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Planning
the trip
In the hustle that precedes a trip, it can be easy to let
things happen, instead of make things happen. Be proactive
in making your trip decisions. Contemplating these questions,
and coming up with the right answers, can help make your trip
more successful:
Does
your baby sleep well in the car? If yes, plan your travel
time to coincide with a nap or bedtime so your baby can sleep
through part of the journey. If not, plan to leave immediately
after a nap or upon waking in the morning. Don’t fool
yourself into thinking your baby will behave differently than
usual in the car just because it’s a special occasion.
Is
it necessary to make the trip all at once, or can you break
it up with stops along the way? The longer your baby is strapped
in the carseat, the more likely he’ll become fussy.
Planning a few breaks can keep everyone in a better frame
of mind.
When
estimating an arrival time, have you factored in plenty of
extra time for unplanned surprises? A diaper explosion that
requires a complete change of clothes or a baby whose inconsolable
crying requires an unexpected 20-minute stop are just two
of the things that can easily happen.
Do
you have everything you need to make the trip pleasant? Items
like:
-Window shades to protect your baby from the sun and create
a darker, nap-inducing atmosphere.
-A cooler for cold drinks; a bottle warmer if needed.
-Plenty of toys that are new or forgotten favorites saved
just for the trip.
-Baby-friendly music on tape or CD.
-A rear-view baby mirror to keep on eye on baby (unless a
second person will be sitting with your little one)
-Books to read to your baby.
Preparing
the car
Take plenty of time to get the car ready for your trip. If
two adults are traveling, consider yourself lucky and arrange
for one person to sit in the backseat next to the baby. If
you are traveling alone with your little one, you’ll
need to be more creative in setting up the car, and you’ll
need to plan for more frequent stops along the way.
Here
are a few tips for making the car a traveling entertainment
center for your baby:
Use
ribbon or yarn and safety pins or tape to hang an array of
lightweight toys from the ceiling of the car to hang over
your baby. An alternative is to string a line from one side
of the car to the other with an array of toys attached by
ribbons. Bring along an assortment of new toys that can be
exchanged when you stop the car for a rest. Just be sure to
use small toys and keep them out of the driver’s line
of view.
Tape
brightly colored pictures of toys on the back of the seat
that your baby will be facing.
If
no one will be sitting next to your baby and your child is
old enough to reach for toys, set up an upside-down box next
to the car seat with a shallow box or a tray with ledges on
top of it. Fill this with toys that your baby can reach for
by himself. You might also shop around for a baby activity
center that attaches directly to the carseat.
If
you plan to have someone sitting next to baby, then provide
that person with a gigantic box of toys with which to entertain
the little one — distraction works wonders to keep a baby
happy in the car. One of the best activities for long car
rides is book reading. Check your library’s early reading
section; it typically features a large collection of baby-pleasing
titles in paperback that are easier to tote along than board
books.
Bring
along an assortment of snacks and drinks for your older baby
who’s regularly eating solids, and remember to bring
food for yourself, too. Even if you plan to stop for meals,
you may decide to drive on through if your baby is sleeping
or content — saving the stops for fussy times.
Bring
books on tape or quiet music for the adults for times when
your baby is sleeping. The voice on tape may help keep your
baby relaxed, and it will be something you can enjoy.
If
you’ll be traveling in the dark, bring along a battery-operated
nightlight or flashlight.
Car
travel checklist
Well-stocked diaper bag
Baby’s blanket
Carseat pillow or head support
Window shades (sun screens)
Change of clothes for your baby
Enormous box of toys and books
Music or books on tape or CDs
Baby food, snacks, and drinks for your baby
Sipper cups
Snacks and drinks for the adults
Cooler
Wet washcloths in bags, or moist towelettes
Empty plastic bags for leftovers and trash
Bottle warmer
Cell phone
Baby’s regular sleep music or white noise (if needed,
bring extra batteries)
First aid kit/prescriptions/medications
Jumper cables
Money/wallet/purse/ID
Medical and insurance information/emergency phone numbers
Maps/driving directions
Baby carrier/sling/stroller
Camera and film
Suitcases
During
the journey
If you’ve carefully planned your trip and prepared your
vehicle, you’ve already started out on the right foot.
Now keep these things in mind as you make your way down the
road:
Be
flexible. When traveling with a baby, even the best-laid plans
can be disrupted. Try to stay relaxed, accept changes, and
go with the flow.
Stop when you need to. Trying to push “just a little
farther” with a crying baby in the car can be dangerous,
as you’re distracted and nervous. Take the time to stop
and calm your baby.
Put
safety first. Make sure that you keep your baby in his carseat.
Many nursing mothers breastfeed their babies during trips.
This can be dangerous in a moving car, even if you are both
securely belted: You can’t foresee an accident, and
your body could slam forcefully into your baby. Instead, pull
over and nurse your baby while he’s still in his carseat.
That way, when he falls asleep, you won’t wake him up
moving him back into his seat.
Remember:
Never, ever leave your baby alone in the car — not even for
a minute.
On
the way home
You may be so relieved that you lived through your trip that
you sort of forget the other trip ahead of you: the trip home.
You’ll need to organize the trip home as well as you
did the trip out. A few days in advance, make certain that
all your supplies are refilled and ready to go. Think about
the best time to leave, and plan accordingly. In addition,
think about what you learned on the trip to your destination
that might make the trip home even easier. Is there something
you wish you would have had but didn’t? Something you
felt you could have done differently? Did you find yourself
saying, “I wish we would have…”? Now’s
the time to make any adjustments to your original travel plan
so that your trip back home is pleasant and relaxed.
This article is an excerpt from Gentle Baby Care by Elizabeth
Pantley. (McGraw-Hill, 2003)
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