Road trip with a baby???

Question

My husband and I are talking about a small road trip to visit family after our baby is born. Nothing too long, maybe just a long weekend. We are thinking about taking the trip when the baby is around 2 months. I've heard that while the baby is still young is a good time to take a small road trip, because the driving can help put them to sleep. Opinions on this?

I was wondering if anyone else has done this and tell me about your experience.

Thanks!

Answer 1

I went on a roadtrip with my daughter when she was 3 weeks old. It wasn't a very long one (about a 6 hour drive). It was actually really good for her because she had her days and nights mixed up and the road trip fixed it for her because she didn't sleep very much so she was super tired that night.
Your baby will be a bit older so he/she will probably be more used to the car seat than mine was at 3 weeks. As long as you take time to stop every couple of hours and take your time you should be fine.

Answer 2

yeah, it didnt' really go well. With my first born I sat in the back and when she needed to be held or fed or changed, I just did it as we drove. Now with this baby I am single and don't have that option. We took a road trip when he was 5 weeks old. Him and my 7 ;year old. We had to keep stopping to feed the baby and stuff. It took a long time and was stressful for me. Having another adult is much easier. If you plan on only driving with the baby in the car seat and stopping when he needs out, prepare to time budget alot of extra time. It can be done, but you need to be able to laugh about the limitations if you still want to have fun.

Answer 3

Babies that young are a breeze on road trips. However, you may have to make more stops for feeding or diaper changing, but you can pack a travel cooler with water and formula, or already made bottles. If you nurse, you could pump and have extra breast milk ready to go. We traveled a LOT when my first was born. I live in KS and we went to Kansas city, Oklahoma, last year I joined my hubby in Louisiana for clean up help and all that, and took all four kids, ages from 7-1. That's when it gets tricky. You'll be fine, and so will baby. Congrats and God Bless.

Answer 4

A road trip shouldn't be too bad when your baby is that young. Just keep in mind that you will have to make extra stops to feed and change the baby so it will take you longer. The road trips will be more difficult when your child is older and gets bored.

Answer 5

Our beautiful baby girl is four weeks old today. Last weekend we took a three hour road trip to visit my family. i think i was harder on myself and my wife though because we were exhausted from staying up with her all night. Our little girl did just fine and slept most of the trip. we had to pull over once and change her diaper. Other than that is was a very smooth trip and well worth it to let my family see our little baby girl. hope this helps. have a good day.

Answer 6

The first year is a great time to travel with a baby. I have drove with my child from Indiana to Florida every fall in the car and my mother -in -law and her poodle and the "baby" was the easiest to handle!!! Here's my advise.... Have different bags for different things. A feeding bag with all the essentials, a diapering bag, that way when you need something specific, you don't have to "weed" out what you need. A laundry basket works great too cause you can see all that you need. Also, put the baby either in the middle(safest) or behind the driver for the passenger to turn around and tend to. Realize that it will not be easy - expect the worst and you will be pleasantly surprised! Enjoy!
Also - someone needs to be sleeping when the baby is cause she/he Will want to be wake for a while when the cars stops.
You and your husband will almost feel like you did before the baby came cause during it's naps, it will be all about the 2 of you again!!! Added bonus.

Answer 7

We have a 18 month old, we have gone on road trips with him. It wasn't too much of a pain. the best advice i can give is to be sure to leave as close to the baby's nap or bed time as possible, then their sleep schedule wont be messed up. Feed them right before you leave and then they should fall right asleep...also play mellow music, like bob marley or something really relaxing...the longest trip we have gone on was from san diego to near las vegas...Baby should be fine. Good luck! and have a safe trip.

Answer 8

I don't think it's a bad idea at all.... My parnts live 8 hours away and even until my daughter was 6 months old, she slept most of the trip. Just be sure you plan to make those stops for changing diapers, feedings, and stuff, in addition to those for gas. I think you'll have a great trip though....

Answer 9

Babies each have different temperaments. Some babies are calm and quiet and some are fussy or colicky. I suggest you wait to see if your baby will be up for it.

Trust me you do NOT want to be in the car with a screaming baby hours from home and there's not much u can do about it cuz he/she will have to be strapped to the carseat. Once wen my baby was about 3-4 months, we went an hour +/- away to Chicago and my daughter just started screaming and crying for reasons unknown to me. She didn't need changing or feeding. I had no idea. It was just horrible. But 2 months after that we went on a LONG roadtrip from Wisconsin to Alabama and after that went from Wisconsin to Montreal, Canada and she was perfectly fine. Good Luck!

Answer 10

With my first daughter, we went on a road trip to from Washington down the Oregon coast when she was only 2 months old. Everything went fine, since they still sleep for long periods of time. She slept in the tent with us and everything. It shouldn't be a problem at all.