Road trip with baby
Travelling with little ones is never a walk in the park whether you are on a plane, riding a train or in an automobile! If you are planning a trip by car with your little one (or ones) here are some handy hints and tips for your journey…

Planning makes perfect….
When it comes to travel with children travel with children (big AND small) the key factor is planning. If the thought of a long car journey with small children strikes fear into your heart never fear because there are ways to survive and actually enjoy the journey with your babies or toddlers it just takes careful planning and proper preparation.

If you taking a car trip with a baby, from newborn to 6 months a lot more careful planning is needed compared to trips with older babies and toddlers, despite the fact that they are less mobile. Mums and dads should also anticipate a much longer journey too so keep this in mind when planning your route and try to avoid peak rush hours.

Prepare, prepare, prepare!
Before embarking on your trip it’s a good idea to ‘prepare’ the car for baby! Try get everything organised and ready without the distraction of the little ones. Put up the car shades , make sure the car seat is strapped in properly and everything else you may need is ready to go.

Plan your route carefully and keep in mind your baby’s routine. If possible, drive around naptimes and stop at their feeding time. Babies love to sleep in the car and for parents, this is an advantage in the road trip realm as long as you plan properly. Leave before dawn or right before naptimes to get the maximum benefits.

When travelling on the road make plans to stop, and stop often- this is imperative for mum, dad AND baby, especially the driver. Make use of the service stations along with road. Use these spots to have something to eat, relax and rest so you are alert for the next part of the journey! Don’t rush things when you do stop and be in a rush to get back on the road, or you'll get burned by needing to stop again within the hour. Allow at least a good 20 minutes at each stop to change nappies , feed, cuddle, stretch and relax.

Take baby into the toilets fitted with a baby changer and freshen them up.
As always with little ones, you need to be ready for anything and this applies to being on the road too. On the road, babies have a way of doing the unexpected so always be prepared. You could have a blow-out in the car seat, or a spit-up incident during a nappy change. Make sure you are prepared with lots of extras besides what is in your baby bag. Extra cloths for baby (and yourself) are essentiall and any sort of cleaning supply you might need on the go. Wet wipes are a must-have for the road so you can clean up baby (and yourself) on the go with no mess, no fuss!

Make sure baby is protected from the sun’s rays – even in the winter- by using window shades for the car to keep the sun off baby. If you travelling in the summer, it’s also an idea to cover baby’s head with a little hat for extra protection along with using baby-friendly sunscreen . Don’t forget to pack a warm blanket for the trip to keep baby warm, for those colder days.

Make sure you have a car mobile and baby’s favourite toys to keep your little one occupied when they are awake.

Plan a Road Trip with a Toddler
When you have a toddler in tow a road trip is a tad more tricky as they are more mobile than a baby! Toddlers are just as portable as babies, but they have the added challenge of being mobile AND they don’t sleep as much. This is good in some ways (you don't have to pull out a stroller or carry baby every time you stop), but that means you also need to keep your toddler entertained. Here are tips for a road trip with a toddler
As with babies, try plan your trip around your toddler’s schedule, driving through nap time and stopping during their feeding time.

You will also have to be extra prepared with items to keep your little one occupied on the journey. Like baby, make sure your toddler is also protected from the sun with car shades , a hat and sunscreen to protect their delicate skin. Make sure you have extra clothes for your toddler and their favourite blanket and toys to keep them happy.

Make sure you have some yummy and fun snacks for your little one. Get some healthy (and not messy) snacks that are easy to eat and dispose of on the road. Head to your local supermarket and check out their range of healthy snacks and food for on-the-go eating. Keep away from lots of sugar as you don’t want to give your toddler extra energy in an enclosed space.

Keep your toddler entertained while they are away. A great idea is to bring travel toys and make them last! Try not bring them out until your child asks for them or gets bored.

Don’t bring the toys out all at once- take one out at a time so that each has a period of novelty. Try wrap some toys as gifts, it it will provide a little extra excitement and entertainment for your child. A great way to avoid tantrums on the road with a toddler is to splurge on a portable DVD player for the car and let them watch their favourite dvds (Dora the Explorer is always a winner) or get some kiddie-friendly CDs for them to listen and sing along too. You should also bring along some fun activities for toddlers such as an etcher sketcher or their favourite book. Small toys that are likely to fall on the fall or down the side of the seat are best avoided.

Make sure you stop frequently to give your toddler a chance to move and a break for mum and dad! Toddlers love to be on the go and get very fidgety if they are cooped up too long- and it’s a great way to tire them out. Plan to stop every couple of hours to let your toddler walk and run around (holding hands carefully, of course, especially in high traffic areas).

Make use of service stops along the way to let your toddler use the bathroom, or for a snack. Many service stops have play areas or a grassy area which is the perfect place for your toddler to play!

But most of all, enjoy the journey with your little ones!


Happy travels…