The Best Baby Carrier for Travel: hope&plum's Guide to Family Trips
The best baby carrier for travel is one that you can put on quickly, keeps you and your baby comfortable, and packs up easily. Traveling with small children can seem like an insurmountable task, especially if you’re riding solo. Let hope&plum baby carriers and accessories help you along the way! Here are some ideas to help you get where you’re going on planes, trains, and automobiles.
THE SHORT VERSION
- Keep a customizable list of items like clothes, diapers, and toys. Use bags with flat bottoms or fanny packs for easy access to essentials.
- Consider travel type (car vs. air), weather, activities, and your child's age to pick the best carrier.
- Fold carriers compactly—baby wraps have built-in pockets, ring slings can be braided, and meh dais need straps folded in.
- On road trips, plan frequent stops, use poppable carriers, and involve older kids in snack/activity distribution.
- Trains are flexible and kid-friendly, with room to move around. Any carrier works; practice confined-space use.
- For air travel, choose metal-free carriers for security. Use carriers to manage toddlers at gates and during boarding. Remove carriers for takeoff/landing as required.
Family Packing Basics
Keep a list or spreadsheet of essentials for you, baby, or your whole family. Add and take away with experience. Consult it every time you go on a trip, whether it’s an overnight, a weekend getaway, or a longer trip for one or more weeks. As your kids grow, involve them in these packing responsibilities. And always be sure to take enough carriers!
On longer trips, you may need a bag for each family member, but consolidate as much as you can for shorter journeys. Remember that planes and even trains may have baggage fees, so take that into your packing calculations. Flat bottoms bags and pockets are great for short trips or organizing like-items for longer travels.
Choosing the Right Baby Carriers to Pack
Before you start thinking about which carriers to pack, you have to consider how you’re traveling and what sorts of activities you’re planning on your trip.
At a bare minimum, ask yourself, “What carrier can’t I live without?” Which carrier is your go-to, your workhorse, your must grab? Bring that one for sure!
Some other things to consider:
The weather at your destination. If it’ll be hot, a ring sling could be good choice. If it’ll be cold, a baby wrap or meh dai.
Your planned activities. If you’re planning to wear a lot and also walk or hike, a Lark or meh dai will be most supportive. If you’re just planning for occasional ups and downs, a ring sling will be your best friend.
The ages and stages of the children you’ll be wearing. If you have one infant, a baby wrap would work great. But if you have a baby and a toddler, bringing a Baby Lark or a ring sling that will fit them both could be a better choice.
Bring a spare! Things happen while traveling, so we always suggest bringing a backup!
Packing the Baby Carriers
Trips on the Ground
- Plan frequent stops. Aim for every 2-3 hours so everyone can stretch, snack, and change diapers.
- Keep carriers within reach. Pre-buckle one side of your Lark or leave a ring sling on your body between stops.
- Draft your kiddos. Put older toddlers in charge of snack and toy distribution so you can focus on the road.
- Any carrier works. Trains let you get up, feed baby, and change diapers without pausing the trip.
- Practice in tight spaces. Put your carrier on at home in a small area so aisles feel easy.
- Tuck long straps. Keep meh dai or wrap ends off the floor so they don't drag on train station platforms.
Trips in the Air
Air travel is such a popular option, but can seem one of the most challenging with young kids. Carriers can help!
Best Baby Carrier for Travel FAQ
What is the best baby carrier for travel?
The best baby carrier for travel depends on how you're getting there. For air travel, choose a carrier with no metal parts so you can walk through TSA without removing baby — the Baby Lark is a great option. For road trips and trains, a ring sling or Baby Lark works well for quick ups and downs between stops.
Can you wear a baby carrier through airport security?
Yes, you can wear most baby carriers through airport security most of the time, but choose one with no metal parts to reduce the chance of triggering the detector. Soft carriers like baby wraps and buckle carriers without metal hardware (like the Baby Lark) are your best bet. Be aware that you may still be asked to step aside for a hand swab even with a metal-free carrier, so build extra time into your airport arrival.
Do I have to take my baby out of the carrier during takeoff and landing?
Most airlines require you to remove your baby from a carrier for takeoff and landing. You can make this easier by choosing a carrier you can loosen quickly — with a buckle carrier like the Lark, just drop the panel and keep the waist strap on so you can pop baby back in as soon as you're cleared. A baby wrap is even simpler: slip baby out, hold them on your lap, and slip them back in.
What is the best baby carrier for road trips?
For road trips, the best baby carrier is one you can get on and off quickly at rest stops. A ring sling is ideal because you can keep it on your body between stops and pop baby in and out in seconds. The Baby Lark also works well — pre-buckle one side so you only have one buckle to manage when you stop.
Can I bring more than one baby carrier when I travel?
Yes, and we actually recommend it. Packing a backup carrier means you're covered if one gets soaked, left behind, or just isn't working for the day's activities. All hope&plum carriers fold compactly, so packing two rarely takes much space — a flat bottom bag keeps them organized inside your luggage or diaper bag.
What is the best baby carrier for train travel?
Any carrier works well on a train because you have room to move around, use the restroom, and feed baby without stopping. The Baby Lark is a good choice for longer journeys where you'll be wearing for hours, and a ring sling is great for quick ups between seats. Practice putting your carrier on in a confined space at home before you go so train aisles feel easy.
Is babywearing safe on a plane?
Babywearing is safe on a plane, with a few things to keep in mind. Most airlines require you to remove the carrier for takeoff and landing, so choose one that's easy to get on and off quickly. Always make sure baby's airway is clear and their chin isn't resting on their chest, regardless of the carrier you use.
How do I pack a baby carrier in my luggage?
All hope&plum carriers fold down into a compact bundle. Baby wraps fold into their built-in storage pocket, ring slings can be folded flat or braided, and meh dais compress once you fold down the shoulder straps. Buckle carriers like the Sprout and Lark fold neatly when you flip the carrier so the buckle faces out, then tighten it down — they fit easily inside a flat bottom bag or a packing cube.
Meet the Author
Jenn Tolisano
Jenn Tolisano is the Director of Community Education & Content at hope&plum. She has been a babywearing educator for over ten years. Working as a high school teacher before entering the world of motherhood, she has brought her passion for education to all things baby carriers. Babywearing has been such an essential parenting tool in her household that she wants to spread the babywearing love to all families. Jenn believes that every caregiver deserves to have a baby carrier they love and feel comfortable and confident in. She hopes that her fit checks and blog-writing with hope&plum help to achieve that goal!
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