Packing for a holiday with a baby or toddler is its own particular form of chaos. You’re trying to cover every weather eventuality, keep the suitcase under 23kg, and avoid the situation where your child’s entire holiday wardrobe is rendered unwearable by one rogue ice cream on day two.
The right clothing makes a real difference. Not just aesthetically (although this is usually long forgotten by the 2nd child!) but practically. The best travel clothes for kids are soft enough for long journeys, tough enough for the mess from multiple meals and play, easy to layer, and forgiving when things go a little wrong. Which, with a toddler, is always.
Here are the brands we rate for travelling with babies and toddlers, and why.
Quick links: the brands we love
| Brand | Good for | Discount |
|---|---|---|
| Cozy Crew Club | Travel day comfort, bamboo softness | LITTLEBRIT12 – 12% off |
| Kite Clothing | Sunny destinations, organic cotton | – |
| All Things Dylan | Everyday holiday wear, capsule wardrobe | ALTLBA10 – 10% off |
| Spotty Otter | Outdoor and active trips, waterproofs | – |
| Sleeping Stars | Toddler sleeping bags for travel | Littlebrits10 – 10% off |
What to look for in kids travel clothing
Before we get into the brands, a quick word on what actually matters when dressing small people for holidays:
- Soft, breathable fabrics – babies and toddlers are sensitive to scratchy or stiff materials, and long travel days in uncomfortable clothing are nobody’s idea of fun
- Easy layers – temperatures vary dramatically between plane, airport, car and destination; pieces that work together and can be added or removed quickly are worth their weight
- Wash and wear – machine washable at 30–40 degrees and quick-drying is non-negotiable when you’re travelling with a toddler
- Durability – kids’ travel clothing takes a battering; quality that holds up to repeated washing and enthusiastic play is always worth the investment
- Versatility – the fewer items that only do one job, the better
How to pack kids clothes for travel (and what to wear on the day)
The journey itself deserves its own consideration. Airport temperatures are unpredictable, planes are either freezing or stuffy depending on your luck, and you will almost certainly be carrying more than you planned to. Here’s what works for us:
- A lightweight base layer or long-sleeve vest under a loose jumper is the sweet spot. You can add and remove without a battle
- Elasticated waistbands are non-negotiable for a toddler on a long journey. Rigid waistbands and car seats are a miserable combination
- Easy slip-on or soft-soled shoes that come off quickly (but tight enough that your little one can’t discard them when you’re not looking, which happened to us a few times as R got used to wearing shoes)
- A spare outfit in your hand luggage, always, without exception
- A Hindbag Mini Eliot backpack for your child is worth packing too – it flat-packs completely when empty so it takes up zero suitcase space, but expands into a proper toddler-sized backpack that’s sturdy enough for snacks, a toy and airport essentials. More on backpacks in our kids luggage guide.
The brands we rate
Cozy Crew Club for the journey itself
If there is one thing a long travel day calls for, it’s the softest possible clothing. Cozy Crew Club is a UK baby and toddler brand built around exactly that: super-soft bamboo and organic cotton pieces in relaxed, easy-to-layer silhouettes. Think ribbed sleepsuits, jogger sets, and matching coordinates in muted, understated colourways that are forgiving when covered in crumbs.
R has a bear tracksuit from their range that has become his go-to cosy outfit at home, and it’s coming with us on our upcoming long-haul flight to Charleston, USA. It’s the perfect travel day formula: he looks adorable (which matters more to me than I like to admit), the fabric is soft enough for him to nap in on the plane, and the fit is easy for nappy changes mid-flight without a wrestling match. Their bamboo pieces are naturally thermoregulating and hypoallergenic, which helps on long journeys where the temperature swings between freezing cabin and sticky airport.
We have a code for this one
Use LITTLEBRIT12 for 12% off your first Cozy Crew Club order.
Kite Clothing for sunny destination days
Kite is a Dorset-designed, GOTS-certified organic clothing brand for babies and children, and it’s one of the most useful holiday clothing brands to know about. Where some organic brands sacrifice fun for sustainability credentials, Kite manages both: the prints are bright, playful and beautiful, and the organic cotton quality holds up across an entire summer of wear and washing.
Their dedicated holiday collection is the obvious starting point: lightweight tees, shorts, dresses and coordinates designed for warm-weather destinations, all in 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton. The pieces are designed to mix and match, which is everything when you’re packing for a week in the sun and trying to cover every combination without overpacking. The brand has been going since 2007 and it’s clear from their reviews that their clothes are built to be handed down, which makes the price point feel very justified. You’re not buying throwaway holiday kit.
Spotty Otter for active and adventurous trips
If your holiday involves beaches, hiking, countryside, or anywhere that a toddler is likely to get gloriously filthy (so any holiday really), Spotty Otter is the brand you need. This independent UK brand has been making award-winning waterproof outdoor clothing for children since 2007, and it does what it says: truly waterproof (we’re talking 8,000–10,000mm ratings), windproof, and built to outlast even the most spirited childhood. They also partner with UK National Parks and the Wild Otter Trust, which I think says everything about their ethos.
For the first time on a holiday we had to pack waterproofs for our recent Scotland trip, and they became a staple in our daily wardrobe. R could splash in puddles on the Isle of Skye and play on the beach on greyer days without us having to think twice about it, and why shouldn’t we just let toddlers be toddlers? The waterproof dungarees are Spotty Otter’s hero product, generously sized to pull straight over regular clothes, with elasticated waists, taped seams and reflective trims. They also do fleece-lined jackets for cooler destinations, merino thermal layers, and waterproof splashsuits for the youngest adventurers.
All Things Dylan for retro-inspired holiday wear
All Things Dylan is a UK kids clothing brand with a strong aesthetic (think arty, retro-inspired). Their collections are curated from independent, quality brands that are both built to last as well as celebrates individuality. They also stock the Hindbag Mini Eliot backpack – our pick for the best flat-pack kids travel bag (more on that in our kids luggage guide).
We have a code for this one too
Use ALTLBA10 for 10% off at All Things Dylan.
MORI for sensitive skin
MORI’s signature fabric, a blend of 70% bamboo and 30% organic cotton, sits in a similar space to Cozy Crew Club but with a slightly more minimal, Scandi-influenced feel. The thermoregulating properties are particularly useful for the temperature swings of airports and planes, and the fabric gets softer with every wash rather than bobbling or fading, which justifies the more premium price tag (although their sales are very good).
Their two-way zip sleepsuits have become both a home and travel staple for good reason: easy to get on and off and soft enough to cozy up in on a long flight. For newborns especially, where the gap between sleepsuit and daywear is essentially non-existent anyway, MORI is one of the best investments you can make.
Worth knowing too: MORI also do a swimwear range, which is worth picking up at the same time as your sleepwear order. UV-protective, well-made, and in keeping with the rest of the range’s gorgeous aesthetic.
Roarsome for the holiday adventurer (and the coolest kid at the pool)
Roarsome is one of those brands that children are immediately obsessed with and parents equally love, which is a hard trick to pull off. They make character-themed, sustainable outdoor clothing for kids aged 1–10, built around a cast of animal characters: Spike the Dinosaur, Hop the Bunny, Dash the Leopard. The kind of thing a toddler will want to wear every day (and to school!).
What makes Roarsome a strong travel brand is the breadth of what they cover. Skiwear for winter mountain trips, swimwear and UV rash vests for beach and pool holidays, and rainwear for the inevitable moment the British weather follows you to Mallorca. Everything is made from recycled plastic bottles, over 700,000 recycled to date, and the quality is exceptional throughout. They appeared on Dragons’ Den, have won multiple awards including UK Kidswear Brand of the Year, and have a flagship store on Northcote Road in South West London if you want to see the full collection in person. For families who travel across different climates and seasons, Roarsome covers a lot of ground.
Mamas & Papas for holiday basics
Over 40 years in the baby and toddler space means Mamas & Papas know exactly what parents need: soft cottons, nickel-free poppers, elasticated waistbands and designs that wash well and hold their shape. Their summer baby clothing collection features lightweight rompers, playsuits and coordinates in sweet seasonal prints, and is a solid, accessible option for holiday basics without the premium price point of some of the more specialist brands. Not everything needs to be a considered purchase, and sometimes you just need a few extra vests and a sun hat. Shop their baby and toddler clothing range here.
Don’t forget: sleep on holiday
Clothing is only half the battle. Getting a baby or toddler to sleep well away from home is one of the most common concerns parents raise before a trip, and one of the simplest ways to help is making sure their sleep environment feels as familiar as possible. For R, that point of continuity means his own sleeping bag.
For toddlers who are walking, traditional sleeping bag sacks create an obvious problem: they are a bit impractical when your toddler inevitably stands up in it and they can be a bit dangerous when they are taken out of the cot first thing (if you keep it on). Sleeping Stars have created a clever range of sleeping bags with feet built in, and with anti-slip soles, so your little one can stand or potter around without any risk, while still getting all the warmth of a sleeping bag.
We have a code for this one too
Use Littlebrits10 for 10% off at Sleeping Stars (excluding sale items – stackable with a new customer discount too).
I wasn’t sure if this was a bit of a gimmick but R loves his, and for colder mornings where he wants to stay warm and snuggly before going downstairs, I do think these come into their own. Made from GOTS-certified organic cotton, they are available in multiple TOG ratings for different seasons and destinations.
Beyond sleepsuits, MORI also make some of the softest sleeping bags I’ve ever felt. We invested in a few of different togs because they grow as your baby grows in size, running from 6 to 24 months, which is a useful size range because you’re not replacing it every few months. The bamboo and organic cotton blend is thermoregulating, meaning it works across seasons and climates rather than needing a separate summer and winter version if you don’t plan to travel to different climates very often.
Affordable kids travel clothing: what’s worth the money
Whichever brands you go for, a few packing principles are worth keeping front of mind. Darker colours survive toddler meals with more dignity, and a lightweight waterproof layer, however sunny the forecast, is never a decision you’ll regret.
For everything else you need to pack, our full baby travel packing list has you covered. And if you’re still sorting luggage for the little ones, our guide to kids suitcases and travel bags covers everything from ride-on cases to flat-pack backpacks.
You might also like
Best kids suitcases, ride-on luggage and travel bags – from Trunki to the Stokke JetKids BedBox, everything you need for the airport
The complete baby travel packing list – what to pack for a holiday with a baby or toddler, nothing missing
How to fly with a baby – airline policies, airport tips and everything in between
Allie, Jack & R x
This post contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It also contains some gifted items but opinions are entirely my own.
