Planning a road trip used to be as easy as grabbing a taekwondo duffel bag and throwing a few road trip snacks into it. Visiting a fast-food restaurant would delay the trip, but it would also be necessary with four starving children in the back of the car. Throwing bags in the car and driving for eight solid hours is a memory that I would love to repeat. Babies and children are a reason to make stops. Babies and children are a reason to plan to avoid the chaos.
The right baby road trip essentials will help turn chaos into confidence. Instead of worrying about what you forgot, you will be able to shift your focus onto the journey.
This guide will help you learn how to prepare your baby for long car rides, pack, and which travel gear is most important.
Before you start looking over potential packing lists, there are some important mindset adjustments that need to be made.
Everything takes longer with a baby:
Plan to be at your destination much later than your GPS predicts.
Plan to leave the house as close to your child’s natural nap times as possible. Many babies will sleep well during at least the first part of a longer drive.
Plan for crying, sudden stops, and kids to get changed (and you too) in the parking lot. Just because your trip looks chaotic doesn't mean it is a failure. It just means you are traveling with a baby.
Consider the front seat of your car as a small emergency station. Baby road trip essentials will need to be accessible, such as:
When a baby has a diaper emergency, the last thing you want to do is unpack the whole trunk. It also helps to reduce stress when the items are in easily accessible places.
Take note, if you are road tripping alone with a baby, this will make your life a lot easier.
Your trunk is where the larger items that you won't need as often will be.
Babies can go through many outfit changes in a single day due to spit-up or blowouts.
When it comes to sleep, it's the deciding factor of whether the trip will be a success or not:
Pack:
Consistency will help the baby sleep better and will help make rest easier for everyone.
Mobility tools are among the most important baby road trip essentials.
The Momcozy ChangeGo Baby Stroller for babies is made for an easy transition from the car to the sidewalk. It also has a folding feature, so you can store it in the trunk of your family car.
The Momcozy TuckGo Stroller is launching in March and is designed for lightweight travel. Strollers that are designed for lightweight travel are most useful.
Momcozy has a wide range of stroller options to choose from when it comes to travel so that anything can fit, and so does your travel style. Click here for more Momcozy Strollers.
While stroller pushing isn’t practical, the PureHug Baby Carrier - Ergonomic Cozy & Lightweight lets parents keep their baby with them and gives them their hands back.
Many parents find the perfect balance comes from the combination of the stroller and carrier. See more Momcozy baby carriers.
In order to feed your baby, you are going to need to have both a plan and the ability to be flexible on the go.
Preparation starts several days before the actual event.
Begin taking short drives beforehand if your baby is not used to long drives.
If your baby's normal sleep pattern will be disrupted, begin pushing bedtime or wake time 15 to 30 minutes towards your goal each day.
Include your baby's favorite toy, sleep blanket, and pacifier. This is because babies enjoy sensory familiarity.
One of the most critical baby road trip tips is the 2-hour rule. The 2-hour rule is a guideline that states that babies and toddlers should not be in a car seat for more than 2 hours at a time.
Extended sits in car seats because of the following:
Therefore, plan to stop every 1.5 – 2 hours for diaper changes, feeding, and gentle stretching.
Pack your emergency kit with:
The baby will not be able to see you as the seat is rear-facing. Here are some ways to keep the journey bearable:
Every hour, switch the toy that is out to keep them engaged.
Use audio to keep them calm.
Talking to the baby can be very calming for them. Describe surroundings or sing songs.
✔ Diapers & wipes
✔ Extra clothing
✔ Feeding supplies
✔ Portable sleep setup
✔ Stroller
✔ Baby carrier
✔ Emergency cleanup kit
✔ Comfort items
✔ First aid kit
Having the right baby road trip essentials makes you feel more confident and helps you relax exactly what you need when traveling with a baby! When you take time to create a plan with tools like the Momcozy ChangeGo Baby Stroller, you'll be able to create calm family memories.
The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider regarding any medical condition. Momcozy is not responsible for any consequences arising from the use of this content.
