Dave and I are packing, cleaning, doing laundry, and finishing up some kitchen projects — all in preparation to be out of town for his brother’s wedding later this week. It’s about a 10-hour drive (Minneapolis, Minnesota)… not factoring in construction, traffic jams, or the fact that we’re traveling with a fussy 7 month-old baby who doesn’t exactly love her carseat or naps!
Yeah, I’m a little anxious to say the least.
I love weddings, and I’ve been excited for this wedding since they got engaged well over a year ago. However, I also figured that since Nora would be 7 months old by the time of the wedding, she would be eating almost all baby food and be on a pretty regular sleep schedule.
We were planning to leave her behind with my parents and have a fun long weekend away (it’s our anniversary too) but as many of you know, our babe has absolutely NO schedule, she rarely ever naps, she cries constantly when I’m not around, and she refuses to eat anything but milk. My Milk.
So she’s coming with us!
That means the stroller, carseat, pack n’ play, diaper bag, diapers, wipes, toys, and vast array of other baby items are also coming along with us.
Good thing we have our new-to-us vehicle with so much extra storage (and a DVD player) 🙂
We almost decided Dave should go by himself (after all, he IS the best man). It would be so much easier if I just stayed home with Nora.
But… I really wanted to go.
Plus, I found a fabulous dress for the occasion… and I can’t wait to share pictures! It was only $28.72 on the clearance rack at Macy’s PLUS I had a $25 gift card — which meant the dress was less than $4.00 out of pocket!
So we’re all going… and all our stuff is coming along too.
I decided that Nora will be fussy whether we’re at home or in a hotel in Minnesota — and at least we have a pool, delicious meals, and a few extra hands to occupy her in Minnesota. Plus, her lack of schedule might actually work in our favor — after all, we won’t have to work around her feeding or napping schedules since she doesn’t have any 🙂
However I’m still a bit anxious.
I think mostly, I just don’t want to be “that mom” who has to walk out of the wedding ceremony because she can’t get her baby to stop being fussy.
No, I haven’t been able to implement my “go-with-the-flow attitude” for this trip yet!
Insert deep breath.
So since I know many of you have lots and lots of experience traveling with babies and young children, I’d LOVE for you to leave a few words of wisdom or your best traveling tips in the comment section 🙂
Of course, I know every family, child, and situation is different — but I’ve already gleaned so much helpful information from comments left on my blog that I figured it can’t hurt to request your help once again.
What are your best tips for traveling with tots?
Thanks in advance!
Laura says
I am very much like you, a very scheduled and routine oriented person, but with 3 kids 4 and under, it makes it very difficult to be this way. So, I try to be more go with the flow on any trip we take, but I also try to keep to their routine some… my kids do better that way. For the car, I always pack plenty of snacks and toys for my older two kids and a sippy cup for the baby. (he is no longer nursing). We usually leave early in the morning and just plan to make several stops. My two older kids are potty trained, so we plan to stop every 2 hours for them to potty and to change the baby’s diaper. The best tip is just to expect delays and not try to rush getting to where you are going. I also agree with the person who posted about doing everything you can at each stop… (ex. when you stop for lunch, fill up with gas as well so that you don’t have to wake up the baby from a nap later and do it). Pack lots of disposable bags for dirty diapers and outfits. I also keep a little trash can in the car, because we accumulate so much trash on a trip with kids. Lastly, my kids (even my baby) LOVE music in the car. It is soothing to them, and they would rather listen to kid’s music than watch a DVD. Can’t tell you how much that has helped.
Jenn says
Many of these tips have already been suggested but I am including in my list because they are important!
1. Pack less – Call the hotel for a pack-n-play and go to Wal-mart when you get there or order supplies ahead on diapers.com and have shipped to hotel or relative to avoid stopping at the store right away.
2. New surprises and old favorits- a few new and interesting toys or books to introduce and keep things interesting are helpful. More important is having her favorite blanket, toy, book, and the like to comfort here.
3. Plan to ride next to her about 50% of the time – when it was just our son I spent a lot of the tirp in the back seat entertaining him by reading and singing. This will save your back; especially since she is probably still facing backwards plus your trip will be smoother. Once our daughter came a long there is no longer a place for me to sit in the back with them and she was a fussy one. Needless to say I spent a lot of time out of my seatbelt turned around to tend to her. Try to still sit in the front and visit with your hubby… that is the thing I miss most about our trips is that we no longer get to really visit
4. Change her diaper in the car in stead of gas stations. Some places don’t have changing tables and even if they do you will not have to worry about exposing her to all of the germs in the public bathroom, plus you don’t have to tote your bag in with you.
5. Try to go with the flow! It sounds like we have a lot in common and now with kids the truth is no matter how much I plan or prepare things will not work out just like I want them to. But the few times I just take it as it comes I have found things work out better than I could have ever planned for.
May you have a safe and easy trip and enjoy every moment.
Leah says
Although Nora doesn’t have a schedule, we always do absolutely everything necessary when we have to make a stop. As soon as you don’t, they will decide to take a long nap (or be in the middle of a short one) and stopping for any reason always wakes mine up….and on a road trip, nap time is precious time! Or if they are just being content and you have to stop, that sometimes makes it worse b/c they think it’s time to get out.
Even if we have only burned a quarter tank of gas, if we have to stop for food, potty time, etc, we just go ahead and fill up with gas too so everything is taken care of. Those kids KNOW when the road noise stops and perk their lil heads up! 🙂 We also pack breakfast burritos for the morning (eggs, turkey bacon, cheese, diced potatoes and warm them in tin foil before we head out the door) and lunch sandwiches (and tons of snacks & drinks) so we don’t have to stop. The morning time is the best time to make tracks and my kids are in the best mood, so we keep on a truckin!! Also, if Nora will take a bottle of water, I’ve found that sometimes the crankiness is because they are just thirsty, and at her age, water would maybe help.
Best of luck traveling! I would also recommend pumped milk if she takes a bottle. Every 30 minutes you can reclaim the better!
We will be traveling this weekend as well, Lord willing. 12 hours the first day, 6 the next with a 5 year old and 20 month old. Will be thinking of you!
Lauar says
this is sooo true! we learned our lesson on this when we stopped for lunch and then realized (after the kids had started napping) that we needed gas. we had to stop, and of course, woke them up!
Amanda says
Do you pump AND nurse? I did, and for a car trip I would absolutely have a little cooler with two bottles already prepared with milk (not a travel tip – but I froze my extra in a tray I got off moms4life that made 1 oz long sticks, they looked like string cheese, but fit right down the mouth of the bottles. Helped keep milk cold when packing for the day). Drew would eat it cold from the bottle but there are bottle warmers you can plug in your car charger, or most gas stations would probably let you microwave a tupperware bowl of water to heat up.
This could prevent having a long stop to nurse, or stave off a melt down if you have several miles before a suitable place to pull off.
Not a tip, just a sad fact. I would estimate that you should add 50% to your expected travel time with an infant of that age, making your normally 10h trip a good 15h. Sorry to say but it’s probably true. I agree that fewer stops is actually better, but with an infant sometimes you just have to change the diaper and every stop is longer and more frequent than those 2 adults would make. Even at 4y old, we’re finding there’s still a 25% time penalty on travel.
Also, you are so organized you’ve probably thought of this, but we packed with a master list and multiple tote bags. So, all diapering supplies and bath supplies in one tote. All clean bottles, spoons, extra pacifiers, feeding supplies packed together with jars of baby food and some of those Medela microwave sterilizer bags (excellent if your hotel doesn’t have a kitchenette – we’d wash bottle parts in the bathroom sink then sterilize in the microwave). All toys/books/DVDs/stuffies in a tote. At 7m Drew was captivated by Yo Gaba Gaba. Clothes and linens with ours, usually. The master list would say what, how many of each, and in what bag. This was a life saver because we or other family members could find things easily, and my forgetful baby brain didn’t result in a very expensive trip to replace forgotten items.
Good luck and enjoy the wedding!
Tamara says
Definitely use the ziploc baggies for outfits. We did that last year and this year with 3 kids and it is such a help not having to root around through luggage trying to find the headband that goes with whatever outfit, etc.
Definitely take time to stop and nurse when needed. It does add time, but baby will be happier and so will you.
Have fun on your trip!
Kristine says
I know you have probably been told to read a thousand books, but if you have NOT read “The Secrets of the Baby Whisperer” by Tracy Hogg, it was a HEAVEN send to me! Yes, my kids were all different (I have 4) but it sure helped with making sure all their ‘basic needs’ were met and put my mind at ease! Traveling is different with each, just be happy at this point you have ONE little one to focus on! Lastly, remember, she will be out of this stage soon, too! You will hardly remember this “hard” time!
Angel says
Don’t try to see how long Nora can make it before you have to stop to feed. Find a nice park in a town and feed her every two hours or so. Just plan on spending a half hour ahead of time, so she is refreshed. I’d change her diapper every time you stop, It will make her more comfortable. On the same note, make sure she is dressed comfortable, I’d do a onesy or pjs.
If you are a privacy nut, like me, get a sun visor for your car. When you are feeding, you can put it in the window. It will keep you cooler and provide an extra layer of privacy.
I would feed Nora right before checking out of your motel. Make it a quiet peaceful time while hubby packs the car. Don’t rush. Most motels will let you check out a little later if hubby asks if you can finish feeding.
At the wedding find an out of the way place to sit, just plan on feeding her using a good cover during the cerimony. Make sure she is dressed light just in case it is hot…but bring something warm just in case it is over airconditioned…Sit close to the door!!!
Kristi says
Have you tried chiropractic for your daughter? Many times their bodies are out of whack from the birthing process and chiropractic care can be very helpful. I had twins and one of them had colic from about 4 months to 7 months). I got almost no sleep for those months and truly wonder I how I survived (but by the grace of God). If I had known this then, I surely would have used it. You should be able to get an appointment before you leave and perhaps it will make the trip and stay more enjoyable and less stressful for all of you. Best WIshes!
Starla says
I agree – I did this with several of our boys. Our first was fussy and didn’t sleep like Nora doesn’t either. A chiropractor adjustment did make a difference, especially when it came to sleeping at night..
I hope the trip goes well for you. My parents live 6 – 7 hours away and we have done many road trips with fussy babies. Somehow you survive. Some of them were fine with Mama sitting right next to them and showing them toys and books and playing with them. The next one got tired of it sooner but today, at 14, 12, 8, & 6, they all love to travel!
Laura says
I totally agree with this. My daughter was a totally different baby after having two adjustments when she was young. She had terrible tummy pain and we could tell even at the end of her first appointment that it was already making a difference.
Rochelle says
We always brought a new toy or two for a long car ride for our daughters so there was something new to occupy them. Don’t worry about the trip home though since at your overnight stay there will be two young girls here who can’t wait to meet her!
Michele says
First, lighten your load! Call ahead to the hotel and ask for a portacrib to be brought to your room. Nix the pack and play. Bring only enough diapers/food for the trip there, +2 more diapers(just in case). When you get there, make a Walmart (or wherever) stop to for supplies for the stay and the trip back. You’d be surprised how much trunk space you gain.
Second, pack a plastic bag with any meds Nora (and the two of you) might need and stick it in the diaper bag. You really don’t want to be out on the road in the middle of nowhere and need teething gel or something in a hurry.
Third, pack a gallon size plastic bag with about 20 other gallon size plastic bags. These come in handy for nasty baby clothes (the smell is locked away). Also bring along a few wet wash cloths (sealed up in quart size plastic bags); these are very handy for big messes (which we all hope you won’t have) that you’d otherwise need a million wipes to handle.
And I agree, take advantage of all the relatives who haven’t yet seen her and give your lap a rest! Have fun!
Dana says
Music! When the 3-year-old and 16-month-old start to get fussy, we put on some music we enjoy and just quietly sing along. Also, this is an obvious one, but dress her lightly in the car because she will get sweaty in that car seat! Hopefully she surprises you and loves her vacation!
Bronwyn says
1. A good rule of thumb I’ve heard of and used for packing diapers on a long journey (airplane, car, etc.) is 1 per hour plus 2 more (e.g. 10 hours = 10 + 2 = 12) I’ve never actually got through them all, but I’d hate to have to unpack to find some extras in an emergency!
2. Ask around if any of your relatives will be using a baby sitter during the wedding. Maybe someone local will be happy to recommend a sitter to mind Nora for the ceremony and reception, or even split the cost :o)
3. Think of all those rellies who will just adore holding her. She’ll rival the bride for oohs and aahs, so take advantage of the chance to eat with a utensil in each hand, and not having to dodge grasping fingers while you sit.
Hope you have a great time!
Kris says
We found for our boys we need to be on the road early in the morning and the fewer times we stop the better. It actually still holds true for them and they are 7 and 10. People often say you,should stop and let the babies/kids stretch and get out of their car seats. We found that it just annoyed our boys because they didn’t want to get back in the car seat and I think they thought the trip was over evey time we stopped. And my oldest would never sleep in the car (3 months old for his first long car trip – over 9 hours – and he slept for about an hour of the trip ) so early was better for us. We still can’t travel at night because if it hits 9 pm and he’s not in bed he falls apart. Maybe take a test run out on the highway with Nora at night to see if she’ll fall asleep? Let me tell you being in a car with a baby who just won’t sleep at night is not fun. Good luck. Just keep reminding yourself to go with the flow…and hand her off to hubby when you need a 15 minute breather in another room!
Hope says
I agree. Mine are grown now but I used to make a regular 8 hour drive with them ALONE to go visit grandparents. I always got the pressure to ‘stop and let the kids run around some’, but found that the fewer stops the better. So, I only stopped for gas and got food at the same time if I needed to do so. The faster you get there, the faster you can recover and enjoy the weekend. Oh, and tether pacifiers and toys so that you don’t have to pull off the road to find them when a frustrated little one tosses them.
Melissa Q says
Three things that have worked for us:
1. Something new every hour. Yep, on the hour, every hour, we pass back a “little something” to our toddler and preschooler. It might be a new little toy or book or just a snack, but it works to keep things interesting — and to keep little hands and minds occupied.
2. Pack each outfit separately and in it’s own little ziploc bag. Include all accessories — socks, shoes (if special), etc. Then it’s just a grab and go (or a stuff-into-the-diaper-bag).
3. Drive across the panhandle of Idaho. Can’t tell you why, but every single time we drive across the panhandle of Idaho, our boys sleep the entire length of it (90 minutes or so). No matter which direction we’re going. OKAY, OKAY that one might not work out well for you, but if you’re desperate to get Nora to sleep, anything might be worth it 🙂
Rebecca says
Take baby tylenol and a thermometer just in case!
Krista says
I have 3 girls (9, 6, 2). When my first was a baby she HATED driving. The only way she would stop screaming would be if I held her hand (which was pretty complicated if it was just me in car). Maybe you could sit in the back seat with her so she could see you. Please don’t worry about her watching too much tv on a road trip! If it keeps her happy than do it! It will not affect her long term. Finally, if all else fails, bring ear plugs. Seriously, or put on ear phones and listen to music. Sometimes this is the only thing to do. Sometimes babies scream and there is NOTHING you can do. There’s no reason you should suffer being stressed listening to it. Also, you’ll probably have to leave the wedding so make sure you sit close to an exit. This has become a habit for me with my two year old. It’s ok! All the moms will understand. Please know that you’re not alone! I used to get so frustrated when I saw mothers with their calm babies. Now I realize that my kids are wonderfully spirited and it makes them pretty cool older kids. 🙂
Mama Murrey says
My first road trip with children was three months into foster care, with three small boys between the ages of 9 months and 27 months.
We Prayed.
It helped.
On the practical side, I was grateful that I’d put old yard sale outfits on the baby. He had several vile poopies which crept up and out. Rather than trying to salvage the clothes, I chucked them straight into the trash at the rest stop. Next time I will plan to take old outfits along which I don’t mind throwing away, as well as keeping several of these disposable outfits where I can easily get to them.
Take lots of wipes, pacifiers, and pacifier tethers.
To start the trip, we gave the boys their pacifiers and blankees. We let them entertain themselves by looking out the window for as long as possible. I did not interfere or offer toys, books, food, or music until they got restless. Then I gave them one thing at a time.
Before the trip, I bought a few small toys which I doled out over the course of the trip. The boys especially enjoyed the tacky $1 at Wal-Mart spiky plastic balls and squooshy toys with little rubber taggies all over them. Pounding on the toys turns on flashing lights inside them. They’re silent and occupied the boys for a long time.
The 9-month-old liked having cloth blocks with crackly stuff inside them hanging from his infant seat handle.
Though these ideas might not work at Nora’s age, painters’ tape and pipe cleaners are also silent, small, tidy, and light-weight (won’t break the windshield if the toddler hurls them).
And for slightly older children, a small cassette or CD player with headphones and recorded books! My very active nephew listens to these for hours on road trips.
We planned to stop every 1-2 hours. Forget “making good time” or setting speed records. Plan it will take lots of extra time and then when it goes better than you expected, you’ll be early, which you like anyway.
Amy says
We always leave super early in the morning. I have two little ones ( now 2 &4) and my parents live 8 hours away. We leave around 3:30 in the morning. When they were infants I would wake up & feed and change them and the put them in the car. Know that you will need lots of stops and each stop will take much longer than planned. You also only need about half of what you think you need. A few novel toys are always good to have on hand. My daughter gets motion sickness so we can’t use the DVD player in the car. We’ve made do with books and toys and lots of “I Spy” games now that she is older. W recently had to attend a family wedding with our children. I was panicked about it, but the kids definitely rose to the occasion and we all had a great time. Don’t worry about having to scoot out if Nora is fussy. Every mother in that room will understand! Hope you have a wonderful time!
Living So Abundantly says
When my brother and his wife drove down(7-8 hour drive) with their sweet little girl(they called my niece fussy–haha!), they left during late afternoon so that they were driving in the dark for the later part of the trip(which helped put her to sleep). They said it was much better than the time before when they drove early in the morning and arrived late in the afternoon. She screamed the entire way down that time. If you guys are game for driving at night, that might work. =D We knew that they were arriving late and were okay with that. It always depends on who is hosting you, I guess. Most people understand that a happy baby = happy parents + family. 😉
Ann says
Just plan that that 10 hour trip will take 20. If you get there earlier, bonus! If not, it was in your plans so it’s no big deal!
Nicole says
Its hard traveling with a 7mo old that you cant explain to her when you will be there and just be happy for now! I have traveled w/ both my boys at young ages and they were both quite different. I would def bring snacks she can keep eating 🙂 Puffs or something like that, that dont make a mess (a least not a big one) and that you can keep handing her. Id bring her favorite toys/blankees/books…You may want to sit in teh back with her, that may help too. Try leaving early early morn! We left one day at 430 knowing our son would go back to sleep for at least 2 hrs! Also, sometimes you just have to let them cry it out when they are unhappy. They eventually figure out you wont be taking them out of their seat!
Danita says
Sounds like you got a lot of good tips already – mine would be don’t stress about keeping the child’s “at home” schedule – which you are already one up on – since Nora doesn’t have a schedule!:) Consider that a plus in this situation! I have found that when I realize that nothing about a trip is familiar or normal and don’t try to force a nap when they are obviously not tired or try to make them eat when they aren’t hungry it always goes better than we think it will.
I liked what someone said about take half what you think you should with toys! SO true – infact I often stick in the odd extra stuff – like a plastic cup or water bottle that the child can play with – they never seem to want their toys but would prefer to hold and play with all the new big people stuff around them.
Finally soft music, and some good DVD’s are always a plus when you need them quiet and occupied.
Enjoy your trip!
Stacey says
Put her in an overnight diaper (we used Huggies overnites) and that way it will hold more and if she is sleeping you wont have to interrupt her or if you get stuck in traffic etc.
Joslin says
My best advice for traveling with kids of any age is to make your stops for gas/stretching near somewhere that has a (clean!) grassy area. If you are not close to an actual rest stop with grass and places to throw down a blanket, many restaurants or shopping centers have grassy strips near them so you can use it as your resting spot. Put a blanket down and let her stretch and roll around for at least 10 minutes. It is a nice break from being strapped in the carseat. (I don’t suggest this near the gas station because you will be breathing in lots of yucky fumes and exhaust.) If it is raining, many malls have kiddie play areas, or else just walk through a big store like Target just to move around for a bit. You can look at your route and find/mark locations ahead of time so you know if you are close to a good location to stop, or need to hold out for another 30 minutes!
Since you are driving you can bring as much stuff as you want for her-you can pack a few small bags of toys and books and rotate them so she has “new” things to play with every so often.
Jessica says
I know Nora is still a baby, so this might not apply.
We went on a 16 hour road trip with my 18 month old, at night, assuming that she would sleep all night in the car. WRONG. Awake the entire 16 hours (!?!?) and to top it off….she wouldn’t sleep when we arrived at our destination because it was a strange place to her, so she just clung to my neck or legs ALL day. She slept about 20 minutes in my arms…couldn’t put her down or she would wake up and freak out. She was exhausted and cranky and it was so so bad. Have you ever been near a toddler who hasn’t (with the exception of a catnap) slept in 38 hours? Lol.
My best tip, since you never experienced it….would be to PREPARE for anything. And don’t make the rookie mistake of assuming things will go a certain way ( I know you’re a planner) , like I did. Lol.
I don’t know how you feel about unnecessarily medicating your babe, but my grandmother suggested giving mine a dose of benadryl next time. And in theory….that seems like it might work, but you never know.
Sry,
I wrote a short book. 🙂
Peitra says
Check out possible rest stops in advance…… We make the same long distance trip quite often to visit family and always plan our stops in advance now. You can always change the plan, but it’s nice to have a plan. I agree with Kristin and Tamra- build in time to stop. Babies don’t understand the concept of “almost there”!
Also, keep a change of clothes for you or your husband easily accessible as well. Diapers love to leak while travelling.
I have a tip for the ceremony– only because this happened to us at my husband’s sister’s wedding. Our first baby “decided” to make a big, noisy mess in her diaper right in the middle of the vows! (Luckily, I was nursing in the back pew and only I heard it!)… So, I guess my advice is- choose where you sit wisely;) Happy Travelling!
Kristin says
We made the mistake of taking a 16 hour road trip with a 3 year old and a 6 week old to the beach. It was actually a fun vacation but getting there was a hastle. Our 6 week old would get car sick, probably from riding backwards, now that he is 2 and facing fowards we don’t have the same issues. All I can say is, build in time to stop. Lots of time to stop. We ended up driving 4 hours, spending the night (with family) driving another 4 (spending the night, at a hotel) then driving the other 8 in one day on the way there (that was all planned that way). On the way back we were planning on only stopping once but last minute I decided to replicate what we did on the way there. It cost us some extra money not in the vacation budget, so lesson learned and we’ll make sure we plan better next time.
Tamra says
Search “lullaby” on Pandora…better than buying a bunch of CDs. Also make the back seat as dark as you can, without blocking your view of course. Take cold things for her to chew on…this works like a charm with my 8 month old. Plan stops ahead of time by researching the rest areas and which ones you want to stop at.
Roxanne says
Enjoy the Twin Cities! That’s my neck of the woods 🙂 While “getting there” might not be half the fun (at least this trip) you will all have a great time once you’re there. Having everyone else around to look after and play with Nora will help a lot, and maybe even allow for you and Dave to have some quality couple-time right around your anniversary!
Megan says
We flew to Europe last year when my son was 8 months. Make sure you have a good carrier and be prepared to nurse even more than normal. He even nurse more at night and we just let him sleep with us when he never wanted to do at home. We also did lots of long car trips when he was that age and driving at night was worth it for us. Mostly, don’t worry about what other people think. You’re Nora’s mom and you know what’s right for her.
That said, we’re driving from Arkansas to Canada with our now 21 month old for a week long mission trip with college students. I’m a little worried about that one! But I think taking our whole family on big trips like this will always be rewarding even if it is really tough.
muriel says
We just took a 6 hr car trip with our 6 month old. The way there, my husband drove at night so our son slept the whole way. The way back we drove in the evening so he slept about half the way. We had several favorite toys in the car to play with. One of us also sat in the backseat to play with him. This also allowed us to give him a bottle when needed without stopping. I have a breastpump with the car adapter so I just used that when needed. Our trip was for a wedding. I had to go to the cry room, but several people around us commented they didn’t even notice when I left. The ceremony was 1.5 hours so several adults got up too. Our son was a champ during the reception – sleeping on & off. We did have trouble getting him to sleep in a strange place though. Hope the trip & wedding goes well for y’all.
littlemrsmosher says
in my experience kids are a little better at travelling than us adults! we started taking 10hr driving trips when both our kids were 6mos plus ( they are 20 mos apart ) – we live in Canada – it’s vast. lol.
My biggest advice would be to know ahead of time being at a wedding + travelling is DIFFERENT than when they aren’t there. Not bad, just different. Be aware especially at the ceremony that you might have to sit at the back when really you want to sit at the front, she might spit up all over her fancy clothes right before, or you might have to change a diaper right when the bride is walking down the aisle or when your hubby is giving his toast to the groom, and thats OK. You have made the decision that your little girl is going to be an active part of your life + family + brought her along.
As for the car ride, just don’t worry about rushing, if it takes a little longer to feed her at one stop, enjoy it, take the time to slow down. Take turns every once in a while to sit in the back beside her + interact with her. Also know that there will most likely be roadside diaper changes in the back, well at least when there are facilities for 200kms 🙂 there most definitely is!
Continue to try the trips no matter how this goes – we are currently getting ready to drive 3000kms, or 1800miles from Saskatchewan to Ontario to meet a new nephew – then we will turn around after 5 days and do it all over again!! Our kids are now 5 + 3.5 and are very excited (we also only use electronics at the last possible moment) HAVE FUN!! we’ll wave as we drive through Michigan on our way home
s. pipes says
andrea, a friend who lives abroad suggested we have a “new” toy for the kids for every awake hour of the trip. our trip was about 9 months ago, so closer to your little’s age then. we went to the dollar store & grabbed a few things, looked through pinterest for car toy ideas/games & looked through current toys in the house that hadn’t been seen for a bit. both the kids (currently 2.5 & 15 months) do great w/ this method & we have really found it helpful. remember, curiosity is half the entertainment value.
Nora@ The Dollar Holllering Homemaker says
We travel overnight- less traffic and more likely to sleep…… We live 14+ hours from family and we do it all in one trip. It works for us:)
Laurel says
Our four kids were really good travelers and so I think the things I would suggest may not work for you because of how you have described Nora (the non-stop crying, screaming when you are away…) I guess if it were me, I would still try to fly. We flew, rather than drove to Texas when our third was 4 months old, the second was 2 1/2 and the oldest 5 years old. The stuff we took was crazy- two car seats, double and umbrella strollers… However, I can’t imagine driving for any length of time with a screaming kid. Besides putting your nerves on edge, I think it might be dangerous. Sooo, my advice would be (which is going to raise some eyebrows and ruffle some feathers to say the least) is to give Nora some Benadryl as needed. Actually, our pediatrician has said in the past that it’s not addictive and when used occasionally, perfectly fine. Yes, I am taling about knocking her out! In fact, I do know of people that used the stuff to get their kids on a regular sleep schedule. Take this advice or leave it as I know many will argue that it’s not right. However, sometimes you just have to do what you have to do and frankly, a regular sleep schedule and a calm baby is better for both baby and YOU!
Danita says
I would only say to this comment – if you are going to try any kind of medicine that is supposed to make the child sleepy – do a trial run at home first – for some kids these kinds of meds make them hyper not sleepy! Saying this from experience….and the only way for them to calm down is for the meds to get out of their system – not fun if it supposed to be a 4-6 hour dose of meds.
Mary Jo says
Be sure to travel with some good lullaby cd’s. When my kids couldn’t self soothe we turned on the music! It’s not a slam dunk but it can help in a pinch. Also, pack your current crib sheet so the travel crib smells like your baby’s current environment.
Stel says
It’s as easy as you make it. Keep it as simple as possible.
We have done 13 hr road trips and international long haul flights with the boys since (8 months and 18 months ).
Take half of what you think.
Aircon on, low.
A container of interesting things next to her on the seat – she can take it our, throw it down – repeaedly – books, soft toy, things with interesting rextures. Nothing that makes a noise.
If she’s awake and ‘calm alert’,, tell her about things outside.
(Get yourself the book Baby Sense – a South African book and saver of sanity)
A lullabye cd.
WINDOWSOX. Please tell me you have WindowSox in the US.
Stop every 90-120 min, give her a good crawl out of the car. GO when she sleeps.
If a dose of Stopayne of similar will her and you 2 sanity – give it. It’s safer that a car accident due to hysterics inside.
Water, finger food/snacks.
Keep calm, it’s not the end of the world. If you can hold a calm facade, you can trick her and Dave into thinking all is cool.
Andrea says
hmmm… I’ve never heard of “WindowSox” but I’m guessing it’s some type of screen to prevent the bring sun from shining through the window? If so, we do have one of those!
And wow — you should get a prize for going on international flights with infants!
Nanny says
Don’t worry about the trip there. Babies seem to find car rides soothing. She will probably sleep most of the way.
Recently took a trip with my nephew who was 7 months old at the time, he slept most of the way. We took regular pitstops to get him changed, fed and cleaned up. But otherwise it was fine.
Good Luck!!!!
Julie says
She might be fine with all of the new experiences and a new environment. You could take a movie or two with. I am not usually a fan of putting kid in front of a movie, but sometimes we NEED to for sanity reasons and I used one many times. I mostly used them at home but when they were young and we travelled to the UP(it ended up taking 12 hours) it was a life saver. We only needed them for a few years, but boy did they help keep my sanity.
Two of my kids wanted no one but me!! Not even DAD! But, if my mother-inlaw took her or my sister-inlaw took her I would just leave her sight and eventually she was ok. It really didn’t take long for her to stop fussing/crying if I wasn’t in sight and was being entertained.
Make sure she is fed and dry before leaving. Perhaps she will fall asleep. If she does don’t do what my husband likes to do….stop for gas or to get a beverage or go to the bathroom. I wouldn’t stop until my kids need a diaper change or were hungry unless their crying was unbearable. I would drive with a fussy cry for a little ways then would stop and stretch feed her and change her.
Consider breaking the trip into 2 days or travel at night when she is sleeping. Travel when they are sleeping is sometimes difficult because you are tired from being sleep deprived.
Good Luck and Enjoy yourselves!!!
I’m sure probably already thought of these, but thought I would chime in.
Andrea says
Yes, Julie, we have many baby Einstein DVD’s along and she LOVES those! And we are breaking our trip up into 2 days and leaving early in the morning on the first day.
Jane says
DON’T! Haha….just kidding. With four kids, we didn’t take many long journeys when they were younger. When they got a bit older, we would get up early and hit the road by 5. It was nice and quiet, traffic was light and we got a good chunk of the trip out of the way before the sun was up. We would drive no later than dinner time. I would think with a toddler you would need lots of breaks and time to stretch and run around. All the “other parents” always seemed to have kids that traveled well. They would buy new toys for the car or the trip. None of that ever seemed to work for me! The DVD player is great – we used that all the way to Disney. I’m not proud – but it sure made the trip smooth. I’ve only been to one out-of-town wedding with my family – and the youngest was 5 months old. It was easy, in a way, to be breastfeeding because you don’t have to mess with a lot of extra food stuff. But the best advice is go with the flow. My kids were never on a schedule in a hotel room. I used to put them down and expect them to fall asleep. It never happened. By kid #4 I relaxed on that. We would all be up for the same hours and if it was sleeping with us that worked, that’s what we did. The baby was great at the wedding and even the reception. He konked out for a while and I put him right in the stroller to sleep. It will take a lot of energy on your part, but I am confident you will adapt to the situation. Yes, even if you have to be that parent who walks out with a crying baby. We’ve all spent our time at the back of churches and outside restaurants! For me, a stroller was salvation – something my kids always enjoyed – even if that was the only time they would sleep – it was helpful. Have a great time!