is it difficult to drive long distance with a 3 month old baby?

Question

I need to drive from FL to NJ when my baby is 3 months old. Will this trip be terrible?

Answer 1

I flew on a 12 hour flight with my 3 month old..It wasn't too bad, all they still do is eat, sleep and and few hours of play..So I think it will be fine...Just be prepared for plenty of pit stops to change or feed baby. Since you'll be driving..the rocking of the baby's carseat will keep your baby sleeping for big chunks of time, just make sure your baby still wakes up enough to eat...Be patient and be prepared for the trip to take longer than planned...Good Luck!

Answer 2

I sometimes have trouble driving four miles to the market with my three month old! Seriously, it depends on the baby. Many babies are incredibly portable at this young age. Also, many sleep while in autos. I recently took a trip that involved a five hour drive, and it was incredibly easy- She slept 95 % of the way and was well rested and happy upon our arrival. You really just have to be prepared to have to stop and take breaks, add some time onto your estimate, and relax. I'm assuming you are not driving alone? for prctical reasons I do hope you are accompanied by your spouse, a nanny, anyone with hands really.
Good luck! It will most likely NOT be a terrible trip! Really though, mine does better with longer trips. (She's a little homebody and doesn't like to be away at bedtime. Apparently she is out to tame us!) I think that's fairly common.

Answer 3

If already on short trips you can tell s/he doesn't like the carseat, gets fussy, etc. you're in a for a long drive. But, if your baby, like mine, falls asleep from the motion, you will probably have a pleasant drive.

Just remember that your child will be sleeping more hours of the day than normal, which means s/he will probably be up more at night.

When my daughter was 3 mos old we drove her across states to visit relatives. She did great on the drive, but only slept 5 hours that night (and only 1 1/2 hrs at a time with long spells of wakefulness) as she'd gotten all of her sleeping in during the daylight hours. We were EXHAUSTED.

And...the trip will never be easier than now. Don't try it with a 3-year-old -- spring for the airfare!

Answer 4

Depends on the baby, but most 3-month-olds sleep most of the time, anyway, so it shouldn't be too bad.

When mine were 3 months old, they pretty much slept anytime they were in the car. We could drive six or eight hours, and they'd still be fine.

The worst part is the stops to feed and change the baby. They always wake up and start crying right AFTER you pass a rest area!

Make sure you have a good changing pad, because rest area changing tables tend to be nasty, and who knows how often they're even wiped down?

Enfamil sells little packets of formula, now, premeasured for a 4-ounce bottle. I love these things!

Answer 5

I've driven from NJ to WI several times with 2 different 3 month olds. It's not bad at all. Bring plenty of bottles and baby toys. It's best if there is a spot next to her in the car so you can go back and chat with her, since at that age the seats are still rear facing. Older siblings in the car can be a great help.

When my older daughter was that little, we even hooked up a DVD screen for her (don't laugh, it worked!" and played Elmo and Baby Motzart.

She will get fussy. Bring ear plugs for your own sanity. She will sleep, too.

Answer 6

You probably need to make sure it's near a nap time so your baby can sleep during the ride. Also it would be much help to have someone sitting in the back with the baby in case he or she needs some entertainment. My baby would get bored quickly and when I was alone it was hard to drive while she was screaming. The longest I could probably go without having to stop was an hour.

Answer 7

On an average, the journey is going to take you around sixteen and a half hours and traveling with a three month old may not be an easy task.

You may want to consider the following suggestions:

1. Take a co-driver with you. That ways, both of you can switch driving periods and take turns at being near the baby in the back seat.

2. Take a baby carrier ( I had one named Go- go rider) with you so that you can carry your little one in it during occasions.

3. Formula feeding may hinder you during that time, so consider breast feeding during the journey. It is not always possible to ensure correct temperature of formula milk; during travel it may become all the more difficult.

4. Sometimes putting light music in the background may soothe a baby.

I drove to St. Charles (Missouri) from Mackinaw (Michigan) when my daughter was three and a half months. It did not turn out to be as bad as I had conceived.

Answer 8

When my daughter was 3 months and 3 weeks old we drove from Arkansas to Nevada. It was about a 20 hour drive. She was an angel!!! When we stopped for gas I would get her out and change her and give her some time out of the carseat. Other than that my husband would pull over and let me feed her when it was time for her to eat(she is breastfed) We didn't have any problems with her on the way there or back:)

Answer 9

Probably! But it just depends on your baby. Does he/she like the car? My son loved the car and made a 9 hour trip straight through when he was just 10 weeks old. My daughter however, hates the car and made a 4 hour trip living hell! Take it from someone who knows...a trip in a car with a baby who is mad and miserable makes for a hellish trip. If your child hates the car, and you can get out of the trip, do it! :) Good luck.

Answer 10

It's hard to say if the baby will have a hard time with it. It all depends on your babies disposition. You have to be willing to stop every few hours and give the baby some attention to feed and change him/her and to be held for a little while. It maybe a good idea to do most of the driving at night when the baby gets the most sleep.

Good Luck