You've booked the flight, chosen the accommodation, packed your bags with almost surgical precision. Then comes that moment almost every family experiences: the list suddenly grows, and you realize you haven't planned anything for your child to sleep, ride, or travel safely once you reach your destination. Having assisted hundreds of traveling families, we've seen almost every possible scenario. This guide takes you step-by-step toward a trip without blind spots.
What we really forget (not what we think we forget)
Even the most prepared parents rarely forget a comfort object or diapers. What they forget is the essential equipment: what allows baby to sleep, move around, and eat safely at the destination.
A family arriving at a hotel at 10 PM with an exhausted baby and no suitable bed is a scenario we see regularly. The same goes for the stroller left at home because they thought they could "manage with the baby carrier." These oversights don't come from poor organization. They come from a checklist that is too generic.
What most guides don't mention: baby travel gear falls into two distinct categories. What you carry with you, and what you can have delivered to your destination. Distinguishing between the two from the start of preparation changes everything about logistics.
Bébé Solutions Tip
Before making your list, ask yourself one question: what absolutely needs to be there on the first night? A travel crib is the top priority.
Everything else can be adapted. We deliver directly to your hotel, Airbnb, or to our drop-off points in Montreal, Longueuil, Quebec City, and Gatineau, by reservation.
The checklist according to your child's age
A generic checklist will leave you with unnecessary items and critical omissions. Needs change radically between a 3-month-old infant and a 2-year-old walking child.
A baby under 6 months needs a firm, flat, certified sleep surface. An 18-month-old who wakes up alone at night needs bed rails. A 3-year-old in a compact stroller can handle an ultralight model, whereas an infant requires an approved bassinet. Your child's age should dictate your list, not the guide's format.
- Infant (0 to 6 months): travel crib with firm, flat base, bassinet or car seat group 0+, light blankets suitable for the season
- 6 to 12 months: travel crib with mesh sides or rail, compact stroller with recline position, portable bottle warmer
- 12 to 24 months: playard or travel crib, high chair or travel booster seat, lightweight stroller for long days
- 2 to 5 years: car seat approved for the destination country, optional stroller depending on planned distances
- All ages: travel medical kit, health documents, age-appropriate sunscreen
Car seat for travel: the safety mistake not to make
Bringing your own car seat on a plane seems like the simplest solution. It's not always the safest, and sometimes not possible depending on the destination country.
Before any international trip, turn your car seat over and look for the certification sticker on the shell. CMVSS 213 means the seat is authorized in Canada. ECE R44 or i-Size means it is approved in Europe only. This 30-second check can prevent refusal at a road check or, worse, an accident with a non-compliant seat.
Common mistake
Checking the car seat as checked baggage. Invisible impacts in the hold can compromise the internal structure without leaving visible marks. A seat damaged this way no longer protects your child properly. If you cannot take it in the cabin, renting a certified seat at your destination is the safest solution.
| My situation | What I do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| I am traveling by plane to Canada or the United States | I check for CMVSS 213 certification on my seat and take it into the cabin if possible | Only valid certification in North America. Checked baggage risks damaging the seat without leaving a trace. |
| I am traveling to Europe with my own seat | I verify that my seat has ECE R44 or i-Size certification | A CMVSS-only seat is not legally compliant in Europe. |
| I cannot bring my seat into the cabin | I rent a certified car seat at my destination | Ensures compliance, no risk of damage in checked baggage, simplified logistics. |
| I am staying in Montreal, Longueuil, or Quebec City with a visitor | I book a delivery to the accommodation address via Bébé Solutions | Certified seat delivered on-site, no transport or compatibility worries. |
What your accommodation "provides": check before you arrive
A baby bed mentioned on the hotel's website might be a mattress on the floor, an outdated bassinet, or equipment unsuitable for your child's age. Don't assume anything.
A question our clients regularly ask us: "The hotel says they have a baby bed, do I still need to plan for one?" Our answer is always the same. Ask for the exact model by email before you arrive. If the answer is vague or imprecise, plan to bring your own equipment.
A compact travel crib or a travel crib like the Bugaboo Stardust can be delivered directly to your accommodation, guaranteeing a certified surface, suitable for your child's age, from the very first night.
| My situation | What I do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| I'm staying in a hotel for a weekend | I book a compact travel crib delivered to the hotel | Lightweight, certified, delivered on-site. No transport, first night guaranteed. |
| I'm staying in an Airbnb or chalet for a week | I rent a Bugaboo Stardust travel crib | Firm surface, generous dimensions, suitable for infants and toddlers. |
| I'm visiting family for 3 to 5 days | I bring an ultralight travel crib in my carry-on bag | Easy to transport, sets up in seconds, certified for sleep. |
| My baby is under 6 months old | I verify that the travel crib's base is firm and perfectly flat first and foremost | Pediatric requirement. Non-negotiable, regardless of the chosen solution. |
Bébé Solutions Tip
When the hotel replies to your email with "we have a baby bed available" without specifying the model, consider it a non-answer. Explicitly ask: what model, what year of manufacture, and if the base is firm and flat. If you don't get this information, plan to bring your own travel crib.
Often underestimated equipment for a successful stay
Some equipment does not naturally appear on a standard checklist, and its absence is felt from the very first hours at the destination.
The travel high chair is a perfect example. One assumes that the restaurant or accommodation will have one. This is not always the case, and the chairs available on-site are not always suitable for the child's age or size.
The same goes for the compact stroller: families who leave "without a stroller to travel light" often call us after two days of walking tours, with tired arms and an exhausted child. An ultracompact stroller like the YOYO² folds in one motion and fits as carry-on luggage on most flights.
Bébé Solutions Tip
If you plan to spend time outdoors, on trails or uneven terrain, consider a baby carrier.
Managing unforeseen events during travel: the concrete plan B
Even the best checklist doesn't predict everything. What makes the difference is having identified your plan B before leaving, not when the unexpected happens.
A stroller damaged upon exiting the baggage carousel, a hotel baby bed that isn't suitable, a car seat that is ultimately incompatible with the vehicle rented at the airport. These situations happen. What they have in common is that they are much less stressful when you already know what to do.
Take a timestamped photo of each piece of equipment before boarding. If your travel gear comes back damaged from the hold, this photo is your best proof for a claim with the airline. This takes ten seconds and can save you weeks of hassle.
To remember
- Take a timestamped photo of each piece of equipment before checking it into the hold
- Confirm the hotel's baby bed by email with the exact model, not just a verbal confirmation
- Check the certification of your car seat before any international trip (CMVSS 213 for North America, ECE R44 or i-Size for Europe)
- Never put a car seat in the hold: internal damage is invisible but real
- Identify a rental service capable of delivering to your accommodation address before you leave, not after
In Montreal, Longueuil, Quebec City, and Gatineau, Bébé Solutions delivers equipment directly to your accommodation address upon reservation. A replacement can be arranged quickly if an unforeseen event occurs during your trip. This is the Plan B we systematically recommend to all families we assist, regardless of their level of preparation.
If you wish to see all available rental equipment, consult all our rentals or directly browse our selection of equipment delivered to hotels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my car seat in the airplane cabin?
Yes, in most cases, if you have a ticket for your child and the seat is approved for air travel (check for the "aircraft use permitted" label). Contact your airline before departure to confirm accepted dimensions and conditions. If in doubt, renting at your destination remains the simplest and safest solution.
The hotel says they have a baby bed. Is that enough?
Not without verification. A hotel baby bed can be an old folding playpen, a mattress on the floor, or equipment whose age or certification you don't know. Ask for the exact model by email. If the answer is imprecise, book your own certified travel crib delivered on-site.
How do I know if my car seat is approved for Europe?
Turn your seat over and look for the sticker on the shell. CMVSS 213 means approved in Canada only. ECE R44 or i-Size means approved in Europe. If you don't have the correct certification for your destination, it's better to rent a certified seat on-site than risk legal non-compliance or insufficient protection.
Can a stroller go in checked baggage without risk?
Checked baggage exposes equipment to shocks and handling that can damage the frame or folding mechanisms. Take a timestamped photo of your stroller before handing it over for checked baggage. If it comes back damaged, this photo is your proof for a claim. If you prefer to avoid this risk, some ultralight strollers fit as carry-on luggage.
Can Bébé Solutions deliver to my hotel on my arrival day?
Yes, we deliver directly to your accommodation address in Montreal, Longueuil, Quebec City, and Gatineau, by reservation. Consult our hotel delivery page to see available equipment and terms. We recommend booking before your departure to guarantee availability upon your arrival.
What's the difference between a playard and a travel crib for a trip?
A compact playard is ideal for short stays in hotels or with family: lightweight, quick to set up, easy to transport. A travel crib (like the Bugaboo Stardust) offers a larger and firmer surface, better suited for longer stays in an Airbnb or chalet, and for infants who need more space. The child's age and the duration of the stay are the two decisive criteria.
Do I need to bring a high chair when traveling?
If your child eats at the table and you plan several meals outside the hotel, yes. Restaurants don't always have suitable chairs, and those available on-site aren't always appropriate for the child's age or size. A compact travel booster seat slips easily into a bag and adapts to almost any chair.