If the idea of travelling to Bali with a baby sounds a little overwhelming, you’re not alone. But after over 30 trips to Bali, getting married on the island, and now travelling there regularly with our two kids, I can confidently say it’s one of the best destinations in the world for families – yes, even with a baby in tow!
As a half-Indonesian mum, I’ve experienced Bali through every lens – solo, as a couple, pregnant, with a baby, with a toddler, and now with two little ones. We’ve done the early wakeups, the naps-on-the-go, the nappy changes in beach clubs, the 3am bottle feeds in villas – and we’ve learned a lot along the way.
So, if you’re planning a family getaway and wondering whether Bali with a baby is a good idea, this guide is for you. From what to pack to how to book nannies, navigate transport, and choose the right accommodation, this post will walk you through everything you need to know about travelling to Bali with a baby.
The good news? Bali is incredibly kid-friendly. Locals adore children, and the laid-back island vibe means you can go at your own pace. It’s also surprisingly affordable to travel in comfort – think private villas, nanny services, and family-friendly resorts, all at a fraction of the price you’d pay elsewhere.
Let’s dive in.
What to Pack for Bali with a Baby
I searched numerous blog posts looking for up-to-date and real-life information from people travelling to Bali with a baby, but nothing seemed to be thorough enough.
During our Bali Itinerary, the number one used item was our Redbaby Skip pram. I knew we would use it a lot because we took it on two other occasions with Kylo, and it got a lot of use. I’ve seen a lot of posts saying not to bring one because pathways are usually damaged or non-existent. Instead, they suggest a carrier?! I did use the carrier, but only in the morning or at night, when we were out and about during her nap times. It is way too hot to use during the middle of the day.
The travel pram is so handy at the airport.
Another item I recommend packing for babies is any medications, especially mosquito repellent. We took over Moogoo Swat off Tail roll on and Mozzie Patch co patches. I also sprayed a the local repellent that you can get from any little mart (there are lots everywhere) all around her pram. We also used this one for ourselves. It’s called Soffel, and it’s about $1.
Zadi and I didn’t get a single bite. Which was good because I had seen posts saying that the mosquitoes were very bad at the moment, and there was a rise in dengue fever cases. We didn’t see too many mosquitoes whilst we were away. Our son only got a couple, which is pretty good for him, considering they usually target him!
Other than mosquito repellent, I also like to take baby Panadol.
The other item I brought from home was nappies! They obviously do have nappies in Bali, but they are not the same quality as back home. They are also pants (that we use here when transitioning or toilet training) and they leak, especially at night. I decided i would bring all the nappies I needed, but if that isn’t an option due to space in your luggage, I suggest packing some for the nights you are away and then using local nappies for daytime.
I took 5 per day we were away, and then about 10 spares. I think in total it was 70.
Zadi is was only 5 months at the time of our trip to Bali, so she didn’t really need to be in the pool. I packed a couple of disposable swim nappies and 2 reusable ones. I didn’t use any disposables. If your baby is swimming regularly, I would suggest bringing some kind of swim nappy as they aren’t easily accessible and quite expensive when you do find them!
When it comes to packing for Bali with a baby, less is more – but there are definitely a few essentials that will make your life easier.
- Packing cubes! I love them. They make finding things so much easier. Plus you can keep everything relatively neat while living in a suitcase. I have a different colour for each family member.
Lightweight stroller or baby carrier (depending on your travel style, my style is both :))
Nappies: You can buy them in Bali, but bring your preferred brand for nights
Swim nappies for beach or pool days
UV swimwear, hats and baby sunscreen – the sun is strong in Bali! We love Wotnot for babies.
White noise machine – something portable that you can also use for the pram is great.
Formula or baby food: There are some options in Bali, but the quality isn’t as good.
Small medical kit: Baby Panadol, mozzie repellent(special one for babies we loved it and zadi didnt get a single bite), mozzie patches, teething relief, Hydra Mama, probiotics
Baby wipes and hand sanitiser, Milton tablets(for sterilising), antibacterial wipes, foldable bucket
- A power board – lots of things need to be charged these days, especially if you have a white noise machine and monitor. A power board makes it significantly easier to plug everything in, and you only need one adapter. We use this adapter.
- A couple of toys and teethers, a mini play mat
- I got these little spinner toys for the plane
- Pack a light swaddle – can be used to cover from the sun
- I also packed a travel bottle cleaner kit that I got from Amazon. I didn’t end up using this as Zadi still wouldn’t take a bottle.
- A portable fan you can pop on the pram to keep bub cool is also very handy!
A note on baby food: Bali has an increasing number of organic baby food brands available at supermarkets like Pepito, Popular and Bintang. But if you’re on a strict routine, it’s always safer to bring what you’re used to.
Water and Washing in Bali with a Baby
This one probably gave me the most anxiety before going. Before I left, most people I’d spoken to said they just did a quick wash in the shower without putting the baby’s head under the water. I wasn’t super keen on this, so I bought a foldable bucket from Amazon. I thought it would be used as a bath for Zadi, but can also be used for steriliser bottles and her toys and then also washing her clothes.
I ended up giving her a couple of showers in some places as it was just easier some nights if it was already late etc but for the most part she had baths in her bucket.
Let’s talk about daily life with bub in Bali – feeding, bathing, washing bottles, etc.
Water: Stick to bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth, and cleaning bottles. Never use tap water.
Laundry: Most villas and hotels offer in-house laundry, or you can use affordable laundromats for daily clothes and bibs. I used the laundry service for our clothes, but for Zadis I hand-washed them in the foldable bucket. I brought a little bit of sensitive baby washing powder in a ziplock bag.
Food prep: Hire or request a kettle, fridge and microwave for heating food/milk.
Sterilising: We used sterilising tablets (Milton) – very helpful if bub is bottle-fed or teething.
Some high-end villas even have in-house kitchens with a blender, toaster and everything you need for solids or purées! We stayed in 3 villas (and 3 hotels) during this trip and all villas had a fully equipped kitchen.
Nanny Services in Bali
One of the biggest perks of Bali with a baby? Affordable, trustworthy nanny services.
We love having a nanny whilst we are in Bali. We have used one during every trip with Kylo, and this time with Zadi was even more helpful.
Hiring a nanny can make your holiday so much more relaxing. Whether it’s for a date night, a spa treatment, or just having an extra set of hands during the day, there are incredible Balinese nannies with years of experience looking after visiting families.
Our beautiful nanny Mar charges 100,000 Rp (for 2 kids) per hour for a minimum of 5 hours with a 100,000 Rp daily travel fee. Works out to be $10 an hour and around $60 a day. We usually booked her for 5-6 hour,s with a couple of occasions she stayed for around 10 hours whilst we dipped in and out.
A few things to know:
Nannies typically charge 80,000–150,000 IDR/hour ($8–15 AUD)
Some speak excellent English, others are quieter but very nurturing
Always check reviews, ask for referrals or book through trusted agencies
Want our person Nanny recommendations? Join our Facebook Group where we share their details.
I did a Q&A on Instagram, and I had many mums writing in asking about how the nanny process works, as they were feeling anxious about leaving their baby with a stranger! It’s so understandable – I was the same the first time with Kylo and then again with Zadi, but as soon as you meet the nanny and realise how nurturing and easy-going they are, the anxiety immediately leaves.
The process is that you usually find a nanny you want to book, communicate your date you will need her on WhatsApp. This can be a loose plan, but as your holiday gets close,r you will need to confirm exact dates.
Make sure if you are not planning on using them every day of your trip and you have only let them know the dates you will be in Bali that you let them know as soon as you, because they could have turned down other work. Good nannies are usually quickly booked up!
Once we arrived, we confirmed all dates and most days i got her to come around 9.30-10.00 after we got back from breakfast.
Mar would usually play or swim with Kylo during the mornings, and Matt and I would take turns either working or going out to either the spa or for a surf.
A couple of times we went out for day dates and went to the spa together or out to lunch, then also dinner, but would come and go and I’d feed Zadi as needed or Matt would swim with Kylo for a few hours and Mar would have Zadi. She was a great help and an extra set of hands whilst we were here, but then also we felt confident enough to leave her with both of them for a few hours after a couple of days.
Previously, our nanny would also take Kylo to a cafe with a playground or when we were at Maimain play centre, almost every child there was with a nanny. So really, they are up for anything!
Tip: If you’re staying in a villa, you can also ask the staff to recommend someone local. They often have family or friends who nanny part-time and are amazing with children.
Baby Food in Bali
Feeding your baby in Bali is easier than you might think. Most hotels and villas come equipped with a fridge, so you can easily stock up on simple essentials like fresh fruit, veggie sticks, cheese, eggs, and crackers. Restaurants are also incredibly baby-friendly — we found that nearly all of them offered high chairs and were happy to heat up or even puree food for us on request. Just remember to bring some wipes to clean high chairs before use.
If you’d rather not prepare food while on holiday (and we don’t blame you!), check out – They create fresh, organic baby and toddler meals and deliver them straight to your hotel or villa. From purees to snacks and toddler-friendly meals, everything is made from scratch, frozen for convenience, and caters to allergies and dietary needs. It’s an amazing option if you want nutritious meals for your little one without the fuss.
Safety with a Baby in Bali
Let’s be real – any parent’s biggest concern when travelling to Bali with a baby is safety. Here are some of the key things we consider:
Water safety: Always supervise around pools – many villas don’t have pool fences unless you request one. You can rent them via companies like Bali Villa Pool Fence or Bali Kidz Hire.
Mosquitoes: Use baby-safe repellent and dress bub in long sleeves at dusk. Consider booking a villa with indoor AC bedrooms to keep bugs away at night. We also made sure all our cots had a mini mozzie net!
Car seats: Taxis and drivers rarely provide them, so if you’re planning to move around a lot, finding a driver with a car seat is essential.
Clean water: Never drink tap water – use bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth.
Healthcare: Bali has great international medical clinics in popular areas like Seminyak, Ubud, and Canggu. BIMC and Siloam are excellent.
Transport with a Baby in Bali
For day-to-day, like getting to breakfast etc, we would walk and I’d either use our Redsbaby travel pram or carrier. For longer distances like day trips or location changes, we would organise a private driver with a car seat.
We organise our driver with a car seat through Bali Kidz Hire.
Taxis don’t usually have baby seats, and neither do Grab or Gojek. We ordered a couple of cars on Gojek to go short distances, and Zadi sat on my lap.
Options for getting around:
Hire a private driver for the day – they’ll wait while you explore and are often happy to help with bags and baby gear.
Use Grab or GoJek (Bali’s Uber-style apps) – affordable but not great for long distances or multiple stops.
Bring a portable car seat – there are compact models that work well in taxis or drivers’ cars.
Rent a scooter with a baby carrier – I do not recommend this, nor do I do it, but it is an option and I have seen many people doing it.
We usually hire a private driver for longer days out, especially if visiting areas like Ubud, Uluwatu or Sidemen. This gives us flexibility and comfort (and somewhere to leave the pram and bags).
Where to Stay in Bali with a Baby
One of the most important parts of travelling to Bali with a baby is choosing the right place to stay. Not all areas are equal when it comes to noise, access to essentials, and family-friendly vibes. The most popular family-friendly areas are probably Sanur and Nusa Dua, due to their beachfront and flat pathways, but this usually means staying in a resort. Ubud is also a favourite amongst families for the peaceful nature vibes.
We always stay in Uluwatu when we visit, and this trip with Zadi was no exception. We stayed in villas in both Bingin and Uluwatu, which we loved. We also took the kids to stay in Seseh and Sidemen this trip as we wanted to explore some different areas of Bali. We fell in love with Sidemen, our stay at Wapa di Ume was beyond perfect. I highly recommend staying there with or without kids!
Here are our top recommendations:
Seminyak
Central, easy to walk to shops and cafes, and has lots of family-friendly villas. But it can be busy, so stay slightly away from the main roads.
Family Resort- Courtyard by Marriot Seminyak , Alila Seminyak
Legian
Family Resort- Padma Resort Legian
Boutique Hotel- Astagina Resort Villa and Spa
Canggu
Trendy, full of young families, and has a great mix of cafes and playgrounds. Look for villas in Berawa for a slightly quieter vibe.
Family Resort- Holiday Inn Resort or Como Uma
Boutique Hotel-
Private Villa-
Uluwatu
Amazing views, peaceful, and ideal if you’re after a more chill holiday. Some of our favourite Uluwatu cafes are very family-friendly!
Family Resort- Uluwatu Surf Villas
Boutique Hotel- The Elementum
Private Villa- Los Cabos Villa (2 bedroom), Nisi Villa (5 bedroom), Family Nest
Sidemen
A dream for slow travel and nature lovers. It’s peaceful and scenic but less built up – ideal for a few days of recharge.
Family Resort- Wapa di Ume
Ubud
Family Resort – Maya Ubud, Padma Ubud, Wapa di Ume Ubud
Sanur
Family Resort – InterContinental Bali Sanur Resort, Prama Resort(beachfront, family fav, very affordable), Maya Sanur, Hotel Komune
Nusa Dua
Family Resort- Grand Hyatt(beachfront resort family favourite), Merusaka (beachfront, very affordable- full reviw here)
Jimbaran
Family Resort- Rimba by Ayana (resort with amazing kids club and playground)
Look for accommodation that includes:
A private pool with optional fence
A cot or portacot
Kitchenette for prepping bottles or snacks
Air conditioning
Option to hire in-villa nannies or babysitters
Things to Consider When Choosing Accommodation
When planning Bali with an infant, the little details matter. Here’s what we check before booking:
Is there air con in the bedroom?
Is the bedroom separate from the living area for naps?
Are there steps, open pool areas, or hard tiles?
Does the villa/hotel provide a high chair or baby cot?
Are there cafes, shop within walking distance
Are there clinics nearby in case of emergencies?
What’s the Wi-Fi like if you need to stream white noise or work?
Also, consider the noise level. Villas in the heart of Canggu can be surprisingly loud at night. If your baby is a light sleeper, opt for a quieter neighbourhood or a resort with better soundproofing.
What do to do with a baby in Bali
Anything you want! I’ll leave this one short because Bub can literally do all the things you want to do in Bali. I made sure to prioritise Zadi’s long midday nap most days, and she usually had this in the cot. For the morning nap ,she would do in the pram or carrier whilst we were walking to or at breakfast. I also tried to schedule long drives to meet up with her long nap. If we were mainly at the villa or pool all day, we would often go for a close-by early dinner and home in time for bedtime routine. Or if we already had a big day out, we would order dinner on Gojek.
If there are things you want to do without a baby, just hire a nanny. Otherwise, bub can tag along with you to most things.
Bonus Tips for Travelling to Bali with a Baby
Here are a few extra tips that helped us enjoy the experience more:
Arrive at the airport early extra time with kids is always a good idea. Bali’s airport has improved a lot, and families with young kids can use the priority VOA and family line at immigration. Or better yet get the E-VISA. I have a guide on how to do this here.
Avoid peak traffic times when travelling between areas.
Bring white noise: Villas are beautiful, but nature sounds (and roosters!) can be loud
Don’t overschedule: Leave space in your days for naps, unexpected delays, and slow mornings
Book airport transfers with a car seat if possible – some companies offer this
- Tips to avoid Bali Belly: Only drink bottled water, only brush your teeth with boiled water, wash baby in a small bucket with filtered water, always wash or sanitise hands.
- You can hire a lot of things! Forgot something? Or don’t have the luggage space. Run out of formula? Don’t worry just contact the guys at Bali Kidz Hire!
Travelling to Bali with a baby might sound like a lot – but trust me, it can be one of the most beautiful, enriching experiences for your whole family. With a bit of planning, the right accommodation, and some help from local nannies, Bali becomes the perfect destination to relax, reconnect and explore together.
Whether you’re soaking in a private villa pool in Uluwatu, enjoying Indonesian food in Canggu cafes, or floating through the Sidemen rice terraces with bub in a carrier, there’s no shortage of unforgettable moments.
So if you’ve been on the fence about Bali with a baby, let this be your sign. Book the trip, bring the essentials, and don’t forget to pack your sense of adventure.
Have any questions or need recommendations? Join our Facebook group, or subscribe to our email series for Bali updates, budget tips, and real stories from travelling families just like yours.
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