By Lauren Jimeson
We always try to get out of the city on a long weekend. Although Manhattan has so much to offer, it can often feel like you are stuck in a little bubble. I love to get out of town and see something other than tall buildings.
This weekend, we are headed out of town for Memorial Day for a family wedding. We are renting a car and driving four hours to Pennsylvania. While I love road trips, Macks isn’t a big fan of being in the car for a long time. We don’t have a car in the city, so he spends most of his travel time in a stroller, but we have taken him a couple of times on long trips in the car and he hated it. He isn’t used to being in a car for an extended amount of time, so I have to make the best out of our time spent in the car. I’ve figured out certain things that seem to work while we are in the car.
Check out these tips for taking your little one on a road trip:
- Time It Right: Leave when baby is most likely to take a nap. Macks really isn’t on a schedule yet, but we are going to try to leave for our trip in the morning a little bit after he wakes up. He is usually in his best mood in the morning and will go to sleep closely after that.
- Make Stops: It’s always a great idea to allow for extra time to make stops along the way. When you do it will help keep both you and the baby relaxed. This is a great time to nurse or change baby’s diaper.
- Bring Toys: Although Macks is still a little young for many toys, he does love to look at bright toys and noise makers. He also is a big fan of mirrors. I plan on bringing toys that can attach to his car seat and keep him entertained during those fussy moments.
- Sit in the Back Seat: Macks loves attention and loves when people talk to him. During some of the trip I will go back in the back seat with him to talk to him and keep him occupied.
- Bring Bottles: Of course babies that are formula-fed will have bottles along the way, but Macks is exclusively breast-fed. I will bring my pump and bottles to pump in the car so that we don’t have to make as many frequent stops. This way I can give him a bottle in the car and pump rather than taking a stop to nurse him.
- Relax: No matter how you travel, doing it with a baby can bring on extra stress. Try to relax and prepare for frequent stops, crying, and the unexpected. In the end, you will come out a stronger parent because you got through this road trip with your little one.
Image : Disney Baby