baby and long car trip

[Naomi]

We're kind of thinking about driving to see my family at Easter time. It's about a 4 hour car trip (without a baby - I'm assuming you'd add a couple of hours to that with a baby). We've never really done any long trips before - so I was wondering how babies (he's about 5 months old) tend to go in long car trips. Anyone with any experience?

He's fine in the car usually (for normal short trips), and he will sleep in his car-seat (which is still facing in the rearward position) but even his best sleeps during the day at the moment are two hours max (and that's in the cot - I imagine it will be less in the car-seat).

Is it realistic to plan such a trip, or am I just letting myself in for hours of sitting in the back seat trying to entertain a crying, bored baby? In which case, we probably won't go.

Naomi

[Leigh]

My lot have always been quite good in the car, usually sleeping longer than they normally would.

If you planned your trip for when he had his longest nap, had him up a little longer playing etc. Then feed and settle him just before you go. What time does he go to bed? Maybe you could go early evening, even 4hrs, you wouldn't be traveling to late.

But they do have a habit of stuffing up your best laid plans, so guess you can only try, see how far you get. If he gets shitty, you can stop somewhere, and everyone can have a rest and refuel and off you go again. Surely he couldn't scream for the WHOLE 4 hrs LOL. And once you get there, you can palm him off onto someone else LOL

[mel35]

I have found with my kids when they were babies they would sleep heaps longer on long car trips than they normally would.

When my eldest daughter was about 6 months old mum and I drove to Coffs Harbour ( from Sydney) she slept for so long mum and I were both busting to go to the loo but were to scared to stop in case she woke up and screamed the rest of the way LMAO I think we finally stopped at Kempsey. She was really restless for the last hour or so, but it wasn't too bad.

If you feed your baby just before you go that might help.

Good Luck and have a nice break :waves:

[Julia]

I tend to agree with Leigh on this one. Generally I found Holly to be a pretty good sleeper in her car. If she became ratty we'd just shove something in her hand, food, drink, toys, paper, mobile phone. Usually kept her entertained for a while longer.

Only really bad time was when we drove to Newcastle & she screamed the entire way. As soon as we got there she was handed over to her aunt because we were frazzled.

You should be OK Naomi, just take plenty of stuff to entertain your little man.

[Shakira]

Have to agree with the girls,
At 5 months the car is the perfect rocking machine.

Have fun when you get there!

[Naomi]

LOL, this is such an old thread! We're now planning the same trip again for this easter, but now I know the truth - travelling with a baby is so much easier than travelling with a toddler.

[Patricia]

LOL I looked at the date and thought hang on .......

Hugo will certainly be more alert this time around and take a bit more entertaining but I am sure you will enjoy it.

[Supa]

We drove from NSW to WA when DD was 8months old. 4 days in the car & she loved it. Happy travels Naomi

[Barbara]

I was sitting here wondering what you were talking about until I realised the dates LMAO LMAO

I was all confused LMAO

[yomamma]

we drove from perth to marooydore when tosser was 4 and lumpy was 1. a week and half they were very good we stopped every3 hours always at a park. some of the roadhouse across the nullabor have little wildlife zoos. we bought tosser a wlkman complete with his own tapes, lumpy slept most of the time while in the car. they can't do it now all they do is fight

[mejane]

my experience with kids in the car is my own childhood.. I had two younger siblings and after a certain age I'm sure we drove our parents batty with our bickering in the back seat!

A friend of mine took her 3 month old baby on an overseas flight without too much trouble, which surprised me - I thought the air pressure was bad for babies ears.

[Naomi]

mejane, we took Hugo overseas (Aus-UK) when he was a month old and came back (UK-Aust) when he was two months old. The air-pressure is fine, we just fed him or gave him a dummy on take-off and landing and had no issues.