There is nothing more exciting than taking a baby on their first road trip. But the thought of traveling with a 5 month old baby can also be scary.
There are many things to consider, including the crying, changing, and baby supplies you need to bring, all of which are enough to drive you crazy.
We felt you. Taking a road trip with babies was never easy because they didn’t like sitting in a car and wouldn’t sleep for a long time.
But regardless of our obstacles, we always prevailed, and you will as well – eventually.
To help you spend the most fun time with your baby, we’ve put up a list of the six most crucial things we’ve learned about road trips with infants.
How to Have A Road Trip With 9 Month Old Babies?
1. Make A Plan
The first thing you need to do is pick the time to depart as it’ll be very important when having a long road trip with infant children. It can help a lot since your baby will be napping while you drive in peace for most of the journey.
Each family will have a different time to leave the house as your baby’s sleep and food schedules are also different from other children’s.
Some families may find that beginning their infant road trip immediately before sleeping is an ideal choice; others find early in the morning the best time to leave the house.
Pre-planning your stops is another crucial tactic for a lengthy car journey with a newborn and a toddler.
Take into consideration how long you want your child to stay in the car because not all babies like to sit in one place for hours on end.
2. Flexibility
Bringing a baby along on a trip may cause even the most carefully made plans to go awry. So relax, accept the unexpected, and go with the flow as much as you can!
Take a break when you need it, especially when your baby is begging for your attention.
This can be dangerous since driving with a crying or screaming infant in the backseat can make you worried and distracted.
Calm your infant before you continue, or else you will make the trip a lot harder than it needs to be.
Remember that you are on an adventure to have fun with your baby, so don’t force it. If you have to stop and feed the baby, change his diaper, or let him sleep in your arms for 20 minutes – do it!
3. Let The Baby Sleep
It might be tempting to wake your baby up only to play with them, but we kindly ask you not to.
A car can be a very noisy and cramped environment, all things that might wake up the baby. If they are already sleeping, please have the courtesy to let them rest.
Newborns can be very distracting because you want to spend that precious time bonding with them.
So consider it a miracle if your child finally takes a nap in the car, as it will make the journey a lot better for you and your family.
4. Be Careful When Driving At Night
The thought of driving through the night with a sleeping infant may seem alluring. One parent drives while the other naps; everybody wins.
If everything goes as planned, this will be the case.
But how are you sure that your baby will sleep as soon as they are strapped into the car seat?
There’s no guarantee that your child will fall asleep for a long car ride. Remaining up all night while traveling with a crying infant can be torturous, distracting, and very unsafe.
We suggest that you drive during the day instead or at least plan your trip around nap time if possible.
5. Check Your Car
If you need to change oil, replace tires, or check some other part of your car, make sure you do all of that before leaving for a road trip with 10 month old babies.
When you’re driving with a cranky infant on your lap and all of your belongings tied to the roof, one place you don’t want to wind up is an automotive repair shop.
To ensure that your child’s car seat is correctly placed, find a technician to check it for you. It should be snug against the car seat, and any attachments must be secure to minimize moving when you drive.
Also, make sure to check if fire departments or hospitals are located along your route. This will enable you to plan in case of an emergency.
6. Join Your Infants In The Back Seat
If you’re a single parent, this may be a lot more difficult to have fun with your baby on road trips.
Having an additional adult, adolescent, or even a somewhat older child sit in the back with you to watch the infant is a major plus, especially when your infant doesn’t want to take a nap.
So when the baby begins crying, someone is there to play with the kid and tell you precisely what’s going on, so you know what to do.
This will help you spend less time pulling over to check on the baby’s well-being and more time driving to your destination.
What To Bring For A Road Trip With Babies?
Food & Drink
Food and drink is an essential part of any road trip. You’ll need plenty of water to stay hydrated, especially in hot weather.
Snacks are a great way to keep everybody’s energy up, and you can buy food along the way if necessary.
Some parents choose to give their babies milk or water in a bottle or sippy cup while they’re driving.
This can be a good way to keep them calm and occupied (but only when the babies have already learned how to hold their own bottles).
It’s important to remember that it’s dangerous to drive with a crying or screaming infant in the backseat, so try to calm your baby before you continue on your journey.
Clothes
Stick to the essentials, such as onesies and a light jacket for your baby. It’s more convenient and easier to change when you bring a few extra outfits for yourself and your child.
Pillow & Blanket
Bringing these things will give them a sense of familiarity and comfort while you’re on the road.
It can also be helpful to have a few toys to keep them occupied. Cover your baby up with a blanket or other cloth if it’s cold outside to keep them nice and cozy throughout the trip.
Diaper Bag
You’ll need plenty of diapers, both disposable and cloth, to last throughout the journey.
The diaper bag is a great place to store all of your baby’s essentials, such as bottles, sippy cups, snacks, and toys.
Make sure to bring a changing pad so you can change your child’s diaper in the car when needed.
Seat Cover
It might seem a little overkill, but if little accidents like bottle spills or diaper leaks happen, you’ll be able to clean up the mess without too much of a hassle.
Things For Entertainment
Bring toys, snacks, movies, and music to keep your baby occupied during the trip. The more things you bring to entertain them, the less likely it will get fussy.
Great Patience & Grace
Going on a road trip requires a lot of things, especially if you have an infant. It can get quite stressful and hectic if you don’t have any experience.
In the end, all you have to do is be prepared, patient, and loving.
Everything will go much more smoothly if you have these things in your heart when taking care of your child on the road. And a little difficulty here and there won’t bother you at all.
Keep Safe On The Long Road Trip With Newborn Babies
Seats
The car seat is the most critical aspect in ensuring that a baby is safe when traveling in a vehicle of any length.
Seats for babies should be either specially built for newborns or those made for babies of all ages that are brand new or at the very least have never been in an accident.
Ensure the seat is properly installed and that the straps that hold it in place are properly secured.
Baby Care
While newborns tend to sleep a lot, they also need a lot of attention, so you should check on your baby every time they cry. This helps you make sure your baby is clean, comfortable, safe, and not starving.
If your infant doesn’t need to be breastfed anymore, a passenger can feed them while the vehicle is in motion.
But no matter how little they cry, you must pull over if there is no adult behind the backseat to tend to your little one.
Comfort
Even though automobile rides are typically safe for infants, extra precautions may make them more enjoyable for everyone.
Dressing a baby in layers of lightweight clothes and blankets is the greatest way to keep them warm, particularly if you’re traveling for an extended period of time.
If you’ve done feeding your baby, use choking-safe pacifiers to comfort the baby, which might help them fall asleep quicker.
Safety Methods
To protect newborns from choking and suffocation, you should keep everything away from your baby, including toys, thick blankets, and pillows.
Head supports for newborns are useful, but you should stick to those specifically made for this reason if your car seat doesn’t already have one.
If you’re going to be away from your baby for an extended period of time, it’s best to avoid using anything like wrapped blankets as head support.
How To Entertain Baby In Car?
It’s a great way to keep your baby entertained while traveling, and it lets you focus on the road, knowing that your child is being taken care of and having fun in the backseat.
If you’re alone and can’t get anyone to be with your baby while you drive, check out some videos on your phone or tablet that your child can watch some cartoons that they like.
Movies and music can also be a distraction from the noise and traffic around you, so be sure to keep these things on hand if you want to make your journey as stress-free as possible.
If you’re out of options, you can try to put your baby to sleep by letting them listen to soft music or read them stories.
This calm environment you create in the car can help your baby fall asleep. Just make sure you don’t get sleepy with your child too.
FAQs:
How long can a baby stay in a car seat?
Generally, your kid should not be left in the car seat for more than two hours because the optimal posture for their health is a fully flat position, which a baby car seat does not provide.
At what age can a baby go on a road trip?
Keep in mind that babies under 12 months should only ride in a rear-facing car seat if you want to have long car rides with newborn babies. This is the best way to keep them safe until they reach a certain height and weight permitted by the car seat’s manufacturer.
Are long car trips safe for babies?
It’s totally safe to go on a long car ride with infants in the car as long as you stop every 2-3 hours during the day and 4-6 hours at night for feedings and diaper changes.
We recommend not breastfeeding in a moving vehicle as it makes it difficult for the baby to breathe and causes discomfort.
But if you’re still in two minds, consider leaving them with grandparents.
Conclusion:
A road trip with babies can be a lot of fun, but they require some extra preparation.
In this article, we’ve outlined everything you need to know to make your journey as safe and enjoyable as possible for both you and your little one.
Be sure to dress your baby in layers, bring plenty of snacks and drinks, and pack any entertainment necessary to keep them occupied along the way.
If you’re traveling alone with your baby, don’t forget to download some cartoons onto your phone or tablet.
And if all else fails, remember that infants love listening to soft music or bedtime stories.
We hope these insights help you have the most relaxing and enjoyable car trip with your baby
