Inside: If you’re traveling with baby, use our best tips and must-have travel essentials to your list for a stress-free trip!
Are you preparing to hit the road this holiday season with a new baby in tow? Believe it or not, it can be done with little stress if you plan ahead. I traveled with my kids several times; My oldest flew with me at about 10 months and we’ve had several long road trips before then.
Through experience, I learned that a few adjustments here and there can make all the difference for a successful trip.
Timing
First things first, if at all possible try to travel during nap time. It will make things that much easier for all involved if baby can sleep through the long ride.
Carseat
Since your little one will be in the same position throughout the car ride, you need to make sure they are as comfortable as possible. Scan to see if the head rest is in prime position for when baby falls asleep, keep the car nice and toasty without overdoing it and remove a bulky coat which could pose a serious risk while in the car.
Here are more carseat safety tips for winter travel and summer travel:
Diaper Bag
Of course you’ll have a diaper bag fully stocked, but is it easily accessible? You never know when you’ll need to pull over suddenly to change a diaper blowout or clean up baby vomit so try not to keep that particular bag buried somewhere under other luggage. I don’t know how many times I’ve had to rummage through a fully-packed car to find the right bag.
Toys
How could you forget to pack a few favorite toys for your little bundle of joy, you ask? It can happen! Remember that your baby can get just as bored as you so make it a point to pack a couple things to keep them happy. A plush animal that lights up, a taggie toy and teether are great options to take a long!
Food
Baby will obviously need some nourishment along the way if you’re traveling long distances. Pack extra water bottles for formula and remember your nursing cover if you’re a breastfeeding mama — for those moments you may need some privacy.
But don’t forget to bring some snacks for yourself! You’ll need some food or water to recharge after a long ride especially if you are nursing. Remember that baby relies on a healthy mommy! Plus traveling during the holidays usually means more traffic…so it may be a while before you reach that next rest stop.
Medicine
I posted a few months ago some recommendations for things to always pack in your bag when heading out the door with little ones. Medicine topped that list.
Music
Although music is not something you need to “pack” per se, you may want to make a playlist of classical or soothing music you can easily turn to, if the back of the car turns into a scream-fest somewhere along the route.
Accessories
Stroller If you’re packing heavy you may not remember to leave room for a bulky stroller, but an umbrella stroller or snap-n-go that attaches to the infant car seat is a must if you’ll be doing a lot of walking or shopping at your final destination.
Mirror When I was a new mom, there were only a few things that provided some peace of mind when driving around with baby. One of those things was a car mirror that let me keep a close eye on my little one while seated up front. I would highly recommend one of these that easily attaches to the back seat, so you have one less thing to worry about!
Extra tissues or wipes Because messes are bound to happen, you can never pack enough tissues or baby wipes!
Extra Diapers Don’t forget to pack extra diapers every time you travel…even if you think you have enough, it never hurts to have a little more for those bound to happen accidents.
And when it comes to diapers, make sure you’re carrying a brand that you can trust like Huggies Little Snugglers. These diapers have a Gentle Absorb liner to provide a cushiony layer of protection, plus a flexible pocketed waistband for a gentle secure fit. When packing wipes I’d also recommend stocking up on Huggies Natural Care Wipes the brand’s simplest formula yet for a gentle clean. These wipes are gentle enough for baby but strong enough for those other messes.
Safe travels!!
Is there something that you’ve dreamed about adding to your registry? Huggies wants to help make your wish come true. Add Huggies Little Snugglers and Natural Care Wipes to your baby registry HERE for a chance to make it a reality!
Thanks to Huggies for sponsoring this post in a series for new moms. If you missed my last posts in the series check them out below:
Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.
Thanks for allowing me to share your post in my traveling with kids roundup. It will go live November 12th!