anyone have tips on traveling with an eight month old?

Question

i am driving 1500 miles back home and my eight month old will be traveling with me. she doesnt particularly like riding in the car,any good ideas on how to make it a better trip for her? my sister an her boyfriend are coming out to help.

Answer 1

We have 2 little ones and travel quite frequently. This is just some advice from a parent who's been there! When she's asleep in the car, don't stop! We found with both of ours that they would wake up if we had to stop during their naps. When she is awake, stop every couple of hours and get her out of her car seat and play with her and let her stretch her legs and walk her around for a little bit. The trip will take longer, but will be better for her. Have someone sit next to her in the car and play with her. You can dangle toys that she can grab, play peek-a-boo, sing interactive songs with motions (like Itsy Bitsy Spider, Patty Cake, etc.) Bring plenty of colorful little toys that she likes. Hope this helps, and good luck!

Answer 2

Get a movie player for some of the times that she won't calm down and some of her favorite videos. You can get the one with the screen that Velcro's onto the back of the headrest right in front of her. Make sure that you take her out of the car at least every two hours. Change her diaper, if she is wearing them, and stop at a restaurant with a playground or a rest stop so she can get out, run around and get rid of some of her normal 8 month old energy. Take a cooler and a bag of her favorite snacks and drinks that is within easy reach. Books, toys, blankets and other things that she finds enjoyable. Other than that, I can't think of anything else to do. I have 4 kids and we have been traveling from GA to FL for about 4 years at least 2 time a year and that is what we do. The car will get messy and crowded but it is well worth it for some peace and quiet. Well as much as a 8 mo. old will give you.

Answer 3

Oh my gosh, I just wish you luck, and your sanity, that's a long time in a car with a baby. My advice would be to try to break the trip up if you can into short segments rather than trying to do it all at once, or perhaps travel overnight as she would be sleeping then anyway and it may not disrupt her patterns to much. Other than that, make frequent stops to change diapers, let her get out of her car seat and stretch. Have your sister/boyfriend try to entertain her for you while driving with toys, giving her a bottle, maybe some little snacks, etc. Again, good luck and drive safe!

Answer 4

I have traveled 1400 miles twice with my child in the car. Once when she was 4 mo and the other at 11 mo. The time when she was 11 mo we brought a portable DVD player. She did OK with that. But every time we stopped we planned on during her meal times and diaper change times. I am very luck m daughter has always liked the car and she sticks to schedules. We traveled more when she was asleep. But if she got to cranky we did have to stop. You are lucky you are taking people with you. Bring toys and they can help entertain her too. Be careful and have a good trip!

Answer 5

Good thing you aren't doing it alone. 1500 miles is alot of a child not to mention you. Don't try to make record time because it won't happen. Plan to stop over nights and you are going to have to stop every 2 to 3 hours to get the baby out to play. Upon those stops, get out, eat, play, hang out for 30 minutes to 1 hour. There is nothing wrong with giving your child a bit of childrens benedryl(my doctor told me I could do that when I flew on a plane with my 10 month old) to have him sleep for a while. Don't give her too much or she will sleep the whole day and then be up all night.

Bring many, many toys, books, etc......anything that will occupy her time. Switch drivers so she doesn't get bored with the same person. One of those portable DVD players would be handy and she could watch some of her favorite videos. Just remember, on your stops(and there will be plenty) play, play, play. Stop somewhere that she can roam around. Rest areas are good because they have picnic areas. You can run, crawl(if she can), roll, etc.

Have fun and be patient.

Answer 6

Frequent half hour stops, the fresh air will be good for her as will the change of view

Take lots of different toys so when she is really bored you have something new to distract her

Get the people in the back to talk and play with her a lot

She should sleep quite a bit, the motion of the car sends a lot of babies to sleep

Answer 7

Yes leave during the middle of the night so she will sleep when you first start the trip. If you can get one of those mini dvd players that will attach to the back of the seat and bring some kid dvd's. Also try to keep her eating on schedule and make stops during the day so she can get out and play.

Answer 8

Ok, well first of all, good luck! Second of all, do you have a portable DVD player? I took my son on a 8 hr car ride. He likes the Teletubbies, so he watched that and that kept him pretty content. It's something for them to look at and focus on. Then, we made sure to factor in a ton of breaks. Also, I tried to travel at night for at least part of the time so that he would fall asleep.

Answer 9

Only drive 6 hours a day. Take shifts entertaining her and interacting with her on the trip. Take sleeping shifts. So that someone can be ready to be awake whenever the baby is awake and taking care of her, entertaining her, and it can't be the person driving. Lots of different things to chew on and things that make different noises.

Answer 10

Make sure you carry a blanket in the car - then you can stop at a park and have a picnic and baby can crawl around in the fresh air for a while. Try http://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/car-journeys-with-baby.html for more tips about driving with an infant.