A baby toiletry bag for a weekend away needs only a handful of items, and the real choice is between buying travel sizes and filling small containers from bottles you already own. Both work, and the better pick depends on how set your routine is and how much time you have to pack. If you are flying, check the carry-on rules for liquids before you start.
What goes in a baby toiletry bag
Start from your daily routine, then pack what you would use over the trip plus a little spare:
- Baby wash and moisturizer, if you use them
- Diaper cream, if you use one, with the label directions followed as usual
- Wipes and two or three soft washcloths
- A soft brush or comb
- A nail file
- A thermometer in its case
- Any medicine your baby takes, in its original packaging
Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to carry medicines on a trip, especially a flight.
Buying travel sizes vs decanting your own
The comparison comes down to labels, choice and effort.
| Travel sizes | Decanting | |
|---|---|---|
| Label and directions | Come with the product | Lost unless you copy the name and directions onto the container |
| Product choice | Limited to what is sold in a small size | Any product your baby already uses |
| Effort | Open and pack | Clean, dry containers, a funnel or spoon and labels |
| Leftovers | Finish them at home or on the next trip | Use up or discard, rather than pouring back into the main bottle |
If you decant, wash the containers with soap and warm water and let them dry completely before filling. Label each with the product name and the date. Keep medicines in their original container with the original label, and do not decant them. Diaper cream is also simpler to take in its own tube, so the directions travel with it.
Leak-proofing bottles and tubes
Pressure changes on a flight can push contents out of containers, so give yourself some insurance:
- Choose screw-top containers over flip-top lids when you can, and make sure each cap is fully closed.
- Leave a little room at the top instead of filling to the brim.
- Put each container in a zip-top bag, then group the bags together in a larger one.
- Test first. Fill, close, and leave the sealed bag upside down overnight before the trip.
- Add a second layer around the whole kit, such as a wet bag, which is also somewhere to put a damp washcloth on the way home. One option is the Bumkins Waterproof Wet Bag.
Grooming tools and a thermometer on the road
Keep the tools small and clean. A soft brush, a comb and a nail file travel easily. If you use baby nail clippers or small scissors, look them up on CATSA's website before packing, because sharp items can have their own rules for carry-on bags. A thermometer travels best in its case with a spare battery, and a nasal aspirator, if you use one, goes in clean and dry in its own small bag.
Before you leave, look up the nearest pharmacy to where you are staying. If your baby is unwell while you are away, a local doctor, a pharmacist or the health line for that province can advise you.
Flying within Canada: check CATSA before you pack
Domestic flights go through security screening. CATSA, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, runs that screening and publishes the current guidance on liquids, gels, medications and baby items in carry-on bags. That guidance can change, so read CATSA's website close to your travel date instead of relying on what applied on your last trip, and check your airline for its own baggage rules, including carry-on size.
- Keep liquids in an easy-to-reach pocket so you can take them out quickly if asked.
- Pack bags and containers you can open and reseal one-handed, in case a screening officer wants a closer look.
- If you are unsure about one item, pack it so it can move to the checked bag at the last minute.
Carry-on or checked bag
A simple split is to carry on whatever you would need if the checked bag arrives late, and check the rest.
- Carry-on: a day or two of toiletries in small containers, the thermometer, any medicines, a change of clothes and the wipes you will use in transit.
- Checked: full-size bottles and spares, each sealed in its own bag.
Many parents carry the essentials in a diaper backpack. One option is the Mancro Travel Diaper Bag Backpack with Insulated Bottle Pockets, and another is the Dikaslon Diaper Bag Backpack with Changing Pad, Black. Browse our diaper bags collection and compare the size on each product page against your airline's limits.
If you are driving in winter, do not leave toiletries in a cold car overnight without checking each label for storage directions.
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Prices are on each product page. Free shipping on orders of $100 or more within Canada.
Restocking when you get home
- Unpack the toiletry bag the day you return, and hang or lay out damp items to dry.
- Wash and dry any decanting containers so they are ready for next time.
- Throw out any open travel-size item that has gone past its expiry date or that you are no longer sure about.
- Put the thermometer and the grooming tools back where they live at home, so they are not left in the suitcase.
- Note what ran out and reorder well before the next trip. Each product page shows how the item ships, so leave time for delivery.
Common questions
Can I put baby wash into a travel bottle myself?
For everyday toiletries, many families do, using a clean, dry, labelled container. Check the original label for storage directions first. Medicines stay in their original containers.
Does baby wash count as a liquid at airport security?
Pack it as though it does: in a small, sealed container that is easy to take out of the bag. Then confirm on CATSA's website how toiletries and baby items are handled for your travel date, because the guidance can change.
How much should I pack for a weekend?
Think in terms of your daily routine plus one spare day, not millilitres, because bottle sizes vary. Check the product page for the size of any travel pack before ordering.
If you would like help building a travel kit for your baby, write to us through the contact page. Tell us where you are going and for how long, and we will reply within one business day.