Travel tips?

[Deleted]

Has anyone else done a road trip with their LO? We're driving from CO to TX in a couple of weeks and I'm nervous. J is unpredictable in the car. Some days he sleeps and some days he screams the entire time. I'm sure I'll be sitting in the back with him a lot and we'll be stopping a lot. I also have to pump so that'll be fun.   We have a PNP we are taking. Any other must haves or tips for a long drive? 

[sunshineshades]

Bring bottles for on the road. Then you can give him the bottle while driving instead of needing to stop.

[sunshineshades]

Look up ways to swaddle while in the car seat if he likes to be swaddled.

[carissa325]

Do you have the adaptor so you can pump in the car?

Where in Texas?

[rosetyler72]

I use a white noise app on my phone and a light blanket over the car seat to help C sleep while in the car. I read him books sometimes to entertain him too.

[minae01]

I just took a 6+ hour trip with DD by myself. She loves her car seat, so I had a good experience. Still, there were tears. I think the best thing you can do is try to leave early in the morning or before a nap. Accept that baby might cry for a bit until you can stop to feed her. I had to let her cry for 20 min on the way there before I could get to a rest stop and 25 min on the way home. I tried to tire her out and keep her engaged while we were stopped. She traveled well. I heard that there is a Pandora baby station that plays some soothing music. Good luck! I hope it goes well for you!

[minae01]

Jul 15, 2016 20:35:30 GMT -5 sunshineshades said:

Bring bottles for on the road. Then you can give him the bottle while driving instead of needing to stop.

I've thought about this, but what about burping?

[zombiesquad]

We're getting ready to drive 9 hours tomorrow with an almost 5 month old and a 3 year old. The longest we've done so far with both of them is about 4 hours. I keep a bottle or two ready. I've had to crawl to the back to feed him because the 3 year old finally fell asleep and we didn't want to stop. I did unbuckle him and just leaned him forward to burp and then immediately buckled him back in.

I keep diapers, wipes and change of clothes in the back of the passenger seat for quick changes so I don't have unload a diaper bag or anything if we need to stop.

We took another long drive without kids and I just used my manual pump during the drive.

Good luck

[paloslee]

I'm scared to do a 1hr drive when we go on vacation in Aug. Baby hates the car seat right now. Bless those who travel longer!

[sunshineshades]

Jul 15, 2016 21:33:43 GMT -5 minae01 said:

Jul 15, 2016 20:35:30 GMT -5 sunshineshades said:

Bring bottles for on the road. Then you can give him the bottle while driving instead of needing to stop.

I've thought about this, but what about burping?

I just didn't burp her. Well the way up it was a big fail and we had to pull off. But the way home was no problem. She was right behind me so I could reach back from my seat and feed her the bottle over the back of her car seat.

[jewel441]

We have done several 5-6 hr trips and it's not super fun, but it's ok. LO does not sleep well in the car and also does not take a bottle. I think it's good to stop anyways because it gives them a chance to stretch out of the car seat. Except for the last drive we did all our rest stop experiences have been great. I have BF her no problem in them and we will stop and eat a meal there so she can stretch, bathrooms have been clean, etc. typically we have to stop twice on a 5-6 hr drive (which ends up taking closer to 7 hrs) usually we do 1 big stop and then a quick feed and change stop. She does better with someone in the back to play with her. Then we also covered her to help her nap better. You kinda just have to power through.

[rachelilly23]

We've done a normally 12 hour drive turned 14.5 hours at 3 months, with a 6 and 3 year old also. It just sucks. A lot. We stop to feed. K won't take a bottle and she has to burp, so a bottle wouldn't really help much anyway. She doesn't like to be in her car seat for several hours, so every stop we made was about an hour to give her more time before going back in.