My family is taking a spur of the moment vacation to Florida, and though air travel is convenient it is also pricey. For a family of 2 and a quarter we decided to drive. I know that many of are thinking over 18 hours in a car with a baby yes it is hard but it is doable. My husband and I used to raodtrip prior to getting married, and now that we have a baby some things do not change. I still love flying but maybe for our next trip.
I always have the essentials in the diaper bag regardless of where I go but error has taught me to have a couple of extra things with me. Baby E has only ben on two short road trips thus far and did awesome! We are going for the long haul an with gas stops, feeding and paper stops, the trip should take us from 18-25 hours. with two drivers, good weather, driving through the mountains will not be as stressful. Having one this drive a few times before the most direct way can also be the most stressful with fog, and rain.
So to help my husband and I out here are a few essentials that I will be dead before walking out of the house without. I did not include diaper and wipes because those two are a given.
1. Teether or Toys – My son now being 6 months old realizes when someone is in the seat next to him. He loves to be smiled at and played with. Have a small toy on hand, and if he is teething a teether. This will stop the crying that may happen and keep him entertained – we will probably bring his Sophie or his favorite Tigger toy.
2. Milk Cooler – I have a Medela cooler and an Enamel cooler, both are exceptional. Because of the length of our trip for the first portion I am going to breastfeed and pump and store milk in my breast milk cooler, and put that inside our conventional travel cooler. Hey, every little bit helps to keep it frozen. I accidentally headed into the city without my cooler once and I had to rush home to feed my son what I had pumped.
3. Burp cloths – the catch-all blanket for baby fluids. I seriously mean all fluids. I did not believe people when they said to snag a few extra from the hospital-now I do! I use the burp cloths from the hospital the most, and my son prefer them to his others.
4. Thermometer – if you are a somewhat paranoid mother like myself the moment you feel your son is slightly warm you will take his temperature. Just in case, have a few of the sleeves with you as well.
5. Infant Tylenol – just in case there is a fever. Never leave town without it, being in a new town it would be an inconvenience to have to run to the pharmacy just to grab something you have at home.
6. Blanket/changing pad – when you need to stop for gas and change a dirty diaper in the car this comes in handy. I usually have something in the car just in case we forget the changing pad, getting pee or poop out of a car cushion is not easy.
7. Baby Food/Formula – Formula or breast milk, is a must! I am breastfeeding and using a bottle to start the weaning process. But for our ride to Florida I will breastfeed and pump. Storing what I have so that I can use the frozen milk and bottles during our stay, this will also help the weaning process. Having a gallon of Nursery water in the car with you as well to mix formula.
8. Bottles & Nipples – A must if you use formula, or bottle feeding. We are taking around 10 bottles and luckily the place we are at has a microwave and dishwasher. So to clean the bottles you can use the microwave bags to sterilize or the dishwasher.
10. Baby Carrier – when my son was born we purchased a Boba wrap which still works great for me but my husband wanted something more “manly”. We are taking a long an Infantino carrier so that dad can have a go around with him- how many times have you gone on vacation and ended up at the nacho by accident.
11. Stroller – if you do have a baby carrier great, but I will suggest a stroller. When I took my son for our last road trip when I checked into the hotel I used the stroller as a makeshift cart. And when I was walking in a conference and could not use the bathroom because it was being serviced, I used my Chicco as a changing station.
12. Sunscreen – now there is a difference between sunscreen and sunblock, so even though the bottle says sunblock it could actually be sunscreen so do your research. I am taking Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby- Tear Free, and non Tear Free. In the car the sun can do damage to your skin so this will keep your little ones face from turning red.
Is there anything you found essential when traveling with your baby on a vacation? Hope this makes you think twice, or thrice, before packing your bags.
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