This will be my third Umrah, but my first time going with a baby, and that alone changes everything.
I’ve traveled internationally before. I’ve done Umrah before. But traveling for Umrah with a young baby adds a whole new layer of planning, emotion, and honestly… anxiety. I’m very much a planner and preparer, especially when it comes to international travel, and having a baby only heightens that instinct.
For me, preparation is what brings peace.
Instead of winging it, I started early and worked through everything slowly from documents, to travel logistics, to baby gear, to developmental considerations. This post is a look into how I’m preparing for Umrah with my baby before the trip. I plan to update this after we return with real-life lessons and what actually worked.
A Note on Perspective
I want to be clear:
This post isn’t meant to be the perfect or only way to prepare. It’s simply what made sense for me, my baby, and our circumstances.
I’m a breastfeeding mom.
We’re traveling during Ramadan.
Saudi Arabia will be hot.
Crowds will be significant.
And my baby will be at an age where she’s starting solids, possibly teething, and still very dependent on comfort and routine.
All of that mattered in my planning.
Documents: Start Early (and Expect Extra Steps)
One of the very first things I did was apply for my baby’s passport as soon as her birth certificate arrived.
Because my husband lives abroad, this process had an extra step. He wasn’t able to apply in person, so we had to complete additional paperwork, have it signed and notarized, and then mailed from Nigeria to the U.S. It added time, but once everything was gathered, the process itself was smooth.
For her passport photos, I went to Walgreens. My biggest advice here: make sure your baby isn’t tired or hungry. Otherwise, it can quickly turn chaotic. Thankfully, it went fairly easily for us.
We had a passport appointment at the post office, and as long as all documents were prepared ahead of time, the appointment itself was quick. We were in and out, and her passport arrived about a week later.
Travel Arrangements: Flights First, Everything Else Second
The first thing we looked at was flights, not just pricing, but dates that made sense logistically and financially.
We ended up booking with Qatar Airways. I’ve flown with them before and had good experiences, the food is halal (and actually good), and overall the service has always been solid for long-haul international flights.
Once flights were booked, everything else started falling into place.
Hotels: Balancing Proximity, Budget, and Reality
Booking hotels during Ramadan required flexibility. Availability was limited, and prices near the Haram were significantly higher.
In both Makkah and Madinah, we chose hotels that are a short drive from the Haram, which allowed us to stay within our budget while still having a comfortable place to rest during Umrah.
Ideally, staying within walking distance would have been easier especially with a baby, but it simply wasn’t realistic for us financially. If you can afford a hotel closer to the Haram, I would absolutely recommend it. For us, we chose what made sense within our budget and planned accordingly.
Packing Lists: Where the Real Planning Begins
This is where my meticulous planning really kicked in.
I started with:
- A packing list
- A separate “need to buy” list
I had to think about my comfort as well as my baby’s comfort, and how to reduce stress as much as possible once we arrived. I focused on baby gear that prioritized:
- Portability
- Ease of use
- Comfort
- Minimal bulk
I also had to think developmentally:
- She’ll be eating solids
- She may be teething
- She still needs safe spaces to rest and play
- She’ll need familiarity in an unfamiliar environment
Baby Gear: The Most Thought-Through Decision
I went back and forth so many times on baby gear, especially strollers and car seats.
One of my top priorities was having a safe place for my baby to be put down in the hotel, whether for play, rest, or just hands-free moments. Just as important, I wanted a stroller that would allow her to be comfortable during long days and nights out. With travel days already demanding, I wanted gear that felt supportive rather than cumbersome.
A Sleep Space for Baby
Originally, I planned to bring our Graco Pack ’n Play so we’d have a familiar, contained space for the baby in the hotel. However, after thinking it through, I decided not to bring it. Since we co-sleep and the Pack ’n Play is fairly bulky, I wanted to reduce the amount of gear we were traveling with.
Instead, I plan to improvise when needed by using what we’ll already have with us, the car seat, stroller, or the bed with pillows (always with close supervision). For this trip, keeping things lighter and more manageable felt more important than bringing extra equipment.
Stroller & Car Seat Decisions
This part took weeks of late-night research.
I own a Doona, which I originally purchased knowing we’d be traveling. While it’s incredibly convenient, it’s also heavy, and babies can’t safely sleep in it for extended periods while reclined.
After a lot of deliberation, I decided to:
- Skip the Doona
- Bring a compact travel stroller that:
- Fully or nearly reclines to comfortable rest
- Has a large canopy for sun protection
- Is lightweight
- Folds easily for taxi transitions and navigating the airport
- Bring a spare infant car seat for airport and longer transit days
During our stay, I plan to leave the car seat at the hotel since our drives will be short. But for my peace of mind, having it available felt important.
This Is Just the Beginning
This post reflects how I’m preparing, not how everything will actually go. I fully expect to learn things the hard way, adjust plans, and realize I overpacked (or underpacked) certain items.
After Umrah, I plan to:
- Update this post
- Share what I actually used
- Share what I didn’t need
- Share what I wish I had brought
If you’re preparing for Umrah with a baby too, I hope this gives you a starting point and reassurance that it’s okay to plan carefully and still leave room for grace.
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