Hello, Mama! I’m glad you’re here. You see, I didn’t mean to go on a road trip with my 2-month-old. I would have definitely waited longer before taking her with me. But, sometimes life just throws you a curveball and you have to adjust. I was terrified to go on a road trip with our newborn, but I definitely learnt a lot through the experience! I hope these tips are useful to you and can help ease any stress.
Road Tripping With A Baby
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Breastfeeding Mamas: Get A Portable Pump
When I say portable, I mean easy to transport! My Medela Pump in Style is technically portable with its portable battery, but it still has a million parts to it. It’s very difficult to store all of my pumping pieces and stuff them at my feet, but also just so annoying to set up while the car is driving. And what if my husband wasn’t driving? How in the world would I manage to keep my flanges on and drive?
My sister got me onto the company Elvie and they make amazing breast pumps that just stick in your bra and you’re good to go. Plus, it comes with a rechargeable battery that you can connect to the car! I’d recommend the Elvie Double Wearable Breastpump!
Why pump you may ask? I normally breastfeed every 2-3 hours, but my baby can go 3+ hours when we’re driving. If you can handle a long drive with little stops, then letting your baby sleep is key! (If your baby is less than 5 weeks, I wouldn’t recommend exceeding 4 hours without a feeding.) Just pump when you feel full and bottle feed (or breastfeed if it lines up) your baby when they wake up!
Formula Feeding Mamas: Powder, Powder, Powder!
Powder formula is honestly the way to go. On my last trip we used ready-to-feed bottles, but once you open those up they have to be refrigerated immediately! Plus, I’m not a fan of giving my baby cold milk – it’s just not as comforting. Here’s what you do:
- Have 3-4 bottles ready with the right amount of powder inside (I used 4 bottles in a 12 hour road trip, so be prepared depending on how long your trip is!)
- Have a large thermos with really warm water prepared (not boiling, it will take too long to cool down before the first feeding!)
- Each time baby needs to eat, pour your warm water into your bottle, shake it up and your good to go!
- BONUS TIP: If you run out of water, run into a nearby coffee shop and ask for hot water!
Powder lets you prepare exactly how much you know your baby will drink. This allows you to avoid using a cooler and avoid worrying about whether or not the milk will keep.
Packing Your Diaper Bag
What I learnt on my last trip was the importance of being efficient. We wanted to get to my sister’s house in time for dinner so we couldn’t spend an hour or more at a stop. Now, you’ll need TWO bags to get this done. One main diaper bag, and a smaller toiletries bag. Here’s what you put in them:
Main Diaper Bag
- 3 Extra Onesies (Get fleecy ones for colder days)
- Diaper Changing Mat
- Clean Water (for rinsing out bottles)
- Extra burp cloths
- Books / Extra Pacifiers / Toys
Toiletries Bag
- 4+ diapers (This depends on how long you’re driving. I used 4 diapers in 12 hours)
- Wet Wipes
- Small Lotion
When you are at a stop, grabbing your small toiletries bag to change baby in the washroom is a game changer. Lugging my massive diaper bag and searching for what I need was inefficient and honestly so annoying. Using this small bag is easy to place on the changing table in the bathroom and easier to hold when dealing with a fussy baby. Even using a fanny pack would be better as it can be strapped right on to you!
Dealing With The Fussiness
There were times when my little girl wouldn’t go back down to nap and within an hour of driving from our last stop, the fussiness starts. The goal is to get to our destination as quickly as possible, because delaying it will only make things more difficult with your newborn. Here are some tips on how to deal with the fussiness while driving:
- Music before the storm.
- If you feel like your baby is about to get fussy, get some music going. Play something nice, but not too relaxing (you don’t want to put the driver to sleep as well!)
- Extra pacifiers on hand.
- I wasn’t able to find my daughter’s pacifier once, only to find it had become lodged behind her head rest. Have extra pacifiers with you so you don’t have to try searching for the lost one.
- Sit in the back.
- When it was the last leg of the road trip, I sat in the back with my daughter to keep her company. She would hold my hand and fall asleep as if making sure I stay there and not go back to the front. I would use this opportunity to read to her or talk to her or even sing to her.
- Check the temperature.
- If it’s too warm, my daughter can’t sleep, so make sure the temperature in the car is nice. If you’re sweating, she’s definitely sweating.
- Block the sun.
- My little girl would get annoyed when the sun beamed on her, and even worse, she’d start to get overheated! Get window covers like THIS to help!
I only recommend these tips IF your baby has already been fed and changed. Last case scenario is stopping at a gas station and comforting your little baby. I hate letting my daughter “cry-it-out” so we would only stop if she’s inconsolable and needs some cuddles.
You know your baby best, mama!
Enjoy The Road Trip!
Babies love that white noise. The hum of the car moving and the background of music and voices will lull the baby to sleep. Please, mama, don’t force your husband or friends to stay silent the entire trip. Don’t go screaming, of course, but enjoy conversations and music together. A calm mama will help with a calm baby.
