Maui Baby Travel Essentials | Family Travel to Hawaii Tips

Traveling to Maui with a Baby: Essentials for Families with Infants

Planning a trip to Maui (or anywhere in Hawaii) with kids, especially a baby under one year old? As a Maui-based photographer and mom of three, I know how overwhelming it can feel traveling with little ones. Adam and I have put together our tried-and-true list of essentials to make your trip smoother, more comfortable, and a little more fun for everyone!

---

Travel Must-Haves for Hawaii Travel with Babies

Here are some of the items we personally use and recommend:

1. Lillebaby Airflow Carrier
Lightweight, breathable, and perfect for warm weather walks and airport travel. We bought this carrier with our first nearly 10 years ago. After all that, it STILL holds up for our third child! The airflow is perfect for the hot, humid weather we tend to have in Hawaii, and is great for beach walks and hikes.
👉 Shop it here

2. Strap Swaddle
I think this one is especially useful for those staying in an Airbnb. For example, a swaddle strap! Personally, since we don’t have AC, we try to keep dressing really light for naps. However, that Moro reflex can be tricky to manage while also avoiding overheating the baby. That’s why I absolutely love this strap. It’s perfect for helping baby nap comfortably—without needing heaps of clothing or thick swaddles. Even when we tried the lowest TOG sleep bag, it still felt a little too warm; in contrast, this strap was just right.
👉 Find it here

3. Sun Protection Swimwear
Because babies’ skin is extra sensitive, sun-protective swimwear is a must when visiting Hawaii. That’s why we love SwimZip’s zip-up suits for everyone in our family. Not only do they offer great protection, but they also come in heaps of cute, high-visibility prints—making them perfect for water safety.
👉 Shop SwimZip with 10% off using code LOVEANDWATER

4. Comfy Clothes for Baby from Cocomoon
We can’t say enough about Cocomoon Hawaii! This local business (who we collaborated with a few years back) uses breathable fabric that’s perfect for Hawaii weather—bonus points for their adorable island-inspired prints!
👉 Get 20% off with this link

5. Reef-Safe Sunscreen (Hawaii Act 104 Compliant)
First and foremost, it’s important to protect your family while also protecting the reef. After all, we’re big on sustainability—especially when it comes to traveling to Hawaii and caring for the land and sea! With that in mind, we recommend avoiding spray sunscreens. Instead, opt for reef-safe options. Additionally, be sure to apply them at least 15–20 minutes before entering the ocean. Ideally, you can do this before leaving your accommodation; otherwise, the sunscreen will wash right off as soon as you get in the water.

With all that said, here are a few of our favorite reef-safe sunscreens:

• Project Reef Mineral Sunscreen from Amazon
• Eezy Sun

6. Pumping Gear for Traveling Moms
For breastfeeding moms, this travel-friendly pump and cooler make pumping on the go much easier. I use this pump while working at home but can totally see how easy this would be to use on the go! It’s very easy to use and clean.

• Wearable breast pump
• Portable cooler for milk storage

Next On Your List: Capture Your Maui Memories with a Family Photoshoot!

While you’re here on Maui, we encourage you to consider booking a sunrise family photoshoot with our team. Not only do we specialize in capturing families with young children, but we also understand how important it is to keep things simple, relaxed, and fun. In fact, even if your little one is still adjusting to the time change, we know how to make the experience enjoyable. After all, our goal is always to create beautiful, stress-free memories for your family to look back on!

Tip: For families visiting from the mainland, sunrise sessions usually work best in the first couple of days of your trip. Your little ones will likely be up early due to jet lag, anyway, so why not ease into vacation with a splash?

Learn more and book your session here: Love + Water Photography

---

Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through them. It helps support our small business, and we truly appreciate it!