So you have made the choice to make a road trip with your baby- that is awesome! For so many reasons, if you need to travel far, a road trip makes more sense. It can often be cheaper, you can pack more, and you just have more control over things. When to stop, where to eat, how much leg room you get….
There are so many pros to a road trip, the only nerve wracking thing may be how to make the trip smoothly with a little one in tow. When we traveled with my 9 month old daughter, I knew that I was extremely nervous. How would she handle being in her carseat that long? Would it affect her sleep routine? Would she scream the entire time?
I was so nervous, but luckily that helped me prepare for every single scenario and the trip ended up being amazing. We all had an amazing time! Of course, I want that for you, so I wrote out some of my top tips on how to road trip with a little one.
my top 5 baby road trip tips
- Keep your standards low
Traveling with babies has countless surprises. The lower your expectations are going into your road trip, the easier it will be to handle those surprises as they come up.
- Wear your patience pants
These aren’t literal pants, but they are important to bring nevertheless. Your patience pants is a state of mind that all parents need to have just in case your kid decides that they are unhappy with their current situation.
The more upset your child becomes, the better off everyone is. If you are able to remain calm, and your patience pants will help you achieve that.
- Plan a lot of breaks
I cannot tell you how many unplanned breaks I have had to take while road tripping with my baby. Like anyone, little ones need to get out and stretch their legs. Even if they can’t walk yet, the change in scenery taking them from the car seat to a picnic at a rest stop can help the entire family get some wiggles out. If you can find a park, even better!
- Pack a lot of snacks
There is something about long road trips that just makes you hungry. And really, what is a road trip without snacks? I like to pack some extra yummy baby food pouches, snack bars, and rice cakes to help keep my little one happy while on the road.
(For me, I find that packing something sweet like my favorite Chocolate Chip Oreo Brownies helps me enjoy the road trip too).
- Plan a lot of activities
Whenever I pack for a road trip, I always pack a back only for entertainment. Before kids, that meant magazines and a trashy novel. Now, that means a backpack filled with board books, stuffed animals, and kid crafts. I like to keep them with me in the front, then toss new activities in the back every 30 minutes or so. This helps out with keeping your little one’s mind preoccupied for as long as possible.
In Summary to Tips to Road Trip with a Baby
There are a million reasons to take a fun family road trip and I hope that you don’t let the fear of taking your baby stop you from all the adventures! Using the tips mentioned in this article, you will be able to make the best out of any situation and make a million memories with your family.
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