Tips for traveling with a 7 week old baby via car?

Question

We are planning to drive from George to MA over the Holidays. We have stop overs planed in NC, VA etc.. to break up the trip. Any advice is more than welcomed. Mom is also breastfeeding. and I am concerned about keeping up the milk supply.

Answer 1

We took an eight hour trip with an 10 week old this summer. It was actually much easier than I thought.

First, plan a stop every two hours. If you don't need to stop every two hours, you'll still have the time built into your schedule and won't get behind.

Second, plan to start your trip at baby's usual nap time or better yet, if he sleeps longer at night, try driving through the night. The longer baby is asleep, the fewer stops you'll have to make and the less crying he'll be doing.

Third, if you have started feeding breastmilk in a bottle, get a couple feedings ready. I know it's not the best but if you are in a pinch and can't stop, mom or dad can climb in the backseat and bottle-feed while going down the road.

Fourth, hang some toys from the car seat. This will give the little guy something to look at and keep him entertained. You might even try one of those mirrors that attach to the seat. Babies love to look at faces and he can help keep himself company.

Next, pack all of his things on the top of the trunk. Make them easy to get to in case you need something in a hurry. Also, make sure there is plenty of room in the backseat for mom or dad to ride. Baby might be more comfortable just knowing someone is there.

If mom is breastfeeding, I suggest a small manual or battery operated pump and one of those breastfeeding cover-ups so she can relieve the pressure on the road. The pump will be small enough to deal with in the car and the cover-up will give her some privacy. Be sure to have an ice chest to store the milk in. You can also put the breast milk parts in a plastic bag and store in the cooler after pumping. This way you don't have to wash the parts before you pump again or you can wash them when you get to the next gas station without having to scrub too much.

And last but certainly not least, go in expecting and planning for the worst. Then when it doesn't happen, you won't be so worried about the couple small problems that did happen.

Answer 2

Well plan on many stops...many many stops mom will have to nurse to keep up with supply & demand she may be able to pump in the back seat & give baby the bottle, however little ones should not be confined in a car seat for more than hour & a half with out streaching time (min.15 mins) it made our trip from the Midwest to Texas long!!!

Answer 3

If mom is breastfeeding and baby is that young, plan to stop about every 2 hours to nurse and change diapers, etc. Be sure to plan lots of extra time into your driving schedule.

Answer 4

I would suggest that you bring along a manel brest pump; if you plan of pumping in the car; unless you have one of those fancy ones that plug into the ac adapter.

Answer 5

I used to sit down down in the back with the toddler. whilst she mandatory to consume we stopped in a gasoline station. crammed up then and by making use of the time i became executed nursing and changing her he became executed with filling up the automobile and getting in spite of we mandatory from the station. we could end and refill in spite of if we had a million/2 a tank. this way we did no longer ought to end for gasoline whilst she became sound asleep. in case you have a minivan I advise you shop a type of moses baskets in the back seat for changing the toddler. in the adventure that your toddler would stay unsleeping nicely in a sitting up place you need to purchase a automobile seat that helps her to place down and nonetheless be strapped in.

Answer 6

Don't make them come to you you have a 7 week old for heavens sake!!!!!