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I am going on a trip with my 4 month old this week. Here are some tips I think are good to keep in mind when you have a long car ride.
1. Bring a few "new" toys. Whether you buy new toys, or just switch out the
ones they usually play with, this will make the car trip more fun.
2. Bring some books or musical cds for your baby to listen to or look at.
3. Be prepared and try not to get frustrated with making frequent stops. When you are traveling with a baby or young child, add about an hour or two to the normal amount of driving time your destination will take. You will need to stop for diaper changes/potty breaks and just to get out of the car seat and stretch. Not to mention eating and any detours or asking for directions.
4. They may cry, and cry and cry. Check everything, but some babies just dislike being confined in a car seat, don't get them out unless you are stopped and in a safe place!!!
5. Bring snacks/ premade bottles. You never know how long the drive between rest stops is. Bring snacks or fill your bottles with room temp water so that your baby isn't screaming if you have to just pull over at an exit without a lot of options for food. Bring stuff for yourself too.
6. In any event your child has a scary diaper that needs changing NOW or needs to potty NOW bring a travel potty or a blanket to change them on.
7. Cell phone, make sure it is charged and you have a car charger, nothing is worse than having your car break down on the side of the road, unless you have to carry your baby a few miles to the next exit.
8. Have good directions and consider stopping at a hotel halfway through. If you are going on a very long car ride or you have a child who HATES the car seat I would suggest just stopping at a hotel when you can't take any more.
9. Consider driving over night so your child (hopefully) sleeps the whole car ride. For some people this won't work, but if you have a baby who will sleep anywhere or who sleeps great in the car, consider leaving at night, as long as you have someone to share the driving with or you can stay awake.
10. Try to be patient, it is hard to travel with an infant or young child, but it can be done.
Good luck, hope this helps someone.
(March 2007) (
