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Are you traveling to Barcelona with a toddler or baby? I’m sure you’re excited to come to this marvelous city, but you have doubts about what you’ll need. Will my stroller fit in on the Barcelona streets? Do restaurants have highchairs? Relax. I’ve raised three kids in Barcelona, and we’ve traveled overseas over 10 times. I also believe in being practical and realistic when it comes to packing for my kids. This post will help you eliminate the bulky baby gear and minimize your list to the necessary items. Enter – the ultimate Barcelona packing list for babies and toddlers!
What to pack for Barcelona: babies and toddlers
I know it’s stressful traveling with a baby and little children. I can vividly remember the times I’ve been back and forth in a plane from Barcelona to California. I’m the type of mom who overprepares and still breaks a sweat during the whole 12 hours on a plane. While this list is not exhaustive, they will help you when you have to carry your child in Casa Batlló or fold up your stroller in an elevator. Read on for more!
A large beach towel: A family towel will come in handy in Barcelona – especially at the beach for swimming or the park for a picnic at Ciutadella Park. In fact, I’d been looking for a design-y towel that doesn’t trap sand. (Amazon does not have it!) Tesalate actually gifted me this extra-large, sand-free towel right before I wrote this list! This Tesalate towel fits two lounging adults. But it would also be a good picnic blanket for 3 or 4 adults. It’s also super-absorbent and rolls up tightly in a bag. (You even get a drawstring bag to carry it in!). It also dries rapidly, so you could take a swim in the morning, and it would be ready to use in the afternoon.
Buy your Tesalate beach towel here
Baby carrier
A baby carrier is practical if you want to go to places where the stroller is cumbersome. Personally, I’ve never been good with a wrap-style carrier. But a friend gave me her Ergobaby carrier, and I definitely trust it! My baby’s weight felt distributed and it was easy to put on. I would not skimp and buy a cheap brand because you do want ergonomic comfort – for your baby and yourself. You will need it if you go to Casa Batlló, for example, because they have no space for pushchairs.
Need to know which Barcelona attractions are good (or bad) for bringing a baby? Read my Ultimate Guide to Barcelona with a Toddler or Baby here.)
Travel highchair
We loved our travel high chair, and it’s a must if you want your baby off your lap. (The large majority of Barcelona restaurants do not own highchairs.) I prefer this one below vs. one that is just a cloth and slips in your bag. For one, your baby needs to be “boosted” so that they can see the tabletop and aren’t hitting their head on it. With this booster seat, your baby can color or play with a toy at the table too.
Baby utensils
I always had a BPA-free plastic spoon locked and loaded in my purse when my babies were small. Of course, you can ask for a teaspoon at a restaurant. But a plastic spoon or fork is light on the baby’s gums or milk teeth. These Munchkin utensils fit perfectly in those tiny hands too.
Snack Catcher
I love love my snack catchers. My kids still use them well beyond their baby years! This is a great item if you want to give your kids crackers, apple slices, or tiny cookies. The child grabs the snack and doesn’t risk the rest of the snacks falling on the floor. It’s great to have them handy when kids are snacking in a stroller or on an airplane. It also doubles as a plastic cup! I have 4 of them!
See prices for the snack catcher
A stainless steel straw cup
Not only are these beautifully designed, but these stainless straw cups are practical too. These durable straw cups are easy to clean and they have excellent suction power. They also come in dozens of other colors. They’d be perfect to bring to keep yours or your kid’s drink cool for hours, especially during the hot Barcelona summer. It’s also powder-coated to resist chipping, peeling or melting better than any painted kids straw cups. I’d say it’s an ideal travel cup for kids or adults.
Check prices on this stainless steel travel cup
<<Need ideas on what food you can buy in a Barcelona supermarket? Read about my recommendations for supermarket kid snacks in this post.>>
A light stroller
A light, foldable stroller is a must! Know that some restaurants in Barcelona are like shoeboxes, so owners may ask you to fold your pushchair. I suggest a Maclaren stroller for their durability and lightness. Mine is 12 years old and still going! Maclarens are also narrow enough to fit in between the turnstile of the regular metro entrances in Barcelona. (They have a special entrance for wheelchairs and larger strollers though.)
Changing pad
Barcelona restaurants very often do not have a changing mat for babies. If you’re in a restaurant, sometimes you have to make do with any surface. Go with a basic pad that doesn’t fold out hugely. Sometimes you don’t have a lot of space to change your baby (like on a public bathroom counter), so it’s good to have something that folds up compactly like this one.
Optional items
A car seat
If you plan on taking a taxi, know that 99.99% of taxis do not own a car seat. You will have to pre-book a special taxi service to bring a car seat. (See my taxi recommendations that provide car seats here.) But, if you plan on renting a car, or are dead set on bringing one, I recommend this safe and super-light car seat by Cosco. We took this one to New York City, and it checks all the marks! Plus it’s easy on the budget too!
See prices for this light Cosco car seat
Psst..before we start, make sure you visit these posts after:
Things To Do With Kids in Barcelona
Things to do in Barcelona with Teens
Barcelona with a Toddler or Baby: A Complete Guide
Foods your kids will like in a Barcelona restaurant
Kid snacks you can buy in Barcelona supermarkets
Of course, bring the toys and activities that your child loves too 🙂 So what do you think? Am I missing any baby or toddler items? Let me know in the comments!
