Nothing can be as daunting to new parents as taking that first long car trip with the new baby. It needn’t be that way, however. These tips are sure to get you started on the right foot (or tire) with that first car ride!
Feeding
If you’re feeding formula, this one’s pretty easy. Make sure you have a way to warm up the bottles in the car (there are many products on the market for this) and you’re set. Don’t forget to pack enough formula, bottles, and water. If you’re breastfeeding, this one’s even easier, actually! No need to pack anything extra. Plan to make roadside stops when baby gets hungry (these breaks are good for the grownups, too!) Alternatively, try nursing the baby while he or she is still in the car seat. This usually involves some form of dangling, draping, or leaning over the seat, but babies don’t seem to mind. This can also be an excellent comfort if baby gets fussy in the car seat, or can be the thing that helps soothe baby off to sleep.
Sleeping
If you can, start your trip about the time of baby’s longest nap – or even around baby’s bedtime. Many babies find the motion of the car to be soothing, and many babies take longer naps while traveling.
Give Baby a Friend
Consider having one parent sit in the backseat with the baby while the other drives. Many times, babies fuss in the car seat because they’re simply lonely and bored back there. Having someone to look at, play with, and talk to can help turn an unhappy baby into a content one.
It Will Take Longer than it used to
There’s no getting around it – trips with a baby just take longer. You’ll be making more frequent stops and the stop s will probably be longer. Plan for this upfront so you’re not stressed out once you get on the road. Calm parents help make a calm baby.
Stops
Don’t plan marathon stretches of driving. Invest in a map that shows where the roadside rest areas are – this information can come in really handy when baby starts crying in earnest and you’re trying to decide whether to pull over or keep going. And again, knowing in advance that you’ll probably be stopping a lot can help reduce your stress level!
Food Intake
When traveling, it’s easy for baby to sleep through feeding times or to be so distracted by the upset in his routine that he misses a feeding. Don’t force your baby to eat just because it’s time, but take care to pay special attention to baby’s feeding cues while on the road.
Breastfeeding moms, it’s easy for you to lose track of fluid intake while driving and become dehydrated. Make sure you’re taking care of yourself and drinking plenty of water!
New Toys
For slightly older babies, consider bringing along some new toys – either toys that baby hasn’t ever seen before, or toys that he hasn’t seen for a while. New toys seem to be interesting for much longer periods of time than old toys! If you don’t want to invest money in new toys for the trip, consider taking along common household items that your baby might find interesting – a small bag with a zipper, plastic containers, water bottles, even those free Internet access CDs that come in the mail can all be toys. (Please keep a careful eye on your baby if he is playing with something that he could break, choke on, or otherwise harm himself with.)
And don’t forget the best toy of all – Mommy or Daddy! (or anyone else!) Play age-appropriate games with your baby as a distraction or a way to keep him happy if things seem to be turning sour. You may arrive at your destination exhausted, but it will be worth it if your baby is happy!
Car Seat
Never take your baby out of his car seat. That bears repeating – never take your baby out of his car seat. Not only is doing so illegal in all 50 states, it’s also dangerous. If your baby is so upset that you feel he must come out of his seat, pull off the road in a safe place first.
Let There Be Light
Some babies do not like to ride in the dark. If you are driving in the dark and baby is awake, consider turning on the backseat map light if there is one, or even bringing along a small battery-powered lamp. Many times, this is all it will take to help calm a fussy baby.
