There’s a lot of things you have to look forward to when you have a child. There’ll be long, fun-filled days at home; trips to the park; and visits to see your excited friends and family. Yet while this last one will be enjoyable, it does pose something of a problem: how are you going to get to their homes in the car? After all, if the journey is two or three hours, then how are you all going to cope? Don’t worry; we’ve got you back. Below, we run through how you can make this not just actionable, but maybe fun!
Plan, But Don’t Overdo
You know where you have to go. You’re going to swing by your sisters, and then drive onto your friends, and then from there you’ll go straight to your grandparents, who live relatively nearby to the area you’re traveling to. While this all sounds good in theory, keep in mind that reality might have other plans for you. As such, it’s a good idea to keep your travels simple and straightforward; don’t cram too much stuff in. If you do, you’ll only come to regret your decision.
Secure and Safe
Of course, more important than what you’ll do at the end of your car journey is making sure you get there safely. To begin with, you’ll need a quality car seat for your child; check out https://theburpcloth.com/ for reviews and advice about which one is best for your needs. Once you’ve bought yours, make sure you fully understand how it’s to be used (many people don’t). With the car seat installed, it’s all about ensuring that the drivers navigate the roads safely.
All the Supplies
You never know what could happen in a two-hour car journey, and in any case, you’re going to need supplies once you arrive anyway. You’ll want to have food, diapers, wipes, and all the other everyday items you need for your baby. While you’ll have the bulk of your items in the back of the vehicle, keep a few items you might need during the journey up front with you. As your traveling you’ll likely come across many service stations with amenities for changing and feeding babies; keep an eye out for them in advance of when they might be needed.
Useful Car Actions
Your baby may or may not like riding in the car; you’ll just have to wait and find out. You can make the journey smoother by having one of the parents sitting in the back with the baby, however. It’s also recommended that you drive alone the quickest route (the scenic route might be nice, but not when there’s a crying baby in the car) and that you drive at night. Your baby will find it easier to fall asleep if it’s their bedtime when they’re in the car.
All going well, your car journey will go off without a hitch, though you should be ready to change plans should it be necessary!
gloria patterson says
Lots of good information here. When my nieces were babies and we made the long trip to visit family we drove at night.
Sharing with my niece who will be making a long drive this summer with her daughter.
Christina Gould says
These are great tips. We didn’t even have car seats for children when my daughter was a baby. Can you imagine? Thanks for posting!
vickie couturier says
we have a 6 month old grandchild so this summer will be traveling a lot,,thanks for the info,,its been a while since theother grandkids were small an i forgot a lot