Baby Friendly Road Trips

Originally published in Park Patter News March 2007

 

A road trip is a great way to ‘get away’ without flying cross country. Pack up the car, pack up the baby and pick up your partner. There are a few things to remember when heading out on the road with your little one. Your roadmap to a successful journey will depend on many things… here are some simple solutions for your next adventure:

 Firstly, make sure your car seat is securely fastened in the car. “80% of all car seats are installed incorrectly” (www.safety-council.org). Now is a good time to recheck the seat’s instructions and tighten up the straps. Baby will be safe, sitting snuggly in her seat. In most vehicles the middle of the back seat is the safest place for baby, but every vehicle is a little different so check your vehicle’s manual too.

 If you are going to be riding up front, make sure your diaper bag is within reach. You may need a receiving blanket, bib or binkie. A cooler is also a good idea tucked behind one of the seats. You can premix some bottles or have some baby food close at hand. And although it might be tempting to slip baby out of her car seat for a quick feed, use feeding time to pull over at rest stop and get a little down time. Inflatable nursing pillows and bottle warmers that hook into your car’s AC adapters are great gear to have on hand.

It is a good idea to plan rest stops about every 2-3 hours to keep everyone happy. You will have to get creative on ways to entertain her in between stops. An onboard DVD player and Baby Einstein mean a 30 minute break from singing and story telling for you!

 Remember, window shades are a must for summer car travel. A cool, comfortable baby is a content traveler.

 A road trip is also not the time for her best outfit complete with zippers, hooks and rivets. Make sure to dress her in something comfortable. Anything with snaps or buttons in the back could really start to dig in to baby’s delicate skin after a few hours in her car seat. Your trunk will no doubt be packed with overflowing suitcases, a case of diapers, and all of baby’s favorite toys, but it is a good idea to have a spare outfit in easy reach. Fill a large Ziploc bag with a spare outfit so you don’t have to empty the entire contents of your suitcase at a rest stop just to find a fresh onesie.

 You are bound to find some family friendly features at stops along the way. Getting there is supposed to be half the fun, so…above all enjoy the journey!

 

Stacey Corbett is a mother of 2 year old twins and the owner of One Tiny Suitcase (www.onetinysuitcase.ca). Her experience with travel, twins and two year olds has lead her to explore not only her own backyard but the many incredible Canadian destinations. Look for her family on the road this summer!