How to prepare for a long car ride with baby?

A long commute can quickly turn out to be a bit stressful for young parents.

What to pack? How to dress bébé? What time should we hit the road? Here are so many questions that can quickly increase the pressure before a vacation departure.

Don't panic, a car trip, even a long one, is like anything else: it has to be prepared.

Here is a little guide full of advice to make it easier for you to organize your trip with your child. You will see, even if he is a toddler, it is perfectly possible to travel with a baby. You just need to be patient and organized.

Comfort and safety first

It's impossible to have a road trip with bé without talking about safety and car safety.

Before we even plan the trip, we equip ourselves properly for a perfectly safe ride:

  • Group 0 from 0 kg: carrycot or hull back the road.
  • Group 0+ from 0 à 13 kg: car seat, back à the road.
  • Group 1 from 9 à 18 kg : car seat 2ème ége &equipped with a harness or a shield. It is installed back or face the road.
  • Group 2 from 15 kg: booster seats with backrest and some car seats, back to the road.
  • Group 3 from 22 à 36 kg: booster seats with or without backrest.

Of course, we make sure that the seat is properly secured before installing the child and starting the journey.

HOW TO DRESS BABY?

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Of course, depending on the season, we will add or remove a layer of clothing. Let's not forget that during a trip, children are certainly well seated and restrained, but they still wriggle a bit, and that's a good sign! It is a good idea to take a small extra blanket, in case your little one is a bit cold (in winter during the night for example). You can easily cover him, or remove this extra layer if the child is not comfortable.

At least one change of clothes is provided

Let's be ready! It's a good idea to take a change of clothes with you, without having to access the deepest bag in the trunk of the car.

As with all your trips with your child, the diaper bag should follow you. It contains everything you need to change and care for your baby. Of course, the diaper bag should be easy to carry and easy to grab. If there is a need for a diaper change, or if there has been a bottle accident, you will be able to fix everything simply at a rest stop.

For trips longer than 6 hours, bring extra clothing, you never know;

WE PLAN OUR ROUTE IN ADVANCE

 
Beware, this is not just about spotting which road or highway you will be traveling on, but rather spotting all the rest stops you will pass.


Whether it's a fasting break, a rest break, or a stop to change b&c, you'll learn from splitting your commute into smaller sections. In case of a diaper emergency, crying from hunger, or just a little too much commotion, you'll know exactly where to stop.

Not all rest areas are equipped to change a child or heat a bottle, for example. It is often the larger ones (on freeways) that are better equipped. Locate them on your entire route, and you'll never be caught out.

Don't take time to travel

When planning your trip, don't be overly optimistic about the times between stops.

While it's recommended that you stop every two hours to avoid driving fatigue, a bus may require more breaks. Keep this in mind when you are planning your arrival time. If you are expected, don't leave early and only give an approximate arrival time.

Passing a point of fatigue and boredom, bé can quickly occupy a lot of sound space and cause an electric atmosphere between the parents. Don't miss these moments by taking a short break to get back on track.

See that you have enough time for your long drive. It will inevitably be longer than if you were traveling without a car.

 

Prepare everything you need to feed baby

On a long trip of several hours, your child will definitely be hungry, especially in the first few months.

For his meals, prepare his bottles in advance. If you have insulated bottles, you can simply keep them ready for feeding time. If you only have conventional bottles, take hot water in an insulated bottle and the right amount of breast milk powder in each bottle.

You'll be able to stop and take a break in seconds. Without isothermal equipment, you can stop at well-equipped rest areas, which often have a microwave oven at the disposal of their customers.

In the same way, you can equip yourself with a travel bottle warmer directly connected to your vehicle. In this case, you will be able to make the meal break wherever you want.

What is the best time of day to take a long trip with baby?

there is not one, but many answers. It all depends on the length of the trip, the season and the time period.

Nighttime departure

Concretely, during the vacations, it is often easier and less stressful to drive at night. There is little or no traffic jam and the traffic is less dense. On the other hand, tiredness can quickly gain ground.

The easiest way with a young child is to leave at the beginning of the evening, when the child starts to fall asleep. This way, you can ride for several hours without him waking up.

Starting at dawn

Leaving very early in the morning allows you to avoid traffic, while still allowing you to get back to sleep and finish your night.

By leaving around 4 a.m., you'll be able to drive for several hours before you start taking breaks for your child. Obviously, you stop every two hours, and leave perfectly rested.

Daytime departure: often more complicated;

Wanting to make a long commute while leaving for the day can quickly become complicated.

Now, by leaving just before your child's nap, you get a moment of relief before you have to deal with him. Afterwards, meal breaks can be followed by diaper breaks quite quickly. So, be sure to do your homework before heading out for the day.

Parenting Tips
If you can, have one parent set up with bé the back with bé when he or she is ré. This will prevent crying spells due to boredom or annoyance during the journey. Sure, it’s less user-friendly, but the driver can stay perfectly focused on the road.

Final tip: keep your child busy

A simple trick to keep your child from getting bored: keep surprises in store.

Beware, nothing crazy, just a bag with his or her few games or toys ready. Try not to take them all out at once, the surprise of covering a new activity will save you even more time.

Beware, don't unpack his toy box, just take something to read him a story, a comforter and a game for example.

To travel with baby, plan ahead!

As is often the case when it comes to organization and children, the easiest thing to do is to make lists:

  • A list of rest stops along the route.
  • 1 list including diaper bag, change of clothes, and something to feed bé.
  • A list of all your child's belongings and clothes: this is the best way to make sure you don't forget anything.


For the rest, you will only have to check your vehicle before departure, and choose your travel schedule (free to each). If you follow these few tips, you'll see, the vacation trip will go smoothly. Have a great vacation!