Top tips for tackling long car journeys with a baby on board
Posted: 26 September 2011
by Liz Stansfield
If you’re planning a long journey, perhaps your first mini-break as a new family or a trip to visit granny, going by car is one way to reduce the stress of travelling with a little one. However, it’s not just a case of bundling your stuff in the boot and hitting the road. Go through your baby’s daily routine and make a list of all the things you’ll need to pack. “Plan, plan and plan again,” advises mum, Lucy. “This way you’ll feel calm and relaxed, knowing you haven’t forgotten anything, as you head off.”
Pack wisely
Take your time packing your bags and organising them in the car and boot, so you have everything you’ll need within arms reach. “Your changing bag with bottles, nappies and blankets needs to be in the car, so you don’t have to scramble around in the boot,” says Lucy. “Everything you won’t use until you get there, pack away.”
Go at night
“If you’re really going the distance, travel at night when there’s less traffic on the roads to make your journey as speedy as possible,” says Lucy. “Pop your baby safely in her car seat and before you know it, she’ll be asleep, hopefully for the majority of the journey.”
Invest in a sleeping bag with holes for the car seat straps, this way when you reach your destination you can pop baby straight into her cot with minimum fuss.
Plan for stops
“Decide on the route you're going to take and mark off stops where you can pull over, use the loo and, of course, feed your baby,” suggests Lucy. Note down more stops than you’ll need, so you know where you can safely get out and attend to your little one. Driving with an unsettled baby can be stressful, so it helps to know that you've got somewhere to stop.
