How to Take a Road Trip With a Baby

Even very young babies can safely go on road trips'in fact, children are at their most 'portable' during the first year of life. Here are some tips to help you take your baby on the road.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Infant Car Seats
• Pacifiers
• Plastic Freezer Bags
• Music
• Coolers
• Baby Toys

1. Plan frequent stops for nursing, feeding or diaper changing. Babies can get cramped and uncomfortable when they are in car seats for long periods of time.

2. Bring toys that you can attach to the car seat. Pacifier clips work well, even if your baby doesn't use a pacifier.

3. Try to travel during times when your baby is likely to be asleep. You can even travel at night, as long as the driver is well-rested and alert.

4. Pack some restful music'perhaps some soothing children's music'to help keep everyone calm even during fussy times.

5. Try to travel during the cooler parts of the day, and protect your child from heat and glare by bringing an adjustable sunshade that you can move to different windows as the sun moves.

6. Pack lots of plastic bags to hold dirty diapers, used baby wipes, soiled clothes or garbage.

7. Bring an insulated cooler if you're bottle-feeding, or take along canned, prepared single servings of formula to use while you're on the road.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep an eye on your baby as you drive with a small adjustable mirror clipped on to your rear-view mirror.
• Never take your baby out of his car seat in a moving vehicle.

[kyonna1234]

on 10/1/2008 My baby is two months old she was born eight weeks earlier I want to konw is it okay to take her on a fifteen hour road trip.

on 11/30/2005 When I'm planning a trip with my baby, I pour the desired amount of sterilized water into the bottles and then all I have to do at feeding time is add powdered formula, shake, and feed. It's much easier, (and I think safer) than having to worry if you're storing prepared formula at the right temperature in a cooler. Also, I bought a microwave steam sterilizer and use that in hotel rooms to sterilize my bottles...these are things that have helped me...hopefully they will help you

on 11/22/2005 I found that having a DVD player in the car will keep the kids amused for hours.

on 11/22/2005 I have found that a car seat can be pretty uncomfortable. I suggest to be more in tune with comfort instead of cost. Think about it. Your baby has to sit in this seat not only every day but for a least 4 or 5 years.

on 11/22/2005 Of course, you want to bring water and moistened towelettes. Also take along several cotton, lightweight receiving blankets. They're good for changing the baby and also for letting him stretch and move about when you stop.