What to Pack for Thailand With a Baby: What We Actually Used
Packing for Thailand with a baby felt completely different from packing for any trip we'd taken before.
We were going for a month. It was going to be hot. We didn't know how easy diapers, baby food, laundry or other supplies would be to find. And because we were travelling with an eight-month-old, it was very tempting to pack for every possible scenario.
The good news?
We needed far less than we thought.
After spending a month travelling around Thailand with Parker, our Thailand baby packing list looks very different from the one we would have made before we left.
If you're wondering what to pack for Thailand with a baby, here's what we'd bring if we were doing the trip again tomorrow.
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The Things We'd Absolutely Bring Again
1. Full-Body UV Swimwear
If I could recommend one piece of clothing for a baby in Thailand, it would probably be this.
Parker practically lived in his full-body UV suits from Honeysuckle Swim Company.
Between beaches, pools and the Thai sun, having most of his skin covered made our lives so much easier. Instead of constantly trying to sunscreen a squirmy baby from head to toe, we mainly had to worry about his face, hands and feet.
We used these almost every day for the entire month.
2. Our hope&plum Baby Carrier
We didn't actually bring a stroller to Thailand - and honestly, we didn't miss it nearly as much as I expected.
We brought our hope&plum carrier instead, and it ended up being one of our most-used pieces of baby gear.
Between uneven sidewalks, stairs, ferries, beaches and places that simply weren't designed with strollers in mind, being able to put Parker in the carrier and keep going made travelling so much easier.
It was also one less bulky piece of gear to deal with in taxis, airports and hotel rooms.
If we were doing Thailand again at this age, I'd choose the carrier over the stroller again.
Do You Need a Stroller in Thailand?
We didn't bring one.
Before the trip, I wasn't completely sure whether we'd regret that decision, but for the way we travelled, the carrier was enough.
That's not to say you shouldn't bring a stroller. If your baby naps well in one, you plan to spend lots of time in malls or resorts, or you simply prefer having somewhere to put your baby down, a lightweight travel stroller could absolutely be worthwhile.
But I wouldn't consider a stroller essential for Thailand.
For us, travelling without one meant one less large item to haul around — and our carrier handled the situations where we otherwise would have used it.
4. A Good Sun Hat
This sounds obvious, but bring one your baby will actually keep on.
We spent so much time outside that a sun hat became part of Parker's everyday outfit.
I'd choose something lightweight, washable and with good coverage around the face and neck.
5. A Small Amount of Familiar Baby Food
You do not need to pack a month's worth of baby food.
We found baby food and snacks in Thailand, and Parker ate plenty of what we were eating.
But I would still bring enough familiar food or pouches to get through travel days and the first couple of days after arriving.
After a long flight and a huge time change, having something you already know your baby will eat is worth the luggage space.
What About Diapers?
This was one of my biggest questions before we left.
Don't pack a month's worth of diapers.
We found diapers easily at larger stores like Lotus's and at other shops throughout tourist areas.
There was one catch: in Parker's size, we mostly found pull-up style diapers rather than the tab-style diapers we normally used.
It wasn't a big deal, but it took some getting used to.
Next time I'd bring enough diapers for roughly the first few days and then buy the rest after arriving.
If your baby has sensitive skin or needs a particular brand, I'd bring more.
What We Wouldn't Overpack
Clothes
Thailand is hot, laundry is readily available in tourist areas, and baby clothes are tiny.
We brought more clothing than Parker needed.
I'd pack enough for several days—not several weeks—and plan to do laundry.
Toys
We didn't need many.
A few small favourites were plenty. Everything around Parker was new and interesting anyway.
Beaches, restaurant menus, water bottles and hotel rooms somehow provided endless entertainment.
Baby Food
Again: less than you think.
Unless your baby has dietary requirements or is particularly selective, I wouldn't sacrifice half a suitcase to food.
What About a Travel Crib?
This depends heavily on your accommodation.
Before hauling a travel crib across the world, ask your hotels whether they provide a crib or cot.
If you're staying somewhere without one, renting baby equipment at your destination can also be worth considering rather than checking another bulky piece of luggage.
What We Bought in Thailand Instead
We had no trouble finding everyday essentials in the more developed places we visited.
In Koh Samui, for example, we found diapers, wipes, formula, baby snacks and groceries at Lotus's, with smaller essentials available from Tops and 7-Eleven.
That changed the way I'd pack for Thailand next time.
Instead of asking:
“What could we possibly need during the next month?”
I'd ask:
“What do we need until we can get to a supermarket?”
That is a much smaller suitcase.
Our Thailand Baby Packing List
If we were leaving tomorrow, here's what would actually make the cut:
Baby gear:
Baby carrier
Lightweight stroller
Travel crib only if accommodation doesn't provide one
Baby monitor if needed
Beach & sun:
2–3 full-body UV swimsuits
2 reusable swim diapers
Sun hat
Baby-safe sunscreen
Small beach blanket
Feeding:
Bottles/cups normally used at home
A few familiar snacks or pouches
Bibs
Any essential feeding equipment your baby already relies on
Diapering:
Enough diapers for the first few days
Wipes
Portable change mat
Diaper cream
Clothing:
Lightweight outfits
Sleepwear
A light layer for air-conditioned airports, malls and transportation
Comfortable travel-day clothes
Travel day:
Extra change of clothes for baby
Extra shirt for each parent
More diapers than you think you'll need
Plastic/wet bag
Favourite small toy
Familiar food
Anything required for sleep
The Biggest Thing We Learned
You don't need to bring your entire house to Thailand.
Thailand was actually one of the easier places we've travelled with Parker because so much of what we needed was available once we arrived.
The items that earned their place in our luggage weren't the “just in case” things.
They were the things we used again and again: our carrier, lightweight stroller, UV swimwear, swim diapers and a handful of familiar baby essentials.
Pack those.
Buy the everyday consumables when you arrive.
And leave yourself a little empty suitcase space.
You'll probably be glad you did.
Planning Thailand With a Baby?
We've put together everything we learned from our trip:
→ Thailand With a Baby: Our Complete Family Travel Guide
→ Koh Samui With a Baby: Everything We Wish We'd Known
