We go to the cottage with our fam in all four seasons, and I can tell you after some marathon cottage packing, unpacking and re-packing sessions… making the trip with a baby and a toddler is no joke!
We’ve got our summer cottage packing list basically down pat, so I wanted to share the complete list with you. If you’re planning a cottage/lakeside adventure with a baby in tow, I hope this list will make you feel confident that you’ve got it covered!
The Essentials:
A LOT of diapers and wipes (we use wipes for clean-up when we can’t get to a sink, too)
Summer clothes and extra onesies (because babies)
Warm clothing (while it’s temping to just pack shorts and tees, the nights gets cool and you’ll want something to warm up around the bonfire or keep your little one cozy at night)
Sound machine (drowns out any unfamiliar noises)
Sleep sack and lightweight PJs (we layer for cooler nights)
Monitor (so you can relax on the dock with a cocktail during naptime)
Travel crib (we use ours as a sleep space for baby, and it also doubles as safe space on the dock for baby to play)
Foam tiles and toys (creates a water-friendly and safe play area when you don’t need babe to be fully contained or if they’re not mobile yet)
For Outdoor Fun:
Reusable swim diapers (wash, hang them in the sun to dry, and you’re covered for a whole summer of swimming)
Sun safe swimwear
Wide-brimmed lightweight sunhat (so they can wear it in the water too)
Water shoes (because if they’re wading in the water the stones/rough bottom could he hard on their soft toesies)
Water-safe natural sunscreen
Family-friendly bug spray
Elastic UV Bug Netting (we cover our portable crib with this when we bring it outside, and it makes a perfect play space away from sun and bugs)
Lifejacket
Floatie (we use a Stage 1 infant float in the lake for all of our babes, and it keep them upright, shaded and happy while they swim with the big kids!)
Are you a cottage packing veteran? Is there anything we missed? Anything you have on your packing list that we need to add? Let me know below, and happy summer travels!
