Sitting in a car for hours upon hours as part of a road trip can get grating for anyone. But if you’re a tiny baby that’s used to being held and having a little more attention and freedom, car trips can be frustrating as well as uncomfortable. However, if the family wants or needs to take a road trip, there are things you can do that will make this experience less stressful for everyone involved. To show you how here are three tips for road tripping with an infant on board.
Pack The Car Strategically and Plan Ahead for Emergencies
Even if you’re sitting right next to your baby in the backseat, it can be a challenge to ensure you have everything you’ll need during your trip in close proximity. Knowing this, it’s vital that you strategically pack your car so that things you’ll need are near you while things you won’t need during the ride are stowed away to create more room for the passengers. If you don’t have a spacious car but can afford to rent one, you might consider doing this to make your trip more convenient. Either way, Alesandra Dubin, a contributor to Parents.com, recommends making sure you keep things like pacifiers, toys, bottles or snacks, and wipes in easy-to-reach places and out of the trunk or back storage areas. Besides all these, you also need to think about other things when you are travelling by car with your kids. One of the most important things to consider is roadside assistance. What if your car breaks down in the middle of the road? Who would you call? How would you tackle the situation? You need to strategically plan all those things! For starters, you may need to have a contact number of technicians like the ones available at 954 JunkCar who can provide you with emergency roadside assistance. Also, before you leave for a trip, make sure that you have inspected your vehicle for any signs of malfunction. Though vehicles can break down at any point in time (without any good reason), it is good to have them checked thoroughly before embarking on a journey.
Work With Your Child’s Schedule
Depending on the length of your trip, you may be on the road for pivotal parts of your baby’s day, like feedings, naps, and playtime. To ensure your baby stays as content as possible, Melanie Haiken, a contributor to BabyCenter.com, suggests planning as much of your driving time around your baby’s schedule as you can. If your baby can eat in the car, use that time to get as far as you can. Many babies nap well in cars, so that can help you put some miles behind you as well. To keep everyone happiest, try to make pit stops every few hours to stretch and take a break from being in car seats. While it might seem inconvenient to you, it’s worse to try to drive with a screaming baby in the backseat.
Create A Sleeping Sanctuary
The road tripping dream for parents is having a baby that sleeps the entire way. While this might not be completely realistic, you can make it so your car is as sleep-inducing as possible for your little one. Ashley Marquez, a contributor to USA Today, writes that installing sunshades, creating white noise CDs or playlists, and taking advantage of your baby’s normal nap times will help increase the chances of your baby napping well while in the car.
If you have a road trip planned with your infant, use the tips mentioned above to make this time on the road as uneventful as possible. Safe travels!