Traveling with a Five Month Old.

Don't be nervous--just have some things in the seat to occupy her, and leave when she is ready to sleep. She may sleep the whole way!

Hi L.. We traveled to Florida with our 6 week old and he (and us) did great! We travel a lot in the car too to pick up and drop off the older two children as well (we normally exchange them in Grand Island or Kearney!). I just make sure I change my son and feed him then run out the door. Kids love riding in the car (I think) and, normally, they just fall asleep. The problem is if you are in the car too long and they have slept, then they won't sleep once they get out of the car. Sometimes, if he's really alert (or fussy), one of us will ride in the back with him and talk to him and just be there for him. If he's fussy, his pacifier normally works until he falls asleep. He only screams in the car if it's past his "dinner" time. Also, make sure your daughter is comfortable temperature-wise -- not too hot or cold. Good luck! Hope some of this helps.

We just got back from a trip to Massachusetts with our 2 month old. I was so worried about it I didn't sleep for days. Turns out I had nothing to worry about. She slept through the whole thing and the visit with our family was definitely worth it! I just made sure I was very organized. About a week before the trip I started a list. Everyday I wrote down the things I used that day so I would know what to pack when the time came. I also made sure I had all of the Dr. phone numbers and emergency contacts in one place so (God forbid) if I needed them I knew where to find it right away. Hope this helps.

Hopefully she'll sleep most of the way!! My first son's first trip was at 5 months and it was 2 days in the car then when we got back 2 weeks later we left 4 days later to be in the car for 16 hours,, and those were just 1 way. There;s not really much you can do if she doesn't like it and I'm sure she'll be ok with it. When we go shopping and do ANYTHING we have to travel 30 minuts to 1 hour to the next town and both of my boys do fine!! Don't stress!! 3 hours is nothing! Babies are better travelers than us sometimes!! Good Luck

I used to do this every other week with my twins for almost three months because of work. (Fortunately, my husband joined us-- because I don't think we could have done this without another set of hands.) It is doable-- but it depends on your timing. Pick the time of day when you child is likely to be sleepy: get her something to eat just before you go and be prepared for another feeding as some point. Take along a few toys to keep her occupied while she settles in and keep driving until you HAVE TO stop (to change her, feed her again, or whatever).
It seems daunting, but it is much easier at 5 months than at 10 months-- or whenever they begin to get truly mobile and much too active to be in a carseat.

Good luck and let us know how it turned out.

Hello L.,

Do not worry at all!!! At this age is pretty easy. My son started traveling with us since he was 3 mo old by car and by plane (2 hrs and a 15 hr flight!). Just make sure that you will stop to rest a little bit and take your baby girl out of the car seat for a moment. It is a really good idea when she is about to nap, and also have some toys around so she can grab them easily and amuse herself. Soft music also works wonderfully (My son loves Bee Gees and Lullabies!!)

At this time my husband and I are planning to go on a trip for Xmas with our 6 yr old boy and our little baby of 7 mo old.

Good Luck!!
Alejandra

L. -

Don't be nervous. I travel with my daughter alone (my husband generally works weekends while we go out of town) frequently. My family is about 3 hours away so we do the same type of trip. The best advice I can give you is to have everything packed and ready ahead of time. Feed and change your daughter right before leaving, leave within a half hour to an hour after feeding her. And timing wise you'll do great. When I time it like this I can make it the entire trip without having to stop for diapers or bottles or anything like that. She'll most likely need to be changed and possibly eat shortly after arriving wherever you're going, but it can actually be a very easy trip. Let me know if you have any other questions since I'm doing the exact same thing right now (my daughter's 6 months old now).

S.

I had my 3 mo old in the car for about 10 hours one day and I've traveled many hours at a time with her in my car. We usually have to stop several times but its pretty easy.

If you're not driving alone and have a breast pump, get the car adapter that way when the baby gets hungry you can pull out the pump and pump into a bottle and keep travelling while the other person drives. Only have to stop for diaper changes!

That's probably the biggest thing that's saved me with driving distances.

This is the best time to travel!! She'll sleep most of the time. I took my daughter for the first time when she was like 6 months old on an 8 hour drive just the two of us and she slept most of the time. I stopped occassionally to breastfeed and to change stinky diapers, but overall it was great. My husband and I took her again on a 12 hour drive when she was 10 months old, and that went really well too. I was worried becuase usually she is a little busy body and wants to move around all the time and doesn't like to be strapped down in the car seat, but once we got in the interstate and didn't have to stop all the time she was totally calm. Good luck!

Don't worry, she should do great. Just try to leave when she is fed and about ready to sleep. We took our daughter to New York when she was 6 months old. We just took lots of toys to switch out and music to listen too.
Also, do you ever get together to scrapbook? I am looking for a group or just some people to get together with around Noblesville.

Ok, this will give you a great picture--I drive 2 1/2 hours with my 5 mo. old daughter pretty often. She went on these "vacations" with me even when she was 3 and 4 mo. old. We often times go to see my family who lives in Warsaw. Now, Kelsey does really well the first couple of hours, and sometimes will fall asleep. If you are on a regular sleep pattern for her naps, leave right before a nap. Towards the last half hour, she does get ancy and fussy, wants to be out of her seat already. When she was 3 mo. we went to Kentucky and she did pretty well, but what we did--and my suggestion to you--find a place to pull over about half way through, get out, get her out of her seat, walk around/shop, etc. and give her a good half hour break (if you can afford the time). This helps tremendously. Otherwise, you'll be fine, just play it by ear.

Don't be nervous! Traveling with babies this age is a piece of cake. Make sure she's fed before she goes, and leave when it is her nap time. If she wakes up along the way, just keep going until she cries to get out. Stop, let her get out and stretch, feed her, and get back on your way. Make sure she has her favorite toys and blankie. I make 2 hr trips with my now 5 month old, and he sleeps the whole way!

I just took a trip about 4 hours away with my 5 month old...just make sure to pack everything you need... i made sure to pack extra bottles of water to make formula quikly. i also gave her a few toys and her fave blankie. it wasn't too bad...she slept most of time. and i got a portable crib for her to sleep in.

L.
This age is really easier in the car than you will think. Make sure that your daughter eats right before you leave and you should be set. Bring some children's music to entertain he if need be and have a fun trip!!
A.

What worked for me is - try to start your trip around her nap time. Most likely, they will sleep the entire trip and will make your drive that much nicer! Also, if you know the route you are going well, try to plan a stopping place about half way - just incase she doesn't sleep. Get her out of the carseat to stretch and get a break, PLUS make sure you know of a place that you can stop that will have a changing table for you to make that 'oh so important' diaper change! I don't know how many times we stopped, and we would end up changing them in the backseat of the car. Even not all the major food chains have a diaper station in the bathroom!! I know from expierience! :(

I hope your trip goes well!!

L. O

L.,
My parents lived 3 1/2 hours away when both my girls were babies. So we traveled alot. Make sure you have extra diapers, formula, food, and if she starts getting fussy just pull over and comfort her. It takes just a little longer but it makes for a better trip.

I traveled with both my boys when they were young now 2 and
3 1/2. My family lives 8 hours away from us in Minnesota. We would either start early in the morning after there feeding or at naptime after their feeding. The key we found was to feed them, change their pants and then put them in the car to sleep. My boys could usually make it about two hours before we needed to stop. The other thing we found was to let them stretch out when you stop. We tried to find a nicer rest area or would lay them out in the front seat. We would stretch their legs and arms and play a few games with them to help them move like "So Big" and "This little piggie". I would always carry a water bottle so if they did get fussy I could sit in the back seat and give them a little to help tied them over until we got there. This usually helped them fall asleep.
Most babies love the movement in the car so don't worry. Also a lullaby CD sometimes help calm them down and relax.

A little about me:
Stay at home mom of two boys, home child care, and love scrapbooking.

I wouldn't worry about a few hours, just take your time. If you rush you will make yourself crazy. I made trips back to Colorado Springs, Co (about 9 hours) atleast once a month from the time my now 17 month old was 3 months old. I actually liked doing it then more than now! Hope you have fun!!