.
- Feeding supplies. Check your airline's and TSA's current rules on formula and liquids before you go.
- A bottle or pacifier for takeoff and landing.
- A light blanket. Planes are cold.
- A wet bag for anything that gets messy.
- Documents: IDs, boarding passes, and the baby's birth certificate or passport if needed.
- Chargers and a power bank.
What's the best travel diaper bag for dads?
I made the DAD Backpack to be exactly this bag. Vegan leather, gold-tone hardware, room for a full day of baby gear and his own things. Get it packed for the hospital or on its own. Either way, it becomes his diaper bag and carry-on.
Pair it with the MAMA Weekender and you're traveling as a matched set. The DAD Backpack is $225 on its own, or $325 packed. Pre-orders are open now through November 21, 2026, and backpacks ship in January.
Any last tips for flying with a baby?
- Book around nap time when you can.
- Pack the bag the night before and leave it by the door.
- Give yourself an extra hour at the airport. You'll use it.
Quick answers
Should dad carry a backpack when traveling with a baby?
Yes. A backpack keeps his hands free for the car seat, stroller and boarding passes.
How many diapers do I need for a flight with a baby?
Enough for the whole travel day, door to door, plus a few extra in case of delays.
Do the MAMA Weekender and DAD Backpack match?
Yes. Both are vegan leather with embossed lettering and gold-tone hardware, in black and cognac.
About the author
Adiyah Bell founded Llama Momma Company in Atlanta in 2019. Since then, more than 2,900 families in all 50 states have carried a Llama Momma bag out of the hospital, and the brand has been featured in BuzzFeed and British Vogue. Outside of Llama Momma, she's a senior benefits analyst who works on health benefits programs for Fortune 100 companies.
Questions? Email her at adiyahbell@llamamamacompany.com. She reads every one herself.