Let me start this post out with a disclaimer as I typically do for any parenting related posts. I am not an expert by any means. Heck, this is my first baby so I’m still a newbie… but this is what’s worked well for us!
I personally love a good road trip… even though I get car sick half the time! Praise God for dramamine. I think it’s a combo of the nostalgia (brings back childhood memories, also brings back memories of the many many times I watched Brittany Spears discover who she was in Crossroads as a teen) the uninterrupted time with family, and the snacks of course (boiled peanuts all day errrryday!)
Alba Grace has been on quite a few road trips in her short life but last month we made our longest trek yet. We drove down to the Keys for a family vacation, which with stops is about a 9 hr trip! Sounds a little crazy to do with a one year old but there’s no way we could have flown with the amount of cargo we had to bring with us, driving was easier and probably less expensive.
Alba Grace has also journeyed to Atlanta and Asheville which were both very long trips (6+ hours!) for a baby. While it hasn’t always been the easiest, we’ve learned a lot to make our trips more pleasant! I really love traveling with my family and pray for a lifetime of fun travel adventures, so we’re determined to keep getting better at it!
TIPS & TRICKS FOR TRAVELING WITH A BABY
Be intentional about packing. In the past I’ve printed generic packing lists but it seems to work best to bust out a notepad and think through all of our planned/possible activities, making a giant list of everything we’ll need. For our keys trip I made a list for the car, a list for me, a list for Pearce, a list for AG, and a list of things we needed to bring on the boat. I typically write out my list a few weeks before the trip so I can start gathering items and purchasing anything I’m missing. I get so stressed about leaving something important behind so this checklist strategy has helped my sanity tremendously! I highly recommend staying in an airbnb or a hotel with a laundry service so that you don’t have to overpack! We really do try to think of things we can do without when we travel. What can you do without? Do you really need that many bottles? Do you really need all of those toys? Probably not. For our keys trip we opted to pack a baby carrier instead of our stroller which helped save a ton of space! We packed one sippy cup. One bib. One blanket. You get the picture. You can also consider renting some of the bulkier baby gear when you arrive at your destination! Our pack and play is a must for us while traveling, but almost everything else is negotiable and we typically don’t miss any of it! Here’s a link to our very inexpensive pack and play! We love that it’s compact when folded up and small enough to fit in a large closet or even a hotel bathroom, which is so important when the place you’re staying doesn’t have a spare bedroom. If you’re not a co-sleeping family, vacation is not the time to become one. Anytime we’ve ever tried to sleep with AG right next to us in the room it has been brutal! Having a little partition between us, whether it’s a bathroom or closet is good for everyone! Out of eye sight for her but still within earshot for us! *I don’t think I need to mention this but just in case…. make sure the door is open if your baby is sleeping in the bathroom or closet! Proper ventilation is very very important.
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Keep a “car bag” handy. This has been amazing for us when we travel with AG! I pack this tote full of fun toys, snacks, wipes, blankets, a clip-on-fan, a change of clothes… really anything we might need while in the car! I do try to think of every possible scenario that we may need supplies for but also have to remember that we’re not in a foreign country and we can purchase any necessities we missed along the way! We don’t plan on introducing ipads/tablets or car dvd players for awhile (not that we’re against them!) so know that it is possible to have a great road trip without technology if you choose to go the old fashioned route! I love bringing a few of our favorite small toys as well as a few new things! Babies are troopers for traveling and for that they deserve a little travel treat! Linked a few of our favorites below but you can also check out the target dollar spot to fill your car bag. I always find the best toys (and makeshift toys!) there!
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Ditch the diaper bag. I am 100% team backpack when it comes to travel. It’s a must to have your hands free! In addition to the “car bag” I keep my backpack stocked with some necessities for when we run into restaurants, need to go change a diaper, etc. I don’t pack a purse for myself when we travel with AG, I put my essentials in her bag.
Buy diapers & wipes at your destination. Last time I packed AG’s bag for a trip Pearce counted that there were approximately 25 diapers per day. And wipes to last us a lifetime. If you’re not a parent yet…. know that 25 per day is an INSANE amount of diapers and I am crazy. If you’re traveling in the states, do yourself a favor and buy diapers and wipes when you arrive at your destination! You can also prime them (it’s a verb now haha!) so they’re at your destination when you arrive!
Snacks. Snacks. Snacks. I don’t care how you feel about snacking while you’re home, snacks on road trips are essential. Linked a few of our favorites (not super messy) car snacks for babies below! I’m no longer nursing but if you are, these handheld pumps were all I used when we traveled! I was able to get just as much milk without having to plug in! For reference, I used the spectra pump at home.
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Stop and take a break. If AG is ever fussy on a trip it’s because she’s bored and likely sick of looking at the same thing for hours! Stop for lunch. Visit a park. Take baby into a store with you. A Change of scenery will work wonders!
Lower your expectations. When we travel we do our best to stick to AG’s schedule and routines (especially her bedtime routine!) but we also understand that everything will not go as planned. If it’s just the three of us we have few issues sticking to schedules because we get to plan out our days, but when we travel with family and friends we have to be flexible! Do your research, pick a few things you’d like to attempt each day, but be ready to deviate from the plan too! Going into a trip or vacation with lowered expectations will set you up for success. Traveling with littles is unpredictable… let that be part of the fun! 🙂
Remember… even if you read and implement all the tips on the internet, traveling with little ones could feel a bit crazy at times. We are incredibly thankful for an angel baby that’s pretty easy going but even when she’s older and a bit more rambunctious…. I hope we choose to keep traveling. It’s so special to me and well worth the stress! And remember… if all else fails, play baby shark on repeat and pray there’s no traffic! 🙂
love y’all! mckenzie
