How to Survive Long Car Trips with a Baby

Traveling with an infant can be quite the challenge. While constantly stopping to change diapers and feed your baby can be demanding, entertaining them for the duration of the trip can be even more difficult. This is a challenge that I know all too well. My wife and I had made the decision to move our family from Ohio to California. Instead of hiring a moving crew and flying to our new home, we decided to make the trip in a rented moving truck. Our son had just turned one, and we knew that a four day trip across the country with a baby would come with some obstacles. Nevertheless, we were determined to make a fun adventure out of the long trip. No matter what type of long trip you are planning taking, there are some helpful tips to make it comfortable for your baby.

First, be sure to plan on leaving early in the morning. This will help you get a good head start while your child is still sleeping soundly. These few extra hours of uninterrupted driving can help compensate for the added stops that may need to be made while your baby is awake.

Before leaving, make sure that you have all of the infant's necessities within reach. You should always have snacks, a bottle or sippy cup, and toys readily available. It would be terrible to find out an hour into your trip that you have to stop to get your child's bag out of the trunk of your car.

If possible, have someone sit near the baby. This will help to keep them calm if they are able to see another passenger. It could be very traumatizing for an infant to be in a rear facing car seat and not be able to see other people for the duration of a long trip.

As you drive, the temperature outside your car may change. This may result in the need to adjust the temperature inside the car. Your number one priority should be to keep the baby as comfortable as possible. You may need to stop if they become too hot or cold and begin to cry. Remember that the temperature could be different in the front of the car than in the back.

Visual and audible stimulation can do wonders for entertaining a baby on a long trip. A passenger sitting near the baby can flip through brightly colored picture books and read to them. You can also use a portable DVD player to play movies like those in the Baby Einstein series. If you are unable to sit with your infant, it is important that they know you are there. Try singing or talking to the baby, this will reassure them that they are not alone.

There will come a time when you need to stop. This is one of the most important moments of your trip. Make the best of this time. After being confined to a car seat for a long time, you should let the baby get a chance to stretch their little arms and legs. Rest areas are a great place to stop. They often have open grassy areas where children can play and run off their energy. If you baby is too young to walk, throw a blanket out in the grass and let them crawl around while you have a picnic.

Long car trips can be a nightmare with an unhappy baby. Fortunately if you plan ahead and are prepared, you and your child can have an enjoyable trip.