Baby’s First Road Trip?
If you’re a first time mom, chances are you’re going to have at least a little bit of anxiety around baby’s first trip whether it be by car or plane. Getting babies out of a routine and sleeping somewhere they aren’t used to is an easy stressor and as moms, we’re going to feel that hard.
I was super anxious for our first trip with Callie. Don’t get me wrong, I was still super excited to go especially because we didn’t take any trips the previous summer since I was so pregnant. We needed to go somewhere! But I was also nervous.
I think something that helped was waiting until Callie was almost ten months old to take her somewhere other than our parent’s house. She had such a good routine established, knew when to expect sleep, had practiced a few overnights at her grandparents during holidays, and we knew her personality was pretty easy-going. While I knew that she would do just fine, I still wanted to prepare as best as I could to make sure we enjoyed our time.
If you’re feeling nervous, that’s okay! That means you want what’s best for your baby. Just try to prepare yourself as best as you can for things to be a little out of whack for a few days, but chances are, your baby will adjust and do just fine! And if not, they’ll get back into their routine pretty quickly once you get home!
Tips For the Car
1. Try to break up the drive as much as possible and utilize nap time!
We had to take our dogs to my in-laws for both of our trips and luckily, it ended up being on the way. We were able to get out, let Callie play for a while there, eat, and then get back on the road closer to a nap. There was still had plenty of awake time in the car, but making sure we were always driving during nap time was so beneficial.
I don’t have advice for babies who aren’t great car sleepers (sending prayers) but what I like to do for Callie’s nap is to make sure she’s in comfy clothes, and then I put a light blanket on her lap to somewhat replicate her sleep sack. I attach her portable sound machine to the head rest she faces, and then I cover her entire car seat with a blanket. (The blanket goes over the head rest she’s facing, and then I tuck it in her car seat.)
Now, I know that is not recommended so please do what you feel is best for your baby’s safety. The reason I chose to do this is because Callie is way too stimulated by her surroundings and would never fall asleep if she could look around. By doing these things, we can usually get at least an hour nap from her while driving.
2. Be Prepared to Ride in the Back
I know that if you are going on a road trip, chances are, your car is going to be full. Ours definitely was… packed to the brim, actually 😅 But when Callie was awake, I was in the backseat with her basically the whole time. She was fine for about 20-30 minutes just looking around, and then she got bored and needed someone to entertain her.
3. Busy Books
I found this book and this book on Amazon and they were great books for the car. I read them to her a few (several) times which she enjoyed, but they were also tactically stimulating because they have so many different sensory textures and activities for her to do. These were specifically for the trip, and I didn’t give them to her until we were in the car so they were new and exciting.
4. New Toy(s)
Just like I did with the books, I bought a new toy that I thought she would like before we left and I didn’t give it to her until we were in the car. Not having ever seen or played with it before, it entertained her and kept her attention much longer than the toys I brought from home.
5. Snacks, Snacks, and More Snacks
Probably a given, but snacks are essential on a road trip with a baby that’s close to a year old or beyond. When we had worn out the books, toys, and looking out the window, it was time to open up the snacks. Some of Callie’s favorites and the easiest options for the car were: Veggie Puffs, Gogo Squeeze, Soft-Baked Granola Bars, Puffs, and BeechNut Pouches. I had a reusable grocery bag on the floor in the back seat filled with these snacks as well as her toys and books. It was so nice to have everything in one spot.
Tips For Your Stay
1. Bring a Sound Machine
I know, this is probably obvious, but DO NOT forget it. When your baby is in an unfamiliar place, the last thing you want to be dealing with is poor sleep because there are new sounds you can’t block out. We stayed in a house which was fine, but we also stayed in a hotel with loud doors slamming and thank gosh we had the sound machine to block it out.
2. Bring a Pack n Play
Another obvious one, but don’t rely on a crib if you’re staying at a hotel. You never know when they will accidentally overbook them, or what kind of condition they will be in. Having something that smells like your home and that you know is safe and clean brings more peace of mind than you’ll know.
3. Lightweight Stroller
When we registered, we picked out a very nice, durable, and big stroller. And we LOVE it… for day to day walking. However, it’s not very practical when traveling because it takes up so much room. So we ordered this umbrella stroller and it has been so nice for traveling. It folds up so compact and doesn’t take up much trunk space at all. It comes with a canopy, drink holders and a small basket.
4. Portable High Chair
This little chair is absolutely amazing and I can’t recommend it enough. We have taken it with us on both trips and to visit friends and family. It’s basically a mini version of a bag chair with an attachable tray. It doesn’t take up any room and is super easy to set up and take down. Callie loves sitting in this to eat just like a regular high chair, and I love it because she doesn’t have to sit on my lap for every meal!
5. Miscellaneous Items
A stroller fan is always a good idea to bring along, especially if you are traveling in the summer. It doesn’t take up much space in a diaper bag and if you don’t have enough room, it can clip on easily to a strap or to the stroller itself.
I also got Callie a stainless steel water bottle for our trip. I wanted to make sure she had plenty of water access for both trips since we were going to be outside and in the sun. This cute bottle is from Simple Modern and the stainless steel keeps it nice and cold!
Headphones – these are probably trip specific and not necessary for all families. We were headed to a Major League Baseball game and weren’t sure how Callie would handle the noise from the crowd. So, we brought these headphones along just in case she couldn’t handle it. Like normal, she was a champ and the noise didn’t phase her so we didn’t need them. But I’m so glad we had them just in case because it could have been a miserable night if she cried every time there was cheering!
Have Fun!
Like I said above, your baby will most likely surprise you with how flexible they are and you will have so much fun! It’s okay to be anxious or nervous if it’s the first trip and you’re a first time mom, but take a deep breath, don’t set expectations high, and enjoy it to the fullest! If you’ve traveled with babies before, what are must haves you always take with you?!
