taking trip with newborn

10 Safety Tips for Going on a Road Trip with Your Newborn

Parenting is constant hard work, and that’s never truer than when you’re learning how to care for your newborn. Most parents try to avoid traveling with their infant, instead opting to keep them safe and sound at home until they’re a bit older. But, that doesn’t need to be the case. Traveling with a newborn baby in tow can be a fun and beautiful experience.

Today, we’re going to share some sage advice on traveling with a newborn baby learned through trial and error and countless trips with the kids. Whether you’re wondering when is it safe to travel with a newborn baby, or you’re just looking for some tips on how to make traveling with your baby easier, you’re in the right place.

Work as a Team

Undertaking a road trip with a 1-month old baby by yourself is a harrowing task, so if at all possible, you’ll want to bring your partner or a family member or friend along for the trip with you. Having a partner with you on your road trip means that you can take turns caring for the baby in the backseat while the other person drives.

The person in the back can keep the baby entertained, and take care of all the legwork that’s necessary to keep the baby happy, like preparing bottles or changing a diaper. Working as a team can help you cut down on stops and avoid the dreaded “total meltdown” situation where nothing seems to comfort your baby.

It’s also a good idea for the person in the back to get some rest whenever the baby knocks out for a nap. That way, they’ll be well-rested when it’s time to switch roles and take over the driving.

Budget Plenty of Time

Parenting a newborn means that there will always be surprises that pop up, costing you time in the process. Plus, basically everything you do with a newborn is more time-consuming than doing it yourself. Be sure to budget some extra time when you’re taking a road trip with a 6-month old baby.

It’s like clockwork, whether it’s a poorly timed poop as you’re getting ready to leave a rest stop, or a particularly cranky morning that you and baby need to work through, there will always be something to jam you up. By budgeting plenty of time for yourself, you’ll be able to handle all those unforeseen surprises without having to stress about being late.

Drive at Night if You Can

Driving overnight isn’t the most comfortable prospect on vacation, but it can pay serious dividends for your road trip if you’re able to make it work. Since the baby will presumably be sleeping at night, this represents a window of peace and quiet that you can use to make some serious headway on your journey.

The less you disrupt the baby’s routine, the better off you’ll be when it comes to driving at night. Go through all of your usual nightly rituals with your baby, and when you would regularly put them down for bed, that’s the time to put them in their car seat and hit the road. With any luck, they’ll stay asleep through the entire night, and you’ll take out a huge chunk of driving.

Don’t Take the Road Less Traveled

When it comes to road trips, so much of the fun of driving cross country is discovering fun new places off the beaten path. But when it comes to a cross country road trip with a newborn,, you’ll want to stick to the highways as much as possible.

With the back roads, gas, food, and rest stops are few and far between, which isn’t conducive to traveling with a child. Stick to the main roads, and you won’t have any issue finding places to stop when you need to.

It’s also helpful to take a look at the map ahead of time to plot out potential stops ahead of time, which is another way to minimize surprises on your trip.

Keep Everything You Need Within Arm’s Reach

No matter how much time you sent packing the perfect suitcase, it won’t do you any good if it’s locked in the trunk or buried beneath tons of other baggage. Make sure you have all the necessities you’ll need at the ready for your road trip with a 4-month old.

You don’t have to have an entire suitcase of baby supplies sitting next to you in the backseat. It’s better to have a small bag or backpack that’s packed with small amounts of your most needed supplies. Here’s a shortlist to help you get started:

• A changing pad and a few diapers
• Pack of baby wipes
• A few favorite toys
• A baby thermometer
• Infant Tylenol
• An extra blanket

You’ll know best what else to add to your emergency bag, but these six items are the perfect ones to start with.

Take Extra Precautions

When you’re traveling with a baby, it’s critical that you’re even more careful than you usually are. When you’re traveling with friends (or at least a car full of adults), unforeseen challenges or hiccups like a flat tire can end up being fun team-building exercises. When you’re traveling with an infant, you’ll want to minimize risks like these as much as possible.

Before you head off on your trip, Have your car checked by your mechanic to ensure everything is in perfect working order. Be sure that you have a spare tire that’s aired up and ready to go, a jack, or at least a can of fix a flat. Also, make sure that your car isn’t overpacked, so your view isn’t obstructed when you check your mirrors.

Make Extra Pit Stops

If things are going right, it’s tempting to keep pushing on for as long as you can, but taking regular breaks will pay off in the long run.

Stopping regularly allows you to give your baby a change of scenery and a quick cuddle session, which should improve their mood. Plus, anyone who has ever taken a road trip with a 3 month-old can tell you, they want to eat all the time.

A quick pit stop allows you to keep your baby fed, dry, and content, so they’re less finicky when you get back on the road.

Attach Sun Blinds to Your Back Windows

We all hate driving with the sun in our eyes, especially newborns. A few sun blinds on the back windows will save you hours of grief, and make for a much less cranky baby.

Not only will sun blinds help keep the sun out of your baby’s eyes, but it will also prevent them from overheating, which is something that’s a serious concern when you’re traveling with a newborn.

Be Prepared to Reach Into Your Bag of Tricks

When you’re road tripping with a newborn, you aren’t just a driver or wingman; you’re also an entertainer. How well you’re able to juggle these roles will have a definite effect on how smoothly your road trip goes.

You can set yourself up for success by making sure you have a few of the baby’s favorite toys nearby to break out whenever they’re getting finicky. You’ll also want to brush up on some favorite sing-a-longs to keep the baby entertained for long enough to get you to your next stopping point. When all else fails, a tablet or cell phone with some baby-friendly content should be able to buy you some time.

Learn Some Baby Massage Techniques

After about an hour in the car, the road begins to take its toll on you. Your back and butt hurt from sitting for so long, your legs hurt from not being able to stretch, and it’s not a very enjoyable experience. Keep in mind that the little person in your car is going through the same thing you are.

Learn a few massage techniques to keep your baby’s legs and feet loose and comfortable, and you’ll be able to keep the baby content so you can keep pressing on.

Know When to Call it a Day

There’s plenty to be said for the grin and bear it approach to a road trip, where you keep pushing no matter how tired or cranky you are. But when you’re with the baby, this is an approach you’ll want to avoid.

There’s no shame in shutting down and taking a break for a little while, or giving up on the day altogether so you can get a room and rest up for the next day. Whether you’re taking a break for a short while or for the rest of the day, it’s a much-needed chance for you and the baby to rest up so you can get back on the road when the time is right.

A road trip with a newborn can be a beautiful experience for parents and baby, provided you take some steps to ensure you’re well prepared for the journey. Whether you’re planning a road trip with a 2-month old, or your baby is a little older, following the advice above can help make the experience more fun for everybody.

About The Author

Ayesha Holloman

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Tips for Road Tripping with a Baby ( 0 – 12 Months) – A Complete Guide for First-Time Parents

Who says you cannot travel with a baby? Yes, it is different, but it is totally doable! One of the best ways to start traveling as a new family is by going on a road trip with a baby.

After one year of road trips with our son, we have learned a lot. From short 2-hour road trips to a 2-week long road trip – we have experienced the best and the worst parts of road tripping with a baby. 

Through personal tried and true experience, I have created this guide of “How to Road Trip with a Baby” to help new parents navigate their way as easily as possible. My guide includes product recommendations, expectations at different months of age, and 12 essential tips for road tripping with a baby.  

Full disclaimer: I am not a children’s practitioner, nurse, or expert. This guide and tips are purely from personal experience and fellow traveling parents. If you have any medical or health concerns, please seek advice from your pediatrician. 

Furthermore, This post may contain affiliate links. When you click on the link you will have the option to purchase a product at no extra cost to you, but I would receive a small commission. I want to thank everyone for following and supporting us on all of “Our Sweet Adventures.” 

Table of Contents

12 Essential Tips for Road Tripping with a Baby

First and foremost, EVERY BABY IS DIFFERENT!

Yes, I believe my guide can help first-time parents navigate their way to a successful road trip with a baby. However, what has worked for other parents and us, may not always work for you. Some tips may work, some may not – you will not know until you hit the road and go through trial and error.

We have found these 12 essential tips to be the most helpful during our road trips with a baby. Whether you are taking a road trip with a newborn, a 12-month-old, or any age in between – these tips can be helpful for any stage.

The Trifecta Checklist

Of all the tips for road tripping with a baby, this one is KEY! We call it the “trifecta checklist.” So what does that mean? Sleep, diaper, food.

If our son was crying, the first thing that helped us was to check for a diaper, see if he was hungry, and find out the last time he slept.

Nine times out of ten (especially before our son was 6-months-old), he would cry for one of those three reasons. He would immediately stop crying once we figured out if he needed a diaper change, a bottle, or sleep.

Moreover, the “trifecta checklist” is a great tip for traveling with a baby , period.

Plan For Several Stops

This brings me to my next tip – you will need to plan for several stops when road tripping with a baby. This is important and inevitable. Depending on your baby and their stage in life, you may need to plan a stop every 1 -3 hours.

Why? Because you need to give your baby breaks. The best way to take breaks is by incorporating fun activities, tours, or stops at cute little towns. As a family who loves to hike, we plan our stops around hiking places.

You also want to be prepared to carve out a couple of hours on your road trip for diaper changes, breastfeeding, and walks. Honestly, these stops are so healthy because a nice break is beneficial for both the parents and child when the baby gets fussy.

Plan for Itinerary Changes

With that said, you can also expect to change your itinerary. Going on a road trip with a baby is not always easy. You may get behind schedule. That is OKAY!

I recommend setting a goal for Plan A, knowing you most likely will end up with Plan B. This could mean taking an activity (or two) out of the day, going to a drive-thru instead of dining inside, taking the highway instead of a more scenic route, etc.

If planning road trips is daunting for you. Do not worry! There are awesome apps for road tripping planning that can help you.

Find Patience!

I am probably one of the most impatient people in the universe, but I had to find the patience to succeed when road tripping with a baby.

As you may have already gathered from my previous tips, a typical 2-hour road trip may take up to 4 hours. So take deep breaths, and remember it’s about the journey and the memories you create with your family. It is not a race to the finish line or, in this case, the destination.

Once you can find patience, your road trip with a baby will be so much more enjoyable.

Plan Driving Around Naps

If possible, plan the driving around your baby’s sleep schedule. We always try our best to drive 30 minutes before our son’s scheduled nap.

If you do not already keep track of your baby’s sleep schedule, now would be the time to start. Our favorite baby app is Huckleberry because it keeps track of sleep, feedings, medicine, and more.

Another tip for road tripping with a baby and their naps – pack a swaddle blanket with patterns and keep it in the car. We use swaddle blankets for three things. Of course, we use it to wrap our son, but we also use it for two road trip tips.

We place the swaddle blanket over the car seat to help provide more shade and a quiet space for our son to sleep while on the road. We also use it to keep our son calm and engaged by looking at the patterns. He would always stare and try to touch the patterns on the swaddle blanket.

Be Prepared to Pack MORE Than Ever!

My goodness, I think we had a full-sized suitcase packed to the top just for our son. From the 2 – 3 clothes per day to diapers, baby wipes, towels, and everything else – our son had more stuff than the two of us combined.

Not to mention, the car seat, the stroller, the pack-n-play… everything will quickly add up. So if you are renting a vehicle for the road trip, I suggest an SUV.

Pack the Car with Easy Access 

What is a road trip without snacks, right? I think this tip works for any road trip – make the snack bag easily accessible. More importantly, when road tripping with a baby, you want to make sure all the essentials are also easily accessible.

Whether that means a cooler with baby bottles, a bag of toys, or a diaper bag, you want to make sure you can easily reach these items.

Pack Extra Batteries

Today, so many of the best ways to keep a baby happy and calm require batteries. Therefore, you do not want to forget to pack extra batteries.

Before your road trip, check all electronics that require batteries and either replace them with new batteries or pack extra batteries for them.

Stretch and Massage Baby

Just like adults, a baby’s body and muscles will get stiff and sore after sitting in a car seat for long periods of time. So it is recommended to massage and stretch your baby when you take breaks or at night in your accommodations.

The benefits of massaging and stretching your baby are significant. It can help calm a fussy baby, ease tummy troubles, boost muscle development, and most importantly, soothe babies to sleep.

Baby Wipes are like Gold 

One of the most important things I have learned as a parent is that baby wipes are gold! We use baby wipes for EVERYTHING!

We use baby wipes to change diapers, clean spills in the car, wipe dirty hands, clean hard surfaces or utensils, and more. With that said, at least two stacks of baby wipes are essential when road tripping with a baby.

New Toys or Rotate Toys

Something we learned from the Montesorri Method is rotating toys. We do this at home and find it useful for road tripping with a baby.

Before a road trip, we will remove a few of our son’s favorite toys. Then when we are on the road trip, we reintroduce the toys (one at a time) so that the toys are “new,” exciting, and engaging. Of course, you can also buy new toys for a road trip.

It is essential to give the baby only one toy to focus on at a time. This way, when they get bored with one toy, there is a new one to play with because, let’s be honest, babies LOVE NEW things!

Music Matters!

Okay, this tip is from personal experience. I am not sure of any scientific research to prove this works, but it does for us – and I hope it does for you too.

During my pregnancy, I listened to this one trance album that I found calming and peaceful while I worked. Adam read that the music I listened to during pregnancy is what the baby would find relaxing after birth. It turns out it worked at least 80% of the time for us.

On our road trips, we would listen to this one trance album on repeat until our son was fast asleep. I swear it made our son calm and fall asleep almost every time.

Now, fast forward to when our son was 9 – 12 months old – things changed. Children’s music that we listened to at home helped our son stay calm during road trips. It was not music to our ears like our favorite trance album, but it kept our son happy, relaxed, and quiet – and that IS music to our ears.

So , music that is familiar with the baby at home will most certainly help put the baby at ease during road trips. You can also use a portable sound machine or play white noise from the car speakers.

How to Feed a Baby on a Road Trip

Whether you breastfeed your baby, bottle feed your baby, or are in the stage of providing snacks/solid foods – here are a few simple tips for feeding a baby on a road trip.

Breastfeeding a Baby on a Road Trip

First and foremost, do not breastfeed your baby in a moving car. This is very dangerous in the event of a car accident. Therefore, allow extra time to stop the vehicle and breastfeed your baby. If possible, utilize this time for restroom breaks, to get gas, food, etc.

If you pump, pack a breast pump car charger , breastmilk storage bags , spare parts, and a cooler to store pumped breastmilk. Moreover, continue to practice good nursing hygiene and habits as if you were at home.

Bottle Feeding a Baby on a Road Trip

Whether it’s breastmilk or formula, you want to pack a cooler to bottle feed your baby on the road.

Make sure you pack enough bottled water and formula powder (if you use formula). To help with space, I recommend pouring a small amount of water into the baby bottles and adding the formula when needed.

Furthermore, a formula dispenser can come in handy in the car. Then store a large container of formula in a suitcase.

Feeding Snacks to a Baby on a Road Trip

Once your baby can eat solid foods and/or pureed food, it can make feeding on the road a lot easier. I recommend packing snacks/food that your baby is familiar with, will enjoy, and is easy to eat on the go.

A few snacks that are easy to eat on the road are the squeezable veggie and fruit pouches , yogurt pouches , and Cheerios.

How to Change a Baby on a Road Trip

Honestly, sometimes there is no easy or right way to change a baby on the road. Through trial and error, find what works best for you!

For us, we have stopped at gas stations, rest stops, and have even needed to pull over on the side of the road to change our son. If a changing table in a bathroom is not available, we utilize our car. Moreover, a travel changing mat has been the key to our success because we can use it on any hard surface.

What to Pack for a Road Trip with a Baby

Believe me when I say you will probably pack your entire nursery when you road trip with a baby. Babies need soooo much! So do not feel like you packed “too much” because you will probably use everything.

Here are a few essential items to pack when road tripping with a baby.

• A car seat, obviously
• Pack n Play for sleeping
• Stroller (if you find you will need/use it)
• Plenty of diapers (if you run out, you can always buy more at a store)
• Plenty of baby wipes (again, if you run out, you can always buy more at a store)
• Portable changing mat
• First aid kit
• Baby Tyenol and Benadryl (approved by your pediatrician)
• 3 sets of clothes per day
• Swaddle blankets and/or sleep sacks
• Batteries for any toys
• Portable white noise machine
• Baby bottles
• Travel sterlizing bags for bottles
• Bottle soap and brushes
• Travel high chair

How Long Can You Go on a Road Trip with a Baby?

There is no exact number of hours that you can road trip with a baby, but it is highly recommended to give your baby plenty of breaks. Just like adults, our bodies can only take sitting in a car for so long. So imagine how a baby feels.

From personal experience, when our son was 2 – 4 months old, we could only go on 3-hour road trips. From 5 to 12 months old, we have only been able to drive up 8 hours a day. When we would drive 8 hours, the day would get divided into several stops at different cities. So really, it was two, 4-hour drives in one day and even then we had to break that up at times.

To figure out what is best for you and your family, I would practice around your city first, especially if you have been nesting for the first few weeks/months. Start with a short 30 minute to one-hour drive.

Then gradually work towards a 2 – 3 hour day trip. Eventually, you will learn your baby’s road trip habits to plan for a weekend getaway with a 4-5 hour road trip.

Road Trip with a Baby ( 1 – 4 Months)

The first few months of going on a road trip with a baby are the easiest and the toughest because everyone is still learning their roles. On one hand, a baby sleeps the most at this stage, so driving through naps is easier. On the other hand, this might be the most challenging stage because, as first-time parents, we are all just trying to survive, right?

Moreover, I recommend waiting at least two weeks before going on a road trip with a baby because the first few weeks as a parent are the hardest!

Additionally, I went with my pediatrician’s recommendation and waited for our son to receive his vaccines at 2 months before we traveled outside of our city. I would always consult with your pediatrician and do what is best for you and your family.

After we figured out the amount of time we could drive without stopping, this was the easiest and best time to road trip with a baby. Our son would sleep for the majority of the time. We would engage him with black and white toys and books when he wasn’t sleeping.

Here are a few products that I highly recommend for road tripping with a baby between 1 – 4 months old.

Road Trip with a Baby ( 5 – 8 Months)

At this stage in life, if your baby is becoming mobile, independent, and napping less – road tripping with a baby might become a little more complicated. Mainly because you may need to help entertain your baby.

In our experience, once our son became mobile and napped less, we had to entertain him more on road trips. It would require one person to always sit in the backseat to play with him. It also meant stopping more frequently to keep him active and happy.

Furthermore, rotating toys will become essential during this stage because of the developmental leaps. A baby will want to be constantly engaged and challenged. At 5 months, a baby should also start seeing colors well.

Therefore, I recommend these colorful toys for road tripping with a baby between 5 – 8 months old.

Road Trip with a Baby ( 9 – 12 Months)

Road tripping with a baby at 9 – 12 months old may or may not be the most challenging time. It could be the hardest if your baby is mobile, enjoys being active, and just doesn’t like car rides – period. If you’ve been road tripping with your baby for several months, it might just go as smoothly as one could hope.

For us, it was hard, but not that bad. Our son had grown used to traveling and taking road trips. So he would be okay for 3 – 4 hours at a time. Granted, we made an epic 2-week road trip through West Texas and New Mexico. Therefore, we had plenty of overnight stays in fun towns such as Fort Davis and San Angelo with fun activities to keep everyone entertained.

The best way to road trip with a baby between 9 – 12 months old is to keep the baby active and entertained by exciting roadside attractions and pit stop destinations. Let your baby be mobile, and your road trip just might be the most enjoyable family vacation you could ever imagine!

We mostly entertained our son with activities at different destinations along our journey, but here are a few products that I also recommend for road tripping with a baby between 9 – 12 months old.

And that’s a wrap! I hope you have found my guide on road tripping with a baby helpful and insightful. Like all parents, I wish I had all the answers, but my knowledge and experience are all I have. I hope it is enough to help you and your family have successful road trips for many years to come!

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Friday 15th of December 2023

Mind blowing article! I have a 1+ years old baby boy.So this blog will be very helpful for us and every guide is very important for newly parents. Thanks for sharing.

oursweetadventures

Tuesday 26th of December 2023

Aww thank you so much for your kind words. I'm glad to hear you found my guide helpful! :)

Katherine Hurt

Sunday 19th of March 2023

Since my baby is 8 months old and we live in San Diego, I appreciate all of your advice. We are preparing to drive to San Francisco so that our baby can meet the family. Many people advised us to travel after the baby has gone to sleep. Then I came across your essay, which has been a huge assistance to us with all of our issues. Many thanks

Aww thank you. I’m glad my post has been helpful to you. I know some say to drive at night when the baby is sleeping, but that never appealed to us. And every baby is different! If you can, I would try a day trip to get some experience. We now have twin babies and the same has applied with them. We drive an hourish before nap and they are out for at least 2 hrs. And have learned that they really can’t do more than 5 hours without getting out of the car for a break. If you have questions, feel free to ask.

Tuesday 7th of June 2022

Thank you for all the tips; my baby is 9 months we live in San Diego and are planning to drive to San Francisco so our baby can meet the family. A lot of people told us drive at night when the baby is sleeping. Then I found your article and help us a lot with all our concerns. Thank you

Wednesday 8th of June 2022

Hi Emma, thank you for your comment. That makes me so happy to hear you found my guide helpful. I hope my tips help you for your family road trip!

My ultimate guide to travelling with a newborn

By: Author Monica

Categories Blog , The Mama Hack

If you’re thinking about travelling with a newborn then I’m here to give you some reassurance and encouragement and let you know this is a great time to travel with your baby!

I have three young children and we travelled a lot with them all as newborns and I honestly found this to be the easiest time to travel with them.

Once you’ve recovered from giving birth, you’re got into a bit of a routine, established a feeding pattern and you’re starting to feel a bit more human (whether this takes 6 weeks or 6 months!) then it’s a great time to start thinking about going on holiday with your newborn.

I started to feel a bit more human when each baby was about 4 months old and we had some lovely holidays to Barcelona, Menorca, the Maldives, we went skiing in France, summer holidays to France, Tenerife and countless trips around the UK.

But before we go any further, I want to say one thing…

If the thought of travelling with a newborn is stressing you out, don’t do it!

I don’t know about you but I see photos of these picture-perfect mums on Instagram hiking mountains with a baby on their back just weeks after giving birth. Or they’re casually breastfeeding on a beach looking all sweat-free and perfect. This would not have been me! I would have been a sweaty, sandy mess and feeling very stressed about it all.

So I’m here today to reassure you and share some tips if you are taking your newborn on holiday, but if you aren’t ready then don’t feel any pressure. Just enjoy your new bundle of joy and relax!

Before we go any further, here are 10 great reasons to travel with a newborn…

• You and your partner will need a holiday!

Having a newborn is wonderful but my goodness it’s exhausting. If there’s ever a time in your life you need a holiday, it’s now! 

Having a young baby is hard work and a holiday together with your partner and your new bundle of joy could be just what you need. Yes, it can be more difficult than travelling pre-baby but it’s 100% worth the extra effort.

• Plane journeys with newborns are relatively easy (and cheaper!)

I’ll always remember a flight I took to Barcelona when my son, Joseph, was two months old. I was so nervous about it and was picturing him screaming for the whole flight. I was breastfeeding at the time and I was nervous about feeding him on the plane and everyone looking. 

But I didn’t need to worry at all. In fact, it was the easiest flight we’ve ever taken with a child. He fed and slept for the entire flight! As we got off the plane everyone was so shocked to see there had been a baby sat near them the whole time. I wish he was that quiet on a flight now!

Plane journeys with small babies who barely move are much easier than travelling with toddlers who can’t keep still.

Flying with a new baby can be nerve-wracking but babies are often lulled to sleep by the motion and the noise of the plane and they’ll quickly fall asleep in your arms. Another thing to remember is that planes are extremely noisy so even if your little one is a tad noisy, no one will be able to hear them!

Toddlers on the other hand will be up and down like a jack in the box! You don’t get a second of peace with a toddler on a plane!

And let’s not forget that babies under the age of two don’t need to pay for their ticket. You’ll usually need to pay a small fee for taxes and extra if you’d like to check-in a suitcase but make the most of that small fee while you can.

• Newborns sleep a lot!

I know, it probably feels like they don’t sleep enough or don’t sleep at the right time but your newborn will undoubtedly sleep a lot.

The younger your baby is, the more they will nap and there is nothing a new parent loves more than a nap!

While your baby is napping you will be free to go for lunch or a quick coffee, go for a swim, nip to the spa or even have a nap yourself!

What’s even better is that most babies love to nap in their pushchair so you can stroll around a new city or take a sunset walk along the promenade as your baby gets a much-needed sleep.

As your baby gets older they will nap less and less so it will become harder to sneak off to that cosy little wine bar while they’re napping in their pushchair.

Travel Hack Tip: I highly recommend getting a snooze shade for your pushchair. It’s like a breathable blackout blind for a pram and creates a dark, cool place for your baby to sleep. We also had the Aston Rose pushchair by Ickle Bubba which has an enormous hood that comes all the way over. It was brilliant, I don’t know why all pushchairs don’t have this feature! Even if you don’t get the Aston Rose pram, I highly recommend looking for a pram with a huge hood!

• You don’t need to worry as much about safety

Of course, safety will always be on your mind when you have a young child but it’s less of a concern before they can walk. Once your child is toddling you need to be aware of every trip hazard, every step, every unguarded stairwell and all the places they can squeeze into and get stuck! Newborns barely move so it’s much easier!

• It’s easier to get around busy spaces

Whether it’s a busy airport, a crowded train station, a bustling hotel or a chaotic market square, it’s much easier to get around when your baby is safely strapped in their pushchair, in a baby carrier or being held. 

It’s not quite as easy when they’ve found their feet and they’re desperate to be independent and run free.

• Feeding a baby is much easier than feeding a toddler!

Whether you’re breastfeeding or bottlefeeding, it’s relatively easy to find a quiet space to feed your baby. They guzzle it down and, while they may dribble or burp, it’s nothing compared to the mess of feeding an older baby!

• You can travel during your maternity leave

What better way to use your maternity leave than by taking lots of holidays!

For many people their maternity leave is spent at home in their loungewear, occasionally leaving the house to grab a coffee with NCT friends or attend a baby group in the village hall.

And for a little while this is amazing but it can get a little tiresome after a few months.

If your partner is unable to travel as much as you due to annual leave restraints then look into mother and baby holidays. HolyMama offers mother and baby retreats with a focus on wellness and nurturing in beautiful locations around the world. They also have nannies on hand for those days when you need a rest!

• People love babies so it’s a great ice breaker!

A friendly baby is often the perfect ice breaker to get chatting to local people while you’re travelling. I’ve often found that countries outside of the UK are much more welcoming towards babies and they love to interact with them and make them smile. If you live in the UK you might not be used to this, but many countries make a huge fuss of babies!

We travelled to the Maldives when George was 7 months old and it was brilliant. All the staff made such a fuss of him and we were made to feel so welcome everywhere we went.

• Dad gets to spend lots of time with Baby

For many families a holiday is the perfect time to relax, bond and make precious memories together. It’s something that often feels impossible during our hectic everyday lives, especially when one parent works full time.

For many families, the mother will be on maternity leave while the father continues to work full time and dads actually don’t get much time to bond with their babies. If they work long hours then they’ll barely see their babies during the week and weekends are often so busy we don’t get two seconds to just sit down and relax as a family.

A holiday with a newborn is the perfect opportunity to relax together as a family.

• Happy parents = happy babies

I’m a firm believer that happy parents lead to happy babies and holidays make us all happy!

Different babies have different needs

I don’t want to complicate things here – especially if you’re reading this before your baby has been born – but different babies travel differently!

My eldest son was a very routine-y baby. He liked to get up at the same time, eat at the same time, have the exact same bedtime routine and be asleep by 6.30pm.

We absolutely couldn’t take him out for dinner because he’d be so tired and would always just want to go to bed. It got easier as he got older but he was at least 5 before he could stay up past 7pm. (This was amazing when we were at home but difficult when we went away!)

My youngest child however is the complete opposite. She can easily stay awake until 10pm every night and if she does get tired then she’ll happily sleep in her pushchair.

My middle child was different again and he was very shy and very clingy to me. He didn’t like strangers and was happiest when I was holding him. Holding him ALL THE TIME!

I just wanted to mention this to highlight how important it is to lean in to your baby’s needs. Listen to what they want and need and just go with it.

If they’re happy to go out for dinner at 8pm then do it! But if they need to be tucked up in their cot by 7pm then there’s no point fighting that because no one will have a nice time.

What’s the best type of holiday with a newborn?

This is going to be personal preference for each family, but when I’ve booked holidays with newborn babies I’ve looked for the following things:

• Relatively short flight time (under 4 hours)
• Somewhere warm (personal preference here)
• Accommodation with a living area not just a single hotel room – this makes it easier to put Baby to bed and then have somewhere you can relax
• Self catering or the option to have room service on a private balcony
• Plenty of restaurants within walking distance nearby

Do you need a kitchen/kitchenette when travelling with a newborn?

Access to a small kitchen will make things a little easier but it definitely isn’t a necessity. If you’re exclusively breastfeeding then you won’t really need access to a kitchen at all, but if you’re bottle feeding and/or pumping then it is a bit easier to have somewhere to wash and sterilise bottles.

Having said that, I’ve stayed in lots of hotel rooms with a newborn without a kitchen.

You can wash all bottles and equipment in the hotel bathroom. If you don’t have access to a steriliser then you can always rinse your bottles a few times with boiling water. I did this in the Maldives and it was fine.

Many hotels will provide you with a steriliser which you can use in a well ventilated area.

The only thing you really need in your hotel room is a kettle so you have access to boiling water. And just make sure you take a small bottle of washing up liquid and brushes and clothes to clean the bottles.

You can also sterilise using Milton sterilising tablets which can be used in cold water.

Is it best to self cater when travelling with a baby?

This is going to be a personal choice so ask yourself the following questions…

• Is the thought of eating out for every meal stressing you out?
• Or does the thought of not having to cook for a whole week sound amazing?
• Are you looking forward to getting dressed up and going out for dinner?
• Or would you rather sit on your private terrace and eat sandwiches in your swimsuit?

Self catering undoubtedly gives you a bit more flexibility but an all-inclusive hotel will mean you won’t need to cook or tidy up all week.

What about all the baby equipment we need?

It may feel like you need a million and one things to keep your baby safe, happy and healthy but, in my experience, you don’t really need that much.

Hotels will always provide travel cots.

You can do without the Jumperoo and bouncers for a few days.

You might want to take your own car seat but you can check this into the plane hold so you don’t need to worry about carrying this too much.

A kettle – to wash and sterilise equipment, dummies and bottles

Pillows – to create a safe space for them to lie/sit on the floor

A fully reclining pushchair such as the BabyZen Yoyo+ (I have a post about the best travel strollers )

A baby bag (such as the Travel Hack Backpack )

Possibly a baby monitor if you’re staying in an apartment (don’t forget plug adaptors!)

I’ve got a full blog post over here with my ultimate baby and toddler holiday packing list

Should you take your car seat when travelling with a newborn?

This is going to be personal preference and will depend on the type of trip you’re taking.

If we are hiring a car in our destination then I will always take all the car seats for the kids.

It’s a bit of a pain to get the car seats into the airport but we’ll quickly drop them off at the check-in desk so you don’t have to cart them around for long.

We’ve tried hiring car seats with hire cars and they always seem a bit grubby and dated, not to mention expensive.

You’ll get two pieces of baby equipment that you can take on the plane so make one of them your pushchair and the other can be your car seat.

If we won’t be hiring a car then we personally don’t take our own car seats. Yes, we might get in a taxi every now and again but, legally, babies don’t need to be in car seats in the back of a taxi in most destinations. Taxis will often provide car seats but it’s a massive faff to take your own for a 10 minute taxi journey.

I have a review of the Doona Carseat Pushchair which is great for travelling.

Should I take a pushchair?

Yes, I’d definitely take a pushchair.

If you want a compact travel stroller then I recommend the Baby Zen Yoyo+

If not, just take your regular pushchair. There’s no weight limit on pushchairs but it’s easier if you have a pushchair that folds down into one piece.

Remember that you get two pieces of baby equipment for the plane (like a travel system that has the pushchair frame and then the seat comes off), so if your pushchair folds down into two pieces then both of your pieces of equipment will go on your pushchair. You can also only take a pushchair to the gate at the airport if it folds down into one piece. 

Should I take a baby carrier?

If you use a baby carrier at home then I’d 100% take it on holiday.

I’ve always been a big fan of baby wearing and my babies all loved to be held in a carrier. It makes everything so much easier because you have both hands free and babies are often soothed by being held so close.

But it isn’t for everyone so if you don’t like it at home then you probably won’t like it on holiday!

The Izmi Baby Carrier was always my favourite

Should I take a travel crib?

I’ve honestly found a travel crib to be the most pointless piece of baby equipment available (unless you’re an accommodation provider). 

I’ve never stayed anywhere that doesn’t have a travel crib available for free.

I recommend taking your own sheets and blankets though and many places actually insist on this.

10 tips for travelling with a newborn

• Look after yourself

We all know the phrase ‘you can’t pour from an empty cup’ and I wholeheartedly believe in this with parenting. Not just parenting while you’re travelling but parenting in general. Before you can look after anyone else you need to look after yourself. So make sure you’re getting enough rest, eating well, drinking plenty of fluids and not doing things that feel stressful.

The main trick to travelling with a newborn is simply to slow down. Everything is going to take longer than your pre-baby days and you won’t be able to pack your itinerary with back-to-back activities. But that’s OK, take it easy.

• Pick one activity a day

We like to plan one activity a day and it’s usually something that doesn’t have to be super time-sensitive.

Have an idea of things you could do (just in case Baby miraculously naps at the perfect time!), but remember you don’t need to do them all.

• Don’t book time-sensitive things 

I try to avoid booking tours or anything that involves us being at a certain place at a certain time. I find it stressful knowing that other people are relying on me to be on time and when you’re on holiday and you add a newborn baby into the mix…well you’re just adding an extra layer of unnecessary stress.

• Bring the grandparents along

Since having kids we’ve been on holiday with my parents so many times. The kids love spending so much time with their grandparents and it gives me and Sam the odd little break too!

• Don’t be disheartened if romantic meals don’t happen

This is one that took a bit of getting used to for me and Sam as we would still plan lovely meals and 9/10 they wouldn’t happen! The baby would wake up just as our food arrived and one of us would end up pacing around the restaurant with a baby while the other quickly ate our meal before swapping places!

We now always eat in casual places but if we want something nice we’ll go for early evening drinks at a nice bar or something.

• Join baby for nap time

Because holiday naps are the best.

• All-inclusive buffets are your friend

I didn’t think I’d ever say this but all inclusive buffets are great when you’re travelling with a newborn. The casual nature of them means it’s fine to get up and have a walk around if your baby won’t settle. You can keep going back for more food if Baby is happy or you can quickly wolf something down if your baby has a meltdown!

• Break up long journeys

It goes without saying that you’ll need to break up long journeys in the car because newborns shouldn’t be in their carseats for more than two hours. But it’s best to break up any kind of journey so everyone can get a rest. Even if your baby sleeps for the entire flight, you might not get much rest so you’re going to need a bit of downtime too.

Packing light will really make everything so much easier and I promise you don’t need the billion one things you think you do! If you’re travelling to a hot destination with your baby then just pack a load of vests and keep them in a cute little vest for the majority of your trip!

Other FAQs about travelling with a newborn

Do babies need passports.

Yes, babies need their own passports.

Thankfully, the rules around baby passport photos aren’t as strict as they are for adults so you can generally get away with a simple photo.

I have a guide to applying for your baby’s first passport here.

When is it safe to travel with a newborn baby?

There isn’t really a recommended time when it becomes ‘safe’ to travel with a newborn. There will always be risks when it comes to flying with babies and young children due to the increased risk of catching a virus on the plane.

Personally, I think it’s safe when the mum is 100% fully recovered, so you’re probably looking at about 6 weeks – 3 months.

How do you travel with breastmilk?

If you’re travelling with breastmilk then you’ll just need to flag it up when you go through security.

You’re unable to take more than 100ml bottles of liquid through airport security but baby items are exempt. 

The airport security staff will take it away to ‘test’ it. Whatever that means! But it is fine to travel with breastmilk.

How do you travel with formula?

The easiest way to travel with formula is to take those pre-made cartons. They’re expensive but it’s much easier than faffing about with powder and boiling water. If your baby will only drink warm formula then you can ask the staff on the plane to warm it up by placing it in a jug of hot water.

You’ll find many babies will actually drink formula cold and don’t seem to mind so try this out before you leave.

How do you clean and sterilise baby’s bottles while you travel?

I usually clean them in the bathroom sink of my hotel room. I’ll take my own washing detergent, a bottle brush and a wash cloth.

I’ll then use the hotel kettle to rinse them with boiling water and I’ll do this a couple of times.

You can use Milton Steriliser tablets and submerge your bottles into cold water with a tablet in it. You’ll need a very big sink for this but you can make it work in a hotel sink.

If I’m self catering I’ll take microwavable steriliser bags and it’s always worth asking your accommodation provider if they have sterilisers available to borrow as they often do.

How do you get the bassinet at the bulkhead of the plane?

You will automatically be assigned the seats at the bulkhead of a plane if you’re travelling with a baby. This is because the bassinets sit on the bulkhead in front of you.

Unfortunately, if multiple families with babies are on the same plane then it’s often just luck as to whether or not you get the bulkhead seat.

Personally, I really enjoy having the extra leg room you get at the bulkhead but none of my babies actually slept in the bassinet. You’ll also find that the bulkhead is where the toilets are, so this can be a busy and noisy place to be sat.

So it’s nice to have these seats but I wouldn’t panic if you don’t get them.

What should I carry onto the plane with a baby?

I like to put Baby into a carrier and have a small backpack on my back. I’ll then have both hands free.

I actually don’t take much onto a plane when travelling with a newborn. None of my babies were massively into toys until they were much older so I really didn’t need to take much.

In the backpack I’ll have:

• 2 changes of clothes for the baby
• 1 clean top for me
• Huge bottle of water for me (breastfeeding)
• Snacks for me
• Kindle (easy to read one-handed)
• 1 x toy for the baby
• If formula feeding then enough empty bottles and cartons of formula for whole flight
• Muslims or bibs if you have a sicky baby
• Phone and purse 

How can I get my baby to sleep on a plane?

Babies pick up on our feelings so if you’re relaxed then your baby is more likely to relax too.

Planes are very noisy and this endless white noise actually sends most babies to sleep.

Try and keep your baby awake while you’re at the airport so they’re tired when you board the plane. Feed them on takeoff and then many babies will be asleep by the time you’re in the air.

Do babies get jetlag?

Yes, babies get jetlag just like we do! They’ll get over it in time though. Taking a black out blind to your destination can help if your baby is waking up too early.

Can you give your baby a sedative for flying?

No. No, don’t do that.

What should I do if my baby’s ears hurt on takeoff and landing?

If your baby’s ears are hurting then the best thing to do is encourage them to swallow. The easiest way to do this is to feed them.

Always try and time their feed for takeoff and landing.

If you’re breastfeeding this is often much easier as babies will happily feed slowly.

When formula feeding it can be tricker to get it right. If you give them a bottle too early then they will guzzle it down before you’ve taken off! Give it to them too late and they become hungry and angry.

During all of our flights with newborns, we only had one flight where one of my sons’ ears hurt. He cried all the way down but instantly stopped when we touched the ground. It is hard and you feel terrible for them but unless they will swallow there’s not a lot else you can do for them.

Read more: What to pack for a flight with a toddler

Thursday 31st of March 2022

Thank you so much for this post! I have the exact same thoughts - are these instagram-ready new moms even real?! I traveled a lot before and even without a baby I used to get sweaty and dirty...

10 Tips for Road Tripping With an Infant

Image Source / Getty Images

Road trips with an infant can be stressful, but they don’t have to be, and the truth is a car ride with a baby is often less stressful than getting on a plane. You can stop your own vehicle for an emergency bathroom break or to move around a restless toddler. And if your baby does throw a tantrum, you can focus your attention on their needs instead of worrying about other passengers.

Whether you're hitting the road to visit the grandparents or heading to a vacation destination geared toward families with infants , you may be surprised at some of the simple things you can do to keep your little one calm and quiet during your trip. Whether you’ll be on the road for five hours or five days, these 10 tips will help your vacation go as smoothly as possible.

While one person is driving, have another sit in the back with the baby. Having that caretaker in the back seat can help address issues as they arise—preparing bottles, wiping up, curing boredom with some old-fashioned “peek-a-boo”—which can help minimize stops and avoid total meltdowns.

It's an old bit of wisdom, but "sleep when the baby sleeps" is solid advice during a road trip with kids . When the baby is sleeping, the person in the back should try to rest, too, so they can be refreshed enough to take over driving when the driver gets fatigued.

Manage Expectations

Any number of things can go wrong on a road trip—a flat tire, bad weather, food poisoning—but those hiccups become exponentially more stressful with a young (likely screaming) infant in tow. Accepting that going in and maintaining a sense of humor about the situation can go a long way to help ease the tension. After all, the difference between a fiasco and an adventure can be as simple as your state of mind.

One way to make light of unpleasant situations is to make a game out of them. For example, put together Baby Road Trip BINGO cards where spaces are filled in with any and all potential disasters—think "blow out in the car seat" or tiny victories like "finished a whole podcast." That way, even bad situations turn into wins.  

Drive at Night

It’s a bit uncomfortable for the parents, but then again, so is a screaming child with no exit in sight. Driving at night means your baby will spend more time sleeping and less time awake and hungry, bored, or needing changes. You’ll be able to drive for longer stretches without needing breaks. 

A great way to maximize drive time is to schedule your departure so that it coincides with bedtime. Go through your whole routine (bath, pajamas, bedtime song—whatever your nightly ritual entails), but put the baby down to sleep in the car seat instead of the crib or bassinet. Drive as long as you're comfortable—or for as long as the baby is sleeping—but be sure to switch drivers, caffeinate, and rest when needed to avoid driving drowsy. 

Plan Frequent Breaks

You might be able to go six hours without using the bathroom or needing to eat, but the baby likely can't. Plan for stops every one to three hours during the day and three to six hours at night to change diapers, stretch legs, eat, and change sweaty or spit-up clothes as needed.

To avoid unnecessary stops, make a checklist of items that you go through during every break so you don’t forget anything, such as changing the baby’s diaper or clothes, using the restroom (for those not in diapers), and refreshing essential supplies. 

Skip the Scenic Route

While scenic overlooks and long stretches of the open road might seem like the very things that make a road trip worthwhile, they can also make it difficult to find help or reprieve when you need it. Choose a route in advance that has frequent access to food, 24-hour gas stations, restrooms, and service areas.

Even better, plot out some pit-stops in advance —including some potential hotels if you think you might need a real rest—so you can pull over when necessary.

Keep Supplies Nearby

You might have a giant suitcase with everything you need to survive traveling with an infant for an extended period of time, but that's not what you want to be digging through at 65 mph while a baby is screaming in your ear, or while parked at a dodgy rest stop in the middle of the night.

Keep a kit within easy reach so you don’t have to unbuckle your seat belt to retrieve any critical items, and fill the bag with small amounts of necessities (you can always refill as you go). You could pack all of these items into a medium-sized backpack or tote bag:

• A portable changing pad with two or three diapers
• A packet of wipes
• Pre-portioned bottles of formula or breast milk in a small cooler bag
• Two or three small but versatile toys
• Infant Tylenol or ibuprofen
• A baby forehead thermometer
• A small portable sound machine
• An extra blanket

In addition to the baby kit, be sure there's one for the adults, too. That could include mobile chargers for your electronic devices, a tablet or e-reader, high-protein/easy-to-eat snacks, sleep aids, sleep mask, a small pillow, earphones, and earplugs. You might also want to bring along a car sun shade to help your little one nap.

Brush up on Baby Massage Techniques

Babies can get stiff and uncomfortable after sitting for hours in their seats, just like adults. Read up on some infant massage techniques that you can modify to use either while driving (if you’re on backseat duty) and during stops. Gently massaging legs and feet, in particular, can often help calm a fussy baby long enough to get you to a good stopping place where they can stretch out their legs in earnest.

Sing Simple Camp Songs

When it comes to fussy infants stuck in car seats, be prepared with a variety of tools at your disposal. Singing songs can often be more effective than the radio at helping to put a baby to sleep, calming them when they’re fussy, and entertaining them when they’re bored. Try to pick songs with simple melodies, but where verses can be added or improvised as with many nursery rhymes or typical camp songs. Taking turns inventing new lyrics can help break up the monotony for parents, too.

Take Precautions

With or without an infant, standard prep and safety precautions should be followed. Make sure you have a spare tire, car jack, and tire iron that are ready to go, especially if you're driving through sparsely populated areas where the nearest mechanic could be several miles away. It's not fun waiting hours for a tow truck to arrive and even less so when you have a baby on board.

While packing the car, be sure not to obstruct the driver’s view, including in the rearview mirror. And always take steps to pull over to well-lit areas when stopping at night.

Admit Defeat

If you’re tired, if you’re frustrated, if everyone in the car (including and especially your baby) can’t take another second on the road, then stop. It’s okay.

Find a place to rest and give yourself a few minutes or hours to regroup. Most hotels will take bookings any time of day and many provide cribs in the room upon request. Take a nap in a real bed or freshen up with a hot shower and a meal at a sit-down restaurant. Giving yourself and your baby a chance to reset can help make the rest of the ride go more smoothly.  

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How to Prepare for a Road Trip with a Newborn (Step-by-Step Guide)

Planning a road trip with a newborn? Check out our top newborn travel tips & essentials that will help you feel more prepared & at ease!

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. That means if you click and buy, I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you). Please see my full  disclosure policy   for details.

Planning a road trip with a newborn? You will likely need to stop more often, and it will probably take longer to get to your final destination, but the newborn phase can actually be really great for travel because newborns like to sleep A LOT!

The motion and sounds of the moving car will likely soothe your little one to sleep for the majority of your trip. For this reason, road tripping with our newborn feels a lot easier than with our busy, active toddler!

Check out these tips for your road trip with a newborn – you will feel more confident, prepared, and ready to hit the road!

11 Tips for Your Road Trip with a Newborn

1. Talk to Your Pediatrician

For us, taking a road trip with our newborn felt like a safer option than flying somewhere. Our pediatrician agreed that traveling by car would likely expose our newborn to a lot fewer germs/illnesses than if we traveled by plane.

Our pediatrician told us to make sure to take our baby out of the car seat at least every 2 hours. Most newborns need to eat every couple of hours anyway, so it is good to plan on letting the baby stretch out, get a feeding in, and get a diaper change every 2 hours.

Your pediatrician can give you advice, answer any questions that you have, and help you to feel more at ease about your trip.

2. Schedule Oil Change/Service Car If Needed

Make sure your car is up to date with an oil change and address any issues or other maintenance before you hit the road.

No one wants to deal with car troubles during a road trip, especially when you have a newborn to take care of on top of it. Sometimes it’s inevitable, but do what you can before you leave to reduce your chances of having car troubles during the trip.

Renting a car is always an option too if you don’t feel comfortable taking your personal car on a long trip.

3. Make Sure Car Seat is Properly Installed

Car seats are complicated! When you install your car seat for the first time, make sure to read the directions carefully. Most car seat companies have installation videos on their websites that can be super helpful.

Click here to learn more about how you can get your car seat inspected to make sure that you have everything installed properly and have your baby buckled in correctly.

4. Practice Taking Baby on Car Rides Before Your Trip

Practice running errands or taking short drives around town to get your newborn used to riding in the car. Test out changing a diaper on the go.

This extra “practice” will likely make you feel more comfortable and more at ease when it is time for your big road trip!

TIPS FOR DIAPER CHANGES ON THE GO!

• Get a portable changing pad with room to store diapers, wipes, and diaper cream. When you need to change a diaper, you won’t have to dig through a bag to get what you need – you have it all right there in the changing pad!
• Bring plenty of diapers and wipes – most babies go through 8-12 diapers per day, To play it safe, I pack about 15 per day during the newborn stage. So take 15 x # of days staying. If you don’t want to pack that many diapers, bring at least enough for the first couple of days, and you can always buy more throughout the trip if you have access to a store.
• Pack disposable diaper sacks to contain smelly diapers if you don’t have a place to throw them away right away. This will keep the car from smelling like a big dirty diaper.
• Where to change your baby on a road trip? You can always try to find a gas station or rest area with a changing station, but I prefer changing baby in the front passenger seat of the car or even on the hood of the car if the weather is nice.

5. Keep Eyes on Baby

It is important to monitor your newborn throughout the road trip. You want to make sure the baby is breathing ok, isn’t overheated, hasn’t spit up all over, etc.

Don’t feel like you need to have your eyes glued on the baby the whole trip, but just make sure to check in often.

Maybe you want to have one adult sit in the back next to the baby while another one drives.

We love using these baby car mirrors to easily keep eyes on rear-facing babies/toddlers while driving or sitting in the passenger seat up front.

6. Have an “Easy Access” Bag or Caddy

Pack a bag or a little caddy with essentials that you will need to access frequently during the road trip. Keep the bag in a handy spot so you can easily grab whatever you need.

What to pack in your easy-access road trip bag:

• Wallet/ID/navigation and travel documents
• Chargers – phone, watch, etc.
• Electronics (phone, headphones, iPad, etc.)
• Entertainment – books, magazines, notepad/pen, road trip games ( this is one of our favorites )
• Wet wipes/napkins
• One change of clothes for everyone
• Diapers/wipes
• Swaddle Blanket
• Baby Travel Entertainment – newborns don’t need a lot of entertainment, but a little rattle, crinkly toy, or mirror can provide some fun!

18 Best Travel Activities for Toddlers & Babies – Keep Them Calm and Busy!

7. Use a Car Seat Liner

A car seat liner can save you a big headache and some serious time if your sweet little newborn decides to have a blowout during your road trip.

Just make sure that the liner is approved to work with your car seat – some car seat companies might sell liners designed specifically for safe use with their particular car seat brand.

8. Plan for Frequent Stops

Newborns need to eat every 2-3 hours. It is best to pull over any time baby needs to eat whether you are breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. As mentioned earlier, it is good to get your newborn out of the car seat frequently.

Plan on a diaper change, feeding, and some snuggles every couple of hours throughout your road trip.

We once tried to give our son a bottle in his car seat during a road trip to save time. He had horrible gas because of how he was positioned in the car seat while eating and was screaming in pain when we got to our hotel. It was horrible, and we learned our lesson!

It is good for YOU to get out, stretch your legs, and go to the bathroom every couple of hours too. 🙂

TIPS FOR FEEDING ON THE GO

• If bottle feeding, bring a thermos of hot water to warm bottles in or consider getting a portable bottle warmer. If you’re in a pinch, sometimes Starbucks or other restaurants will provide hot water for you to heat a bottle.
• This little portable drying rack and bottle brush set is super helpful for cleaning bottles, pacifiers, and pump parts on the go!
• These sterilizer bags can be reused many times and provide a quick and easy way to sterilize anything that will be going in your newborn’s mouth.
• I love this pump bag for taking my pump/pump supplies on the go.
• If you are breastfeeding and want to have some privacy in public, use a swaddle blanket or one of these versatile nursing covers .

9. Pack a Cooler with Snacks, Drinks, & Milk/Formula

If you don’t want to load up on fast food and gas station snacks, consider packing your own food and drinks in a little cooler that you can access throughout the road trip.

A cooler or a portable refrigerator can be helpful for keeping breastmilk or formula cold if needed as well.

10. Be Flexible With Your Travel Plans

It might take you longer to get to your destination than anticipated, but it will be ok!

If you get too tired, find a place to rest or stay for the night, even if your original plan was to drive further that day. It is much better to deal with a change of plans rather than risk falling asleep while driving.

If your baby is really fussy and just needs some time to snuggle or be out of the car, then find a park or somewhere nice to stop and relax for a bit.

Try to enjoy the journey and find the good in each stop rather than rushing to the final destination.

11. Take Care of Yourself

I know this is easier said than done with a newborn, but make sure that you feel well-rested so you are alert and awake while driving. If you are driving with another adult, try to take turns driving, so one of you can nap or rest and relax while the other drives.

Make sure you are staying hydrated and fueled too! It can be easy to forget to eat or drink enough water when you are taking care of a newborn. Set reminders on your phone or use a water-tracking app (I like Waterllama ) – whatever it takes to make sure you’re taking care of yourself!

I hope you found these tips for taking a road trip with a newborn helpful!

Wishing you safe & happy travels with your sweet, tiny traveler!

Want more road trip hacks & organization tips?

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Ultimate Family Beach Vacation Packing List for 2024

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How I've kept traveling -- even after having a baby

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Before I had a baby, I had traveled to almost 60 countries and was on a plane every other week.

A huge fan of solo travel , yoga retreats with friends and adventurous escapes with my husband, I was always on the move. Thanks to the ability to work remotely, travel was easy. Then COVID-19 hit, and shortly after, I got pregnant .

So life changed, and so did travel.

But now that travel is picking up again , I'm back at it — with my eight-month-old in tow.

Here's how — and why — I've navigated travel with a baby.

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Why I travel with my baby

Because i have to, and so does he.

I live in Europe and my entire family lives in the United States . Like it or not, my child will have to constantly go back and forth between the two continents, and I want this to become second nature for him. I started flying with my child when he was three months old. He's already on his 15th flight and 4th high-speed train ride -- and has a few road trips under his elastic waistband.

Have some flights been really easy? Yes. Have some flights been harder? Also yes. But it doesn't matter all that much either way, because we have to travel if we want to spend time with friends and family back in the United States. And most of the flights, with a few small exceptions, have been great.

Even you don't need to travel with a baby, just know it's possible. It may not always be easy, but you can absolutely do it if you want to.

I want him to experience the wonders of the world instead of material things

My apartment was recently broken into. As violating and frustrating as it was, I realized that I was able to get over the things they took from me (cash and jewelry) relatively quickly, even though some of the jewelry pieces were family heirlooms.

When I'm still traumatized emotionally about having my space invaded, the robbers couldn't take from me what I most valued: my family and our shared experiences, especially the ones we've had traveling.

My hope is that my son will grow up understanding these same lessons and placing value on experiences and connections instead of things. And the best way to show this is by modeling the same behavior for him, which is often what motivates me to plan that next family vacation .

Because it's fun

Playing with my son in the peaceful Caribbean ocean waves, watching him stare at the Chicago skyline with awe or seeing him smile at the iconic Eiffel Tower are memories I'll never forget. Although he definitely won't remember these trips, we will — and we'll have lots of photos to show him one day.

How I make travel with my baby easier

Traveling with a baby isn't always easy. From diaper blowouts during landing and bleary-eyed nights with a jet-lagged infant to nasty stares from passengers if my overtired son shrieks during take-off, traveling with a baby has its downsides and complications. Here are some hacks I use to make it easier.

I bring someone along to help

I know I'll travel alone with my child as he gets older. However, for now, whenever possible, I try to have another adult in tow to help out — whether that be my partner, a family member or friend.

While I'm not expecting a friend to deal with a crying baby or his meltdowns, it's helpful to have someone along to help carry luggage, make sure I don't forget my jacket in the airport, hold the baby while I head to the restroom or help me fold up the stroller at TSA .

These little things can really make a difference when traveling. Once my child can at least walk on his own, I'll start traveling with just the two of us.

I pack as light as possible

It's true that kids — and especially babies — can need a lot of stuff. And there are things I really don't want to be stuck without on a long plane ride like diapers or snacks (more on this in a moment).

When traveling with my baby, I try to bring everything I need but don't go overboard. I swear by lightweight travel strollers and always take along a baby carrier and diaper backpack for a hands-free airport experience.

I like to book rental properties with as many baby and kid amenities already present as possible, such as a crib, high chair and more to avoid taking extra stuff along. I've also used rental companies in destinations for key items such as car seats, too.

Always bring these key items — especially when flying

What you can carry with you when flying is obviously very different than what you can lug along on a road trip, which offers you more space and added flexibility. That being said, these are key items I always take in my carry-on when flying with a baby:

• Extra clothing for both you and your baby (yes, trust me, you need a backup outfit just in case).
• Layers of clothing or blankets (plane temperatures can vary).
• Pacifier and clip (and backup).
• Comfort toy or blanket.
• Extra diapers (enough for an unexpected delay).
• Formula/breast milk/pump.
• Snacks (for you and/or your baby).
• Baby wipes.
• Sanitizing wipes.
• Extra bibs.
• Ziploc bags for soiled clothing (or a reusable, waterproof bag).
• Baby Tylenol or any infant medications.
• A basic first aid kit.
• Small toy(s).
• Anything that can help your baby fall asleep.

For more on what to pack and how to prepare for traveling with a baby, read this article .

Use points and miles for a more comfortable and affordable trip

This may be an unpopular opinion, but I love using my points and miles to fly in business class with my baby .

He's actually better behaved than other passengers in some cases. Also, having the extra space to stretch out makes a real difference for all of us, especially on long-haul flights where sleep is essential for the entire family.

I have also dipped into my stash of points and miles to buy three seats in economy, taking a car seat along so my baby can safely sit in his own seat, even though that isn't required at this age. The bassinet was once an option if I had enough points or miles for just two seats, although now my baby has surpassed the weight limit.

If you want to use the bassinet, always call the airline to see if this option is available and what the weight/size limits are, which can vary by airline or even route .

I verbally prepare my baby for travel

I'm well aware that my baby probably can't understand what I'm saying. But as he gets older, he is starting to recognize words, and I want "airplane" to be one of them as quickly as possible. Whenever we travel, I softly and carefully explain to him what's happening several days in advance each day before the trip.

I tell him we're going to fly high in the sky on a plane, that we need to be calm, quiet and happy. I tell him that we'll be spending time with many other people in a small space, so we need to not scream or kick the seat in front of us and bother other passengers.

I explain that we're visiting a certain destination or specific family members or friends, where we'll be sleeping and for how long we'll be gone.

One day, he'll slowly begin to associate these explanations with the journeys that follow them. Kids ask a lot of questions and want to understand what's going on, so I hope explaining things to him will help him feel safe and in control as he gets older, as well as excited to fly and to travel.

I fly or take a train trip at least every two months with my son

I realize that as someone who's worked remotely for more than 10 years, I'm afforded the flexibility to travel frequently and take my son along with me. I'm teaching my child how to eat properly and sleep well, and will pretty soon potty train, so I'm training him to travel, too.

With the convenience of low-cost air carriers and high-speed trains here in Europe (and a solid stash of points and miles), it's easy to get my baby on a plane or train every few months to get — and keep — him used to travel and make it part of a familiar routine.

I minimize travel stress with early arrivals, elite status and lounge access

Running through the airport with a baby and luggage is stressful and not at all how I want to start a trip.

I find the calmer I am, the calmer our whole family is — especially my baby, who tends to absorb my energy and mental state. Getting to the airport with lots of extra time helps me feel relaxed and in control — and these feelings transfer to everyone in my travel party, especially my son.

Having elite status and lounge access doesn't hurt, either, as I can avoid long lines and hang out in the lounge if I have time to kill before flying.

Both The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve card offer lounge access, and considering my home airport of Madrid Barajas (MAD) has several really nice Sala VIPs that are part of the Priority Pass network, I find this credit card perk a valuable one.

My Oneworld Sapphire status makes flying on airlines like Iberia much more comfortable, too, allowing me to use the business class check-in area, board first and check a bag at no added cost.

I plan flights around bedtime and nap times whenever possible

While my son sleeps fairly well on planes, I prefer to plan flights strategically at times where he'll already be fed, calm and rested. Although I can't always make this happen, I do so whenever my schedule and flight schedules permit it.

I organize sightseeing and beach days around naps, too

When traveling, I always try to organize my days so that my baby can either nap at the hotel or vacation rental, or while we walk in his stroller.

Cobblestoned European streets are particularly helpful in coaxing my son to sleep in his stroller, as the vibration is relaxing for him. I also bring everything along possible to encourage sleep while on the road — a portable sound machine in the stroller, a portable night light, his lovey, a tent for the beach , our own sheet for the travel crib to remind him of home — really anything that will help him to nap and sleep, keeping him and the whole family calm and happy.

Bottom line

While I'm not hopping on a flight every other week like I was in those pre-pandemic, pre-baby days, having a baby hasn't ruined travel for me.

I know it can be more restrictive and more expensive, but I now look at travel in a whole new way. I see it as an opportunity to bond as a family, give my son new experiences and help him grow into a flexible, excited young traveler .

My hope is that starting with these experiences while he is young will make travel a habit for him, just like going to school or playing with friends — something he is familiar with and learns to love and do with joy.

Road trip with a baby: The essential guide including Tips and Packing list

• Post author: Lovicarious
• Post published: November 19, 2022
• Post category: Traveling with Kids

The thought of traveling with a newborn can sound intimidating, especially when it involves spending long hours inside a small enclosed vehicle. How do I calm my baby during a road trip? What should I pack? From travel tips to packing essentials, this guide covers everything you need to know on how to road trip with a baby from newborn to 24 months.

My family grew up taking 12-hour road trips from Washington DC to Chicago every Christmas. That time spent in the car as a family created some of the best childhood memories for me. I enjoyed singing in the car with my sister, raiding the cooler for snacks, stopping at different travel stations, and sleeping in “quirky” hotels .    Road trips were an enjoyable experience for me, and I don’t doubt that there was a lot of planning that happened before we ever hit the road. Now as a parent, I want to continue the same tradition of spending quality time together as a family, traveling, exploring, and seeking out adventure. By the time our son was 10 months old, we had already driven well over 6,000 miles.

We have learned quite a bit when it comes to taking a road trip with a baby. We are here now to answer your questions in the hopes that you will be prepared to plan a successful road trip journey of your own.

*Disclaimer: Some of the links contained in this post are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.*

What Should I pack for a road trip with my baby?

Your questions answered:.

How much time should I allocate for a road trip with my baby?

This really depends on a few factors including your child’s age, temperament, and ultimately how many times you need to stop. Babies move through stages quickly and with each stage comes a shift in their sleep/wake cycles, their attention spans, and their needs.

When our son was between 3-5 months old, his threshold was about 3 hours before he would need a break from the car seat. During that 3 hour-period he would nap and play with the soft toys dangling from his car seat. After that, he was bored, hungry, and ready for a diaper change. This cycle dictated our need to stop every 3 hours.

By 12 months, our son was only taking 2 naps a day so we needed to find a way to entertain him in his car seat for longer. In our case, the 3-hour threshold before boredom set in stayed about the same. (We were lucky.) Some 12-month babies might not be able to sit in a car for 3 hours straight, necessitating more frequent stops.

On average I would advise at least doubling the time it normally takes to arrive at your destination. If your baby is sleeping through the night and you are able to drive while they sleep then this would shorten that time frame. If you are driving through the day and are expecting more frequent stops, it might mean tripling your drive time. The key to remember is to let go of expectations, practice patience, and enjoy the ride. You’ll arrive at your destination eventually.

How do I change my baby’s diaper on a road trip?

Our son’s first out-of-home diaper change (excluding the hospital of course) was on a flat slab of rock. We took him hiking at one month old and changed his diaper on the mountain summit. That was the first of many mountain tops that would be graced with his bare little hiney. I tell that story to say that you can change your baby’s diaper pretty much anywhere as long as they have a clean surface to lay on.

Before ever leaving our home, we typically pack the trunk of our vehicle keeping in mind that we may need to perform a diaper change at some point along the journey. If it is not possible to leave one side of the trunk clear, we pack in a way that the items are easily moveable to quickly accommodate a changing mat or blanket. This flat space is usually the best location in a vehicle for changing a baby’s diaper while on a road trip.

Alternatively, a backseat or passenger seat also works. If you happen to be stopping at a restaurant or rest stop, most locations do have changing tables in their restrooms. The quality and cleanliness of public restrooms are not always reliable so I would strongly advise always using a portable changing mat if possible.

How do I prevent my baby from crying in the car?

It’s every new parent’s dream to discover the secret to preventing a baby from crying in the car, on an airplane, or any other enclosed space. If you can prevent your child from crying in the first place, an unlikely yet ideal situation, it will be a much easier car ride for everyone. Believe it or not, there are a few things you can do to help prevent or at least stave off the inevitable cry session for a bit longer.

Drive while the baby is sleeping .

The easiest way to plan a road trip with a baby is to drive at night while your baby is fast asleep. If that is not possible, try to drive during nap times. You can take advantage of wake hours for meals, exploration, and even spontaneous roadside attractions . While this may increase the duration of the car ride, you will be enriching your road trip with various activities and irreplaceable moments of family bonding. Furthermore, working with instead of against your baby’s regular sleep schedule, will result in an easier transition when you arrive at your final destination.

Take timely breaks .

Your baby is staring at the backseat of a car for hours so of course, they will get a little antsy. Take breaks every 2 to 3 hours for your child to eat and stretch those little limbs. Find a playground along your route or simply set a blanket down in a patch of grass. 

Sit in the backseat.

Toys are entertaining for a time, but nothing can replace the joy and contentment of seeing a familiar face. Babies are fascinated by faces at this age and derive great excitement from simple activities such as imitating facial expressions and playing peek-a-boo. Even if they are too young to interact in that way, your simple presence can often be enough to make a baby feel safe and secure.

My baby won’t stop crying. What do I do?

If prevention is no longer an option and your baby is already crying in their car seat, what do I do next?

There are a number of reasons why babies cry, but they typically fall under one of three reasons. They are uncomfortable, they want your attention, or they simply do not like the physical restraint of being confined to a car seat.

With this in mind, if your newborn is crying in their car seat the first thing that you should do is check to see if there is an obvious cause. Do they have a wet diaper? Has it been a while since their last meal or break from the car? Is it too hot or cold in their car seat? Is the sun in their eyes? Are the seatbelt straps too tight? Are they sitting on a toy or sock? If none of these questions seem to resolve the problem, then you can try to pacify a crying infant with one of the following methods.

Give the baby a pacifier.

Pacifiers are called that for a reason. They provide temporary relief to babies who enjoy the sucking motion as it reminds them of being in the womb.  Some studies show that the act of sucking a pacifier can help to lower the heart rate, blood pressure, and stress levels. We highly recommend using a pacifier clip as they are prone to popping out, dropping behind car seats, and otherwise getting lost.

Use the “baby shusher”.

We swear by this miracle sound machine. The Baby Shusher uses a rhythmic “shhh” to imitate the same cadence and sound of a parent soothing their child. If you have ever read the Happiest Baby on the Block, the “shhh” sound we make actually mimics the environment inside of the womb where babies hear all kinds of wooshing and swooshing sounds. This Baby Shusher worked best for our infant over other white noise sound machines. It is always one of our top travel tips for road-tripping with a baby.

If this didn’t work to prevent your child from crying, it might not help so much to soothe them once they are already crying. However, if you are still in the front seat, then I would certainly recommend moving to the backseat where your baby can see your beautiful comforting face. Try playing some peek-a-boo, playing with their toes, or engaging them in a crinkly toy, book, or song. Sometimes just letting them hold on to your finger is enough to calm them.

Give them snacks.

If your baby is old enough and used to eating solids, then you may consider giving them some soft snacks or a bottle during the drive. Always follow a few precautions when feeding a baby in the car: an adult should be sitting next to the baby to supervise, and avoid hard solids that might lead to choking. Some car seat-safe foods for babies include snack pouches and dissolvable rice-husk teethers. We provide some recommendations in the road trip packing list below.

Babies grow fast. Their needs and preferences seem to change just as fast. Here are some baby road trip essentials to keep your little one up to 18 months happy, comfortable, and entertained. Toddlers will require a different list of road trip essentials that are geared more toward their level of maturity and development. This list of travel toys for toddlers highlights all of the best toys to keep a toddler entertained during travel.

Road Tripping with a Baby: Packing List

Entertainment.

• Dangling car seat toys – For newborns and infants, dangling car seats are essential entertainment. They might not have developed their grip strength or coordination yet to be able to grab other toys and rattles. Similar to a crib mobile, safely attached dangling car seat toys can capture a baby’s attention, while also helping them to develop spacial awareness. We recommend Baby Links and the interactive Hug & Tug Caterpillar which is appropriate for both infants and older babies.
• Teething toys and rattles . Teethers help to soothe babies’ gums when their teeth begin to come in. Like rattles, teethers provide a safe form of entertainment in the car while helping baby to improve their fine motor skills, group strength, and spatial awareness.
• Books – Babies like to chew, rip, and crumple books. With this in mind, it is best to pick up a selection of books that will stand the test against curious babies. Soft crinkly books like Peek-a-Boo Forest by Lamaze and Taggies are durable, washable, and engaging with flaps and tabs. Cardboard books are not indestructible, but they will serve their purpose and last you through many road trips with a baby. Our son was always the most engaged in learning books like First Numbers and First Words by Priddy.
• Favorite stuffed animal – Stuffed animals are great travel toys for children at any age. Children can begin forming a bond with their toys at a young age so it is important to bring their “best friend” along for the car ride and journey.
• Random items around the car – If all else fails there are many things that you likely have in the car that would keep a baby entertained for example an empty water bottle or a box of tissues. Just make sure that anything you give to your baby is safe: no small detachable parts that can pose a choking or suffocation risk.

Food and Drink

• Milk and Bottle . If you are nursing exclusively, that eliminates a large portion of your packing needs! If you are not nursing, make sure to pack formula or milk (babies 12 months and older), along with a bottle or two. If you prefer to pack one bottle only,  XYZ make kits for cleaning baby bottles on the go.
• Snacks and pouches. A baby’s capacity to chew and digest certain foods evolves over time, so always reference the age recommendations on a food label. Up until 6 months, babies will pretty much be fine with just milk/formula. After you begin to introduce solids, prepacked baby food and snacks become an essential road trip item. Rice husks and yogurt melts are excellent road trip snacks. They dissolve quickly, don’t leave many crumbs, and our son loves them! For a more substantial meal, we find that pouches are more convenient than the more traditional glass jars. If baby is a bit older or if you are pulling over for a roadside picnic, other road trip foods for babies include yogurt, sliced soft fruit, and graham crackers. Our son is partial to breakfast bars, peanut butter Bamba puffs and Pirate’s Booty.
• Snack cups . The more proactive you are in keeping the car seat free of crumbs, the easier it will be to clean and when it comes to babies every last bit helps. Using snack cups like the Munchkin Snack Catcher helps your little one to slow down the process of palming all their goldfish in one gulp. It also reduces the number of crumbs spilled into the car seat and the floorboard below.
• Bib. If your baby is eating milk and purees exclusively, a cloth bib works just fine. If your baby has moved on to eating more crumbly solids like crackers and fruit slices, I would highly recommend using a silicone bib with a catcher. The Mushie silicone bib is easily washable which is ideal for travel, and the pocket catches most crumbs making clean up a much easier process.
• Diapers.   Diapers are an obvious item for your baby road trip checklist. Consider overnight diapers if you plan to drive through the night while your baby sleeps. The added material and increased absorbency will help to reduce leaks and keep baby dry.
• Wipes. Wipes are essential for diaper changes, but they can also be used to clean faces, little fingers, and sticky surfaces. Pro tip: Wipe dispenser is almost empty? Keep the dispenser and fill it with toilet paper or ribbon. Babies love pulling things out of boxes and containers. This do-it-yourself baby toy will entertain your child for hours.
• Diaper rash cream. Did you know that diaper rash cream is used not only to treat, but also to prevent diaper rash? If your baby will be spending long stretches of time in a car seat, it is wise to apply diaper rash cream as a preventative measure against rash and discomfort.
• Portable changing pad – Using a portable changing station provides a more comfortable changing for the baby. It also provides an extra layer of safety when doing a diaper change in a public restroom.
• Extra changes of clothing. You don’t want to be left unprepared when the inevitable blowout or spit-up happens. We recommend packing at least 2 extra changes of clothing.
• Swaddle/ burp cloth. Swaddles are a bit universal and reduce the need for packing additional items. Although you wouldn’t swaddle a baby before placing him in a car seat, they do serve as great burp cloths and blankets. After arriving at your destination, you can then of course use the swaddle as intended…to wrap your baby like an adorable burrito bundle.
• Baby Tylenol. There are many baby medications on the market, but really the only medication we have ever needed was baby Tylenol. Teething can bring about bouts of pain and fever. Baby Tylenol is a fever reducer that can help assuage your child’s discomfort. Always contact your pediatrician before administering to your child.

Supplies for momma

• Breast pump. Depending on a number of factors (your milk production level, how much baby is drinking, etc) you may need to pump while on the road. While the manual breast pump is tried and true, the Elvie is a newer brand that many swear by. They make a wearable rechargeable breast pump that can be inserted into a nursing bra. It is discreet and portable making it possible to pump almost anywhere including at restaurants, in the office, and during a long car ride. Speaking from experience, make sure you have access to a pump! You do not want to get stuck in a situation where your body is telling you to empty the milk, but your baby isn’t hungry and you do not have a pump around. Women who have to delay pumping or nursing risk painful breast engorgement which can lead to medical problems and a reduction in milk supply.
• Nursing Cover . It is likely that you may end up nursing your child in a busy parking lot. While I have nursed my son in a parking lot without a cover, I did receive some unwanted prolonged glances from individuals passing by my window. If this is something that makes you feel uncomfortable, it may be wise to pack a nursing cover just in case. I recommend the Bebe au Lait nursing cover with it’s peek-a-boo hole. It allows me to keep an eye on my son, but also provides him with some nice airflow.
• Water. It is important for mothers to stay hydrated when nursing.

Additional items that make for a more comfortable trip

• Portable blanket. A soft clean surface is a great item to bring along when traveling with an infant. If you are stopping by a travel plaza, gas station, or rest area there is usually a nice grassy area somewhere nearby. This is a great opportunity to unbuckle your little one, and let them have some fresh air. Lay a soft blanket in the grass and allow your baby some time to roll around, stretch their legs, and enjoy the change of scenery. We recommend the Rumpl blanket that compresses into a convenient bag perfect for traveling and road trips.
• Car seat fan. When a baby is in their rear-facing car seat they don’t always have the same pleasure of cool air circulating around their bodies. This combined with warm sunrays peeking through the window can make a car seat pretty toast. It is a good idea to bring along a portable fan that clips onto the car seat to ensure that your child is cool and comfortable.
• Car seat liner. If you have a 10-hour drive ahead of you, you do not want to deal with a wet soiled car seat. A waterproof liner provides protection from wet bathing suits, diaper leaks, and other accidents.
• Backseat organizer to keep essentials close at hand. As you can see, there are many things to bring on a road trip if you want to ensure a smooth journey. You can be saved from headaches and stress in the long run if you are able to keep toys and baby essentials organized. A backseat organizer is helpful for keeping anything you or your baby might need close at hand.

Now that you have your questions answered and your car packed, the last step is to check out our top list of road trip with baby tips .

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How to Road Trip With a Newborn Baby: 10 Easy Tips!

Okay, so you’re planning to take your newborn baby on a road trip! This can be overwhelming the first time, but with these 10 tips you’ll be an expert in no time. Once you get the hang of it, it can actually be easier to road trip with a baby compared to a toddler because they sleep so much. In my opinion, the first year or two of life is a great time to road trip with your baby!

Disclaimer : This blog contains affiliate links which means I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you decide to make a purchase. Thanks for supporting me and helping me to continue to make free content on this platform!

1. Plan to Leave Right After Feeding and Diaper Change

Of course, this can be difficult to coordinate if you are already trying to time the start of your road trip with your toddler’s nap like we currently are. However, this is your best chance to get some miles on before having to make a stop. The best possible scenario is to get them a full belly so they can have a solid 2-3 hours of sleep (ideally while your other kids are still chillin’) before you have to make your first stop.

2. Set up a Mirror on the Back Seat

This is a very helpful step so you can check on them without making a stop. I was always slightly paranoid about having those tiny little babies in their car seats for a longer period of time so being able to see them breathing can make a huge difference for your peace of mind. It also helps you to be able to see if they lost their binky or kicked off their blanket. We still used a mirror until our toddler turned to facing forward so we could keep tabs on him while we drive. Link to the mirror we use here !

3. Plan Ahead for Frequent Stops

You can always just stop at random gas stations or travel stops, but this is an awesome opportunity to stop some cool places that you would normally drive right by! I like to plan stops at several points along our route so that when it does come time to stop you’ll be able to stop somewhere kind of fun. Sometimes you never know how far you’ll be able to make it, so I would recommend planning out stops at least every hour. Of course, it may still happen that you have to pull over on the side of the road on occasion.

4. Check the Car Seat Expiration and Make Sure it is Secure Before Leaving

Checking the car seat’s expiration date and security is important to make sure your baby is safe. Most car seats have a 6 year expiration date, so if you just bought a car seat for your baby it shouldn’t be a problem. If you’re not sure you can check on the bottom of the car seat to see the expiration date. If you have multiple adults in the car, have two different people check the car seat straps before taking off. Or if it’s just you, double check that the straps are tightened appropriately and the seat is clipped into the base. This website has good tips for making sure your car seat is secure.

Wondering what you need to pack for taking a road trip with baby? Here is our full packing list for a road trip with a baby !

5. Put a Sun Protection Cover Over the Window

One thing that woke our kid up more than anything was the sun shining in his eyes and on his face. There are great window covers that you can use to block the sun, or you can cover the car seat with a light cover on one side of the car seat, as long as it doesn’t fall or get too hot in the seat. The sun cover on the window will also help prevent a sunburn. Our first kid has very fair skin, and he actually got his arm sunburned through the window during our Hawaii road trip. Link to the window covers here !

6. Expect Your Trip to Take Longer

Make sure you plan accordingly, and add at least an hour to your expected drive time when taking a road trip with a newborn baby. There will for sure be added stopping time to feed, change diapers, and stretch legs. So if you are meeting other groups at your destination, try to overestimate the amount of time it is going to take you to get from point A to point B. It never hurts to add in some flexibility to your itinerary, especially on day 1.

7. Make a Playlist to Relax Baby

It may help if you have a fussy baby, to have a lullaby playlist to soothe him or her back to sleep. It also helped us at time to sing some songs, and help the baby be comforted by your voice. Singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is not my ideal road trip activity, but it beats listening to a screaming or crying baby!

8. Have Someone Sit in the Backseat

Having an adult sit in the backseat for at least part of the trip can be helpful, especially if the baby is only a few weeks old. There is nothing worse than having the baby lose their binky and start crying as you’re driving down the freeway and can’t reach them to get it back in their mouth. It also may help ease your anxiety if you’re worried about your newborn in the car seat!

9. Set Your Expectations Appropriately

As with anything related to traveling with kids, don’t expect everything to go smoothly every time. It’s likely that you’ll have some mishaps and have to listen to some crying along the drive. So as long as you set your expectations appropriately and don’t expect everything to go perfectly, you’ll be fine! For us, the first day and night whenever we are traveling is usually the hardest. After that, the trip usually goes a lot smoother. Before long, you’ll be an expert at taking a road trip with a newborn baby. And wherever you decide to go it will be so worth it.

10. Don’t Overdo it!

While you might be eager to get out and explore with your little one like I was (I didn’t travel much while pregnant because I felt sick!), it’s important to start slow. We have found that the max amount of time we can road trip with a newborn baby in a day without going a little crazy is 3-4 hours. Of course you can do more than that, but it does become quite a bit of time for the little one in their car seat. We usually run into more crying once we get past that 3-4 hour mark, especially because we also have a toddler. But every baby is different, so do what works well for you and your family. Or split up the trip and stay overnight halfway if you are doing a longer trip.

Okay, you’re ready to hit the road! Now that you’re an expert at taking your baby on a road trip, check out our travel guides to get your started on planning your trips.

• Grand Teton National Park with Kids: The Best Guide
• The 7 Best Things to do in Many Glacier with Kids
• 13 Amazing Things to do in Kauai with Kids

If you like travel checklists (they can be incredibly helpful when traveling with kids), use our packing lists and checklists to make sure you don’t forget anything important.

• 31 Things you Need to Get Done Before Leaving for Vacation: The Ultimate Checklist!
• Hiking With a Baby: Everything you Need to Pack for a Successful Day
• Tent Camping with Toddlers or Babies: The Complete Packing Checklist
• The 10+ Best Parenting Audiobooks for a Road Trip

Happy travels!

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What to Pack When Traveling With Baby

Fact-checking standards, latest update:, when can you travel with your baby, read this next, what to pack for your baby in a carry-on bag, what to pack in your baby's suitcase.

Happy travels!

What to Expect the First Year , 3rd edition, Heidi Murkoff. WhatToExpect.com, Flying With a Baby? Here's What to Know Before You Go , September 2021. WhatToExpect.com, Do Babies Need Passports? , October 2021. WhatToExpect.com, Best Travel Toys for Babies , February 2021. WhatToExpect.com, Baby Products You Can Take on a Plane , September 2020. American Academy of Pediatrics, Flying with Baby: Parent FAQs , November 2019. American Academy of Pediatrics, Is It Safe for Families to Travel Now? , August 2021. American Academy of Pediatrics, Travel Safety Tips , August 2018.  American Academy of Pediatrics, Is It Safe for My Baby to Travel in a Car Seat a Few Hours at a Time? , August 2021. Transportation Security Administration, Traveling with Children . Federal Aviation Administration, Flying with Children , March 2021. Mayo Clinic, Is Air Travel Safe for an Infant? , October 2019.

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Tips for a Road Trip With a Baby: How to Survive the Long Drive

Setting off on a road trip with your little one? I know – it sounds like a mission. Trying to figure out nap times, packing enough but not too many toys, dealing with sudden mood swings (and that’s just from the parents!) – it’s enough to give anyone a slight headache. “Will my baby be okay? How on earth am I going to keep them calm? Did I pack enough diapers?” These questions whirling around in your head are perfectly normal, and I’m here to help with my tips for a road trip with a baby.

Over the years, I’ve taken my kids on so many road trips, I’ve lost count. Short weekend jaunts, epic cross-country adventures, you name it. And you know what? Every single one was a learning curve. Sometimes, it felt more like a rollercoaster than a curve, but that’s parenting for you. I’ve had my share of forgotten essentials and messy surprises, but each hiccup has helped me perfect my road trip routine.

Don’t worry – by the end of this blog post, you’ll be a lot more confident about hitting the road with your little partner in crime. You’ll know what to expect, what to pack, and how to handle those inevitable bumps along the way. I’ve done all the hard yards, the late-night packing, and the frantic roadside diaper changes. Now, you get to benefit from my road-tested wisdom and plan a trip that’s all about the fun stuff.

Table of Contents

Road Tripping With an Infant FAQs

I know how different it is to take your kids with you on a long drive compared to a fun and spontaneous road trip as a couple . Especially if you’re taking a baby with you. And if it’s your first trip as a family, you’d be forgiven for feeling overwhelmed and nervous . 

Jumping in the car to explore the country can be such a fantastic memory-making experience. Plus, showing your kids (even the teeny tiny ones) magical places is part of what all parents dream of doing. 

So to calm your worries and help you plan a fabulous vacation, I’ve gathered some of the most frequently asked questions and answered them as best I could. 

Have another question? Or a tip for new parents about to hit the road? Let us all know in the comments, and keep the support going!

What to Expect When Traveling With a Baby

The question most parents would love to be able to answer with a crystal ball; I promise, even if you have a few hiccups on the road, at the end of the day, the memories will be worth it. 

A road trip with a baby under 12 months isn’t the nightmare that some may make it seem, as long as you prep properly . Your baby has their usual routine, space, and expectations in their daily life—all of which go away once you put them in the car for an extended period of time. 

You definitely should expect them to be a little fussy , possibly get bored, and very likely make a bit of a mess . With a few important steps, you can ensure the ride is pleasant for the baby and parents. You want to make fun family memories , which means enjoying the journey just as much as the destination .

I’ve been using Roadtrippers for years to help me plan out my trips and find fun stops along the way. Use my code “BTR5QTP” for $5 off when you sign up!

What is The Best Age to Road Trip With a Baby?

This depends on your baby, of course. Generally, it’s best to start planning your family road trip only once your baby is about three months old. Between three and six months , babies are in their developmental stage and will begin to gain more head and neck control. 

This means they can sit in a car seat and be comfortable for slightly extended periods. They’re also typically on better sleeping schedules at this age, allowing you to plan accordingly. 

You can entertain your baby between three and six months with bright, colorful, and noisy toys. They’re interested in the world around them but not yet crawling or walking , so they won’t be too antsy to get out of their seat for the whole ride.

Also taking Fido? Here are some tips for a road trip with a dog .

How Often Do You Have to Stop With a Baby on a Road Trip?

When you’re planning a road trip with a baby, your stops will need to be planned around their routine . You’ll likely need to stop for feeding, diaper changes, and as they get fussy . You may find that a stop is needed as they wake up from a nap or before they fall asleep. 

On average, I would say plan for a stop every two to four hours . Try not to go longer than this, for the whole family’s sake. Although, if you’re driving overnight and your baby sleeps through, you may be able to extend this a bit. 

The shorter driving times when you’re traveling with a baby may just give you the perfect excuse to stay over in more small towns. Driving four hours and then retiring for the night at a quaint hotel or BnB only adds to the entire road-tripping experience is one of my best tips for a road trip with a baby.

How Do You Occupy a Baby in a Car?

Unlike older kids, babies are not going to be interested in games of I Spy or a traveling trivia quiz . So how do you keep them busy for the ±four hour stretches of driving?

One way is to play music in the car — not the latest pop songs, but nursery rhymes and calming tunes. Sing along and make it a fun time for the baby. Give them a rattle to play with as well, as this will help stimulate them. This is ideal when on a road trip with a baby and toddler, as it can entertain both of them at the same time (I used this trick many times on drives).

You can also set up a sort of mobile in the car, with animals and colorful toys for them to look at and grab. If their heads can’t reach the windows, give them a plastic handheld mirror or position a mirror to help them see the fun sights outside. 

If all else fails, chatting with your baby is normally always a winner. Play peek-a-boo , describe your journey, and tell them where you’re going. Even if they don’t seem to understand it all, your attention and the sound of your voice are often enough to keep them engaged. 

Make sure to reserve your rental car ahead of time! I love using Discover Cars for my trips.

Can You Give a Baby a Bottle While Driving?

The short answer is no. 

It might be perfectly fine to have your older kids snacking while driving, but the risks are too high for an infant. You shouldn’t have a baby drinking from a bottle without your attention being fully focused on both the baby and the bottle . 

Even if you are breastfeeding, it’s not safe to do so while the car is moving . So it’s best to plan your stops according to the baby’s feeding schedule . 

How Do You Calm a Crying Baby on a Road Trip?

There’s always a reason why your baby is crying. First, check that they’re not uncomfortably hot, cold, or perhaps have a dirty diaper . It’s also good to check that they’re not hungry . 

If their basic needs are met, and they are still crying, they may just not be enjoying the drive as much. Try playing soothing music, talking to them, or giving them a toy to distract them . If none of that works, then it may be best for everyone to stop the car at the next safe spot, get out, and cuddle the baby until they are calm again . 

Are Car Seats Uncomfortable for Babies?

As long as your car seat is properly installed and has all of the right cushioning, it should be comfortable enough for your baby to sit in during a drive. Sitting in one for too long for a more extended, cross-country drive with a baby can become uncomfortable . 

Staying in one position for extended periods of time will agitate anyone, and babies are no different. There are a few ways you can ease this discomfort until you stop, though:

• Keep the car’s temperature pleasant. 
• Give the baby a little extra cushioning where you can. 
• Distract them with toys and excitement. 

How Long Should a Baby Be in a Car Seat on a Trip?

Even though babies can’t walk around yet, they still need to stretch during road trips . If you’re doing longer newborn travel by car, you should aim to take them out of the car seat every two hours or so (a very important tip for a road trip with a baby). 

If your perfectly planned road trip falls within the three- to six-month sweet spot, then two to four hours is fine . Be sure that when you’re stopping, you’re taking the baby out of their car seat and letting their bodies stretch in different positions for a bit. 

What Do I Do If My Baby Hates the Car Seat?

So, your baby cannot stand when you put them in a car seat — are your dreams of a family road trip over? Not necessarily. 

First, I would check with a doctor if anything makes the baby hate sitting in the car seat. If there are no medical concerns, then it may just be personal preference. You can slowly introduce long road trips with a baby and make the experience more pleasant. Both my kids hated drives at first, but they got used to it the more I traveled with them.

Don’t begin right off the bat with a 15-hour trip from LA to Lake Tahoe ; begin with an hour-long drive and gradually increase the time and distance . Doing this will allow you to test out a few soothing options and hopefully find one that works. Driving while the baby sleeps is also an option. 

What Should I Pack for a Baby on a Road Trip?

You can read my full family road trip packing list for a more detailed list , but here are a few essential items to include that are important road trip with baby tips: 

• Extra diapers — Pack a little more than you think you’ll need. It’s better to be overprepared with a little one than scramble to find a grocery store while on the road. 
• Wipes and rash cream — These should be with your diapers, but again, pack a little more than you think you need in case of emergencies. 
• Extra sets of clothing — This is standard when going anywhere with kids and babies. Make sure you have extra clothes for messes as well as enough clothing for all kinds of weather. 
• Their favorite blanket — Keep babies comfy and soothed with whatever blankie they would use at home. This will help them sleep better in the car and may keep the tears away on the drive. 
• A few fun toys — There isn’t much space in the car, so you want to make sure that the toys you bring along will entertain the baby for long periods. Choose colorful toys, squishy ones, and even ones that make a bit of noise — just remember, you don’t want to have a distracted driver. 
• Bibs and utensils — Quick meals on the side of the road or at a gas station may be necessary. Pack in any mealtime essentials so you’re not left in the lurch if you need to make an emergency dinner stop. 
• Sippy cups and bottles — Ensure you have enough of these with you so that even if you can’t wash them out for a few hours, there’s still a clean one to use until you reach your hotel. 
• First aid kit — Always keep a car first aid kit on you. Include things like pain syrup for little ones, bandaids, and any medication your baby usually takes. Also, bring sanitizer, mosquito repellant, and a thermometer. 
• Baby car rier — Pit stops and impromptu hikes will be much easier and more enjoyable if you can comfortably carry the baby around. 
• Milk and snacks — While you can find food along your route, you definitely want to pack some easy-to-eat snacks and enough milk to avoid a hangry baby. 
• Bin bags — You’re going to want to keep the car clutter-free and as clean as possible. This will eliminate frustration, help you quickly find what you need, and make the drive more enjoyable. Keep plastic bags to throw trash in and discard them as soon as possible once you’ve stopped. 

What Food to Carry for Babies While Traveling?

We’ve mentioned packing in food and snacks, but what else can you take that won’t make too much mess or require any prepping? Some great options to keep in the car for emergency snacking include:

• Extra milk and/or water – I always warn parents against packing juices for road trips because they’re sticky and can get everywhere if spilled. Pack milk for the ride if your baby is too young for water. 
• Sipping yogurt – Driving may take away the baby’s appetite. Sipping yogurt is easy to eat in the car, will fill them up a bit, and often tastes good enough to entice them to eat. 
• Finger foo ds – Beef jerky, cheese puffs, finger sandwiches. These are all ideal for packing into a lunchbox in the car and handing over if your little one starts to complain about tummy grumbles. 
• Pre-packaged & single-serve baby food pouches – What you don’t want to do is try and handle large amounts of anything to dish anything out in the car. It might be a little more work, but getting pre-packaged snacks before you set off makes eating and sharing easier on the drive. 
• Pre-cut fruit – Cut up apple slices, pears, or oranges, as these will be a fun, sweet (but healthy) snack to keep the little mouths busy for a while. 

Read more in my post with 101 road trip snacks for kids .

How Do You Pack Baby Milk for Travel?

If the baby is still exclusively on milk or only just starting on solids, you’ll want to bring quite a bit of this with you on your road trip with an infant. Keeping it fresh is important; no one wants to drive for hours with a car smelling like spoiled milk. 

If you’re pumping breastmilk to take with you, keep it frozen before you leave . Then when you pack the car, put the milk into a well-insulated cooler box to stay cool and frozen during the drive. If you’re packing formula , pre-pack servings in either bottles or secure containers/bags is an easy way to do it. Then have a flask or bottled water to mix it up.

Sterilize your bottles before you pack them and again when you stop at your nightly accommodation. 

My Top Tips for Long-Distance Driving With a Baby

If this is your very first road trip with a baby, just remember that it can only get easier from here. I’ve found that getting the kids used to traveling and being on the road from an early age means it becomes a splendid experience as they get older. 

Besides keeping the car organized (and booking any accommodations you’re going to need well in advance), here are some other things I’ve found helpful when taking a 0- to 12-month-old on a road trip. 

Check the Car Seat Before You Go

Most importantly, ensure that your car seat is safe , follows regulati ons , and is properly installed. 

A car window safety shade is another must-add for a baby’s comfort and safety. Having the sun pelting down on their faces is a sure way to end up with a miserable baby. 

Plan Your Route Carefully

Know where you’re going (as well as possible detours in case of roadworks, etc.) and how long you have between each possible stop. Know where you can stop to walk, where you can get gas, and where there are shops to top up on essentials . 

This will give you a bit more control over how long to keep baby busy, when nap time should be, and where you can get out and stretch your legs if needed. You can also plan any activities along the way. 

Make a Note of Doctors and Hospitals Along Your Route

While planning your trip, keep a log of hospitals, emergency doctors, and medical care units in each town and city you’ll be passing through . Hopefully, you won’t need to use this list when going on a long drive with a baby, but if you have a feverish kid or an unfortunate accident, it’s better to know where to go. 

And on that note, be sure to keep important medical records on you while driving . From vaccination cards to allergies, bring anything that may be important in the event of an emergency. 

Keep Essential Travel Items Packed in The Front of The Car

You don’t want to take up too much leg room, but you also don’t want to have to stop the car just to reach a pacifier. Before you pack the car, separate items for the drive from things you’ll only need when you stop or reach your destination . 

On the other hand, don’t put items that you won’t need while driving in the front of the car. Keep extra clothes, bulky toys, and similar non-essentials in the boot instead. 

Stick to Routine as Much as Possible

This may seem harder once you’re actually on the road, but if you can keep to regular nap times and feeding times , it will help your baby stay regulated and feel secure. Similarly, taking some of their personal items with you to put into hotel rooms can help them feel at home. 

Get your free road trip packing list here!

Have Someone in the Back Seat

If you can, have one adult in the back seat with the baby if there’s a need for snacks or a quick drink. If you’re stopping often enough for food and drink, having an adult sitting at the back might still be helpful to talk to and entertain the baby . 

Of course, if older siblings take up space in the back seat, try to get them to play nicely with and speak to the baby. 

Look After Yourself Too

Just as it’s important to remember everything needed for the baby, it’s equally important for parents to stay happy and comfortable on long drives . Not only is it good for the parent driving, but it’ll also help keep the car’s atmosphere pleasant and calm . 

Stop when you are feeling uncomfortable, too. Pack in a few of your own favorite snacks. If the baby is fast asleep, take the time to play some of the music you used to play on long drives. You can’t take adequate care of your baby unless you also care for yourself.

Again, these tips for a road trip with a baby are from my real-life experiences, so I hope you feel more confident to plan that drive you’ve been putting off!

Marissa Pedersen

Marissa is a passionate road trip enthusiast who has traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada via car and continues to go on new trips every year to explore more of the country. Her love of road tripping has given her a unique perspective on the best routes, hidden gems, and must-see attractions along the way.

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Road Trip with Baby: Essential Travel Packing List & Tips

Written by Becca

Updated on April 30th, 2024

How do you take a road trip with a baby for the first time? Check out my essential travel packing list for everything your infant needs during a trip.

This article may contain affiliate links. We earn a small commissions when you purchase via those links — and it's free for you. It's only us (Becca & Dan) working on this website, so we value your support! Read our privacy policy and learn more about us .

Table of contents

• Feeding & Nursing
• Clothes & accessories
• Grooming & medicine
• Transport: strollering, driving, car seat and carrying
• Learn more about road trips for babies!

Traveling with an infant is incredibly daunting when you first decide to take a short trip with your baby. How will you set up a safe place for sleeping? How will you pack enough to cover every possible situation? How many bottles is enough?

We took three trips between our baby being three and six months, and having a standard packing list gave us peace of mind. We borrowed suggestions from friends and family, and put together the best of all the recommendations.

In this packing list, you’re welcome to switch around the quantities of all items based on how long your trip is. Also, note that this list was for three road trips and not for flying. Nothing we brought was specific to TSA-approved sizes and our luggage wasn’t optimized for a flight.

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Here’s the list of road trip items we took, many of which are the best baby products for travel .

The below list is based on a three-day two-night trip during which I’m nursing and giving a few bottles here and there. Of course, you have your own methods of feeding your infant during the trip , and no two parents nor babies are alike in this regard. For all the clothing recommendations (along with sleep sacks, bibs, etc.), I liberally pack an extra in case there are “accidents.”

Ready for our road trip baby packing list? Here it goes.

If you are flying with your infant, check out this list of crucial tips for taking a flight with your baby!

Feeding & Nursing

Whether you’re nursing or exclusively bottle feeding, there are some essentials to consider.

• Bottles : We like Comotomo and Lansinoh .
• Bottle brush & stand : This OXO stand has been great.
• Pacifiers (2) : Check out Avent and the Avent + animal !
• Burp cloths (3-4) : We like aden & anais .
• Bibs (3-4) : aden & anais make great bibs as well.
• Vitamin D drops : We have these .
• + flanges (6)
• + duckbill valves (6)
• + tubing (2)
• + backflow protectors (2)
• 6 Spectra milk bottles and tops : Check them out .
• Milk cooler with ice pack : We have this one , and it fits most standard 5oz bottles.
• Frozen milk (1 bag) : We use the Lansinoh storage bags . I bring frozen milk on our way when we leave home, so that it survives the car ride in the cooler.

Our strategy for bottles is to have enough for feeding, storage and a few extra. When they are empty, we clean them right away and cycle through them like that. We also put Vitamin D drops in each bottle for feeding, so we’ll always have a few storage bottles ready to dish out.

Also the bottle supplies that I mention are optimized for 5oz bottles. You might need slightly different supplies for the bigger 8oz bottles.

For babies eating solids

• Jars or pouches of baby food (however many your child consumes)
• High chair : Take a look at this clip-on high chair . A foldable travel high chair also works!
• Booster seat : Try this one from OXO .
• Spoons/utensils : We’ve had the best luck with these spoons .
• Silicone bibs : Check these out and pick from lots of different colors.
• More wipes !: We like these water wipes .

We make our own baby food, and our baby eats whatever we have in the house! For convenience, I can see how the pouches could be a quick and easy solution to have food on the go. You can put out only as much as you need and use your own spoon, then save the rest for minimal clean up.

Sometimes at home, we keep our daughter sitting up right and hold her to give her some food. So the clip-on high chairs and booster seats are only necessary when independent solid eating is more of a thing.

More diapers are better than fewer, especially if you’ll be in a remote location like we were when we went up to the northwestern Catskills to stay in a country house. There wasn’t a Walmart for MILES! Luckily, I learned from our trip the month before that I should pack diapers like they’re going out of style, and we survived plenty fine.

I had already corrected all my former mistakes when we went away to Litchfield County, CT , when our daughter was 7 months, and came home with a heap of diapers to spare.

One thing I like to have on hand is little plastic throw-away baggies for diapers when disposing of them in a hotel or Airbnb. I save the ones we use as produce bags at the supermarket and then load up my diaper bag with those. They are so handy. If you’re looking for something more compact for storing (or already have a dog) these dog #2 storage bags might also work.

• Diapers : Find your brand and size on Amazon . For a three-day trip, I took 30 diapers.
• Wipes : We use these water wipes .
• Diaper balm : We like diaper balm with a lid , to prevent accidental spills.
• Little garbage bags for diapers
• Changing pad : This one is great for most babies.

For the diapers, it’s best if you leave them in the original packaging to help save on space. We found that bringing loose diapers takes up more room in our already cramped bags.

Our diaper bag has a changing pad that never leaves our bag. When we travel, we change our daughter with the pad on the floor. This is a good practice in case there’s an accident. We are not prepared to scrub any carpets while away!

It’s also likely that you may have these items in your diaper bag. It would be a good idea to make sure you have extra / a spare set for a makeshift changing station at your accommodation.

Clothes & accessories

When we went upstate to Livingston Manor for three days, I almost laughed: we came home with exactly one diaper left in the diaper bag and our daughter’s luggage combined. ONE!

This was because we went through quite a few changes of clothes, if you know what I mean. And if there are overnight accidents, you may have a soiled sleep sack or swaddle.

In addition to the extra outfits I leave in the diaper bag, I was happy with the number of backup clothes and pajamas I had packed, as we almost went through everything. In my guide to how to visit NYC with a baby , I discuss the importance of bringing clothing layers for changes in weather.

• Zippy pajamas (3-4) : We’ve had good luck with Carters brand PJs .
• Outdoor blankets (1) : For colder months, try this type of blanket .
• Daytime outfits (with spares) : These Carter onsies and pants are great staples!
• Booties or socks : You can never have too many socks .
• Sun hat : Hats work great for keeping the sun out of your baby’s eyes.
• Headbands or hair bow clips : So cute !

We’ve liked bringing plenty of headbands and hair bows for times when we’ve wanted our daughter to look cute in a photo.

Grooming & medicine

For babies with hair, you might want to consider packing a comb or brush. For us, we do a quick hair combing at bedtime as part of the routine.

For all other medicine and health products, it’s up to you. We haven’t had to use any of the medicines while away from home, but you truly never know what can happen and what you’ll want to have in your back pocket if your child is soon to be teething, comes down with some congestion or is having bouts with gas pains.

• Frida nail file & clipper : The Frida Baby Grooming Kit has everything you need.
• Hair comb or brush : We like this comb because it has an extra fine side.
• Medicine for unexpected scenarios : ( Acetominaphen , gas drops , Snotsucker )
• Thermometer : We got this digital one .
• Rattle toys, teether toys : Our baby LOVES these teethers .

A tip from my cousin, an expert mom of two, is to bring along “identifying docs” for your child, even when your baby doesn’t have an official ID or baby passport yet, like an immunization report or other medical record (even a physical photocopy of baby’s birth certificate would be a “better-safe-than-sorry” thing to have!).

Transport: strollering, driving, car seat and carrying

We have become UPPAbaby people and we are super happy with the choice to buy into the UPPAbaby ecosystem of strollers and car seats. We picked up the Minu stroller for traveling purposes and it has saved a ton of trunk space when compared to the larger and sturdier UPPAbaby Vista stroller we keep at home.

For unexpected weather or bugginess in summer locations, opt for bringing both the rain cover and the insect net covers for your car seat or rumble seat.

• UPPAbaby Minu travel stroller : We’re happy with ours and it saves trunk space. Check it out or read our UPPAbaby Minu review here!
• UPPAbaby Mesa car seat : Check prices on Amazon for this sturdy car seat.
• UPPAbaby stroller parent console : Ours lives on our stroller, even when folded. Check it out .
• UPPAbaby Mesa rain cover and bug screen cover : The rain shield and bug screen have been helpful!
• UPPAbaby car window shields : Help keep the sun out of your baby’s eyes. Check it out .
• Baby Safety Car Mirror : We have one of these in our car at home, and if you will be renting a car at your destination, be sure to bring along your own baby car mirror .
• A baby carrier you love : If you have car space to spare, opt for a strong baby carrier like the Baby Tula Explore Carrier . If you’re short on space, go the route of an ultralightweight carrier like Baby Tula Carrier Lite ; for more ideas, see my list of the best baby carriers for travel .
• *A hiking carrier : For adventurous parents, as well as for toddlers and larger kids who like being carried, consider a hiking carrier. We like ours, which you can read about that the Deuter Kid Comfort Venture review .

While our daughter doesn’t exactly love the Pack ‘n Play, it’s a fact of life when you leave home for travel. The first trip we took with her when she was 13 weeks was when we used the bassinet from our UPPAbaby Vista stroller ! That way, she wasn’t sleeping in a foreign environment.

With the Pack ‘n Play, we make sure the mattress cover is clean before we leave home, and we bring a backup sheet in case it gets soiled. Another hack has been the blackout cover, which simulates darkness for the baby if you’re in a place with lots of windows or no dark curtains. It also gives the baby their own sense of space if you’re all in one hotel room, like we say in our guide to staying in a hotel with your baby .

• BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light : This travel crib is so easy to set up and take apart, and it’s tons lighter than a Graco Pack ‘n Play. Check it out or read our review .
• Pack ‘n Play sheet with spare sheet : This one should work great!
• Pack ‘n Play blackout cover : We have this one .
• SlumberPod : This is a blackout tent to use during travel! It goes over an entire travel crib and parents swear by it.
• Baby monitor : We’ve been happy with our monitor . You don’t need Wi-Fi, so it’s easy to set up anywhere.
• Audio baby monitor : If you want as a backup, or alternative to video, you can check out the audio-only options.
• HALO & Nested Bean sleep sacks (2) : We love our HALO , and we’ve been using the Nested Bean as a backup.
• Hatch Rest+ sound machine : We like the Rest+ because it has an easy charging base.
• Amazon Basics portable suction cup blackout curtains : These curtains help to darken a room so your little one sleeps longer!

We feel a little silly bringing the Hatch because it’s such a big sound machine. The backup battery has actually been a huge help because we once lost power and we’re glad we still had some white noise going. Something like this might be a better option.

Plus, we use a portable travel sound machine (you can also get it on Amazon ) on our stroller or with our a travel-friendly baby carrier while taking walks, to help create some familiar and consistent white noise It works out great, whether on the road or at home.

Learn more about road trips for babies!

From our experience, here are some of the things that we’ve learned that have been helpful in making everyone happy during the adventure.

And as a heads up, you can check our the rest of our articles on traveling with a baby to learn everything you can, as well as our list of the best essential road trip accessories for everyone in the car.

What to expect on your first trip with a baby

I actually kind of expected the worst, in traveling with a baby. How would naps work? Would we have to stop for feeding? How would our child sleep at night, the first time away from home?

This all felt kind of crazy, but we knew we had to take the plunge if we ever wanted to introduce our daughter into our world of travel.

Our first trip with her was at 13 weeks. I was largely doing okay, three-ish months postpartum, and we were finally comfortable with the world of being parents. Also, I don’t want to sugarcoat this at all: our baby was far from sleeping through the night, and as my best friend put it, “If you’re going to be sleep deprived and doing night feeds, why not at least be away from home on a vacation?”

While New Hampshire at the end of winter is far from tropical and didn’t involve any skiing or snowy sports for us, it’s where my extended family gets together every year in mid-March. I didn’t want to be left out, so we took our tiny newborn along (easier said than done).

Here’s a few tips for what to expect and how things really went, that time, and the two times we went up to the Catskills when our child was 5 months and then 6 months. While both trips were very different from each other, we decided to risk it (again!) by going up to Litchfield County, CT , when she was 7 months old as well!

Naps and sleeping tips for road trips

On the way up to New Hampshire and down from New Hampshire, our baby took some of her best naps of the month in the car. Her naps were a total grab bag and we never know what to expect, especially if we were going to be in the car for more than two hours. We were graced with some two-hour naps during the five-hour drive, and when we stopped for bathrooms, I fed her in the rest area or in the front seat of the car.

When we went to Nova Scotia, we planned a day trip excursions from Halifax and timed our planning with the baby’s three-nap schedule.

Keeping your baby entertained during the car ride

When she wasn’t napping, one of us sat in the back and tried to entertain her with toys and a book. It’s hard to say if it worked. During our road trips with her two and three months later, we both sat up front and if she needed consoling, I’d reach my arm back to hold a pacifier in her mouth. We had her teether beads and a fruit teether attached by a pacifier clip in her car seat.

I recommend having some toys or teethers, depending on your baby’s age, attached to the car seat straps so they don’t get lost or dropped during the ride.

Feeding during car rides

Most babies eat every 1.5-2 hours in the first few months of life, and ours certainly did. Even at five and six months, she likes to eat every two hours if she can. Some babies are on an every-three-hours feeding schedule by this point, but that’s not something that worked for us. Much of this experience inspired me to write about how to feed a baby during travels .

If a baby is hungry during a car ride, you’ll know. It’ll be chaos. If our child cried, we turned up the music, held a pacifier in her mouth and sang her favorite lullaby on repeat. Being a parent is far from glamorous!

During some stops, we gave her a full feed, depending on when she had last eaten. I did this in rest area cafeteria booths, the front seat of our car in a Trader Joe’s parking lot In Connecticut and in a Panera off the highway, most recently. I think a good tip is to get comfortable feeding your baby at the right time, and the place is less important.

The importance of the diaper bag

Just like when you go out for the day, having a robust diaper bag is crucial during a road trip. And I mean “two spare outfits” level of robust. We have been using Nike’s diaper backpack and it’s good for travel. Check out more photos at my Nike Diaper Bag review .

On our most recent trip with our baby when she was six months, there was a diaper blowout just as we hit our first stop, and I wound up doing an entire outfit and diaper change on a picnic table in a covered pavilion as it began to rain. Good thing we had weather-appropriate attire in a packing cube in the diaper bag, along with enough wipes and diapers and of course, hand sanitizer.

Other things I keep in the diaper bag are my new nursing cover, a small Hakka pump, a disassembled Medela hand pump, spare Medela milk vials, a changing pad and a spare light blanket for miscellaneous use. I suggest keeping your diaper bag contents constant so that if something is missing, you can figure it out.

I use the same diaper bag contents on a regular trip to the supermarket, as well as a trip up to the countryside.

As a secondary diaper bag for when I’m just getting out of the car at a rest area, or going somewhere with only the carrier and not a full stroller setup, I’m into the Kibou fanny pack diaper bag .

It’s also crucial for a diaper change on a plane , for the next time you fly.

For a limited time: Join the list for 15% off your first order + get free shipping on orders $75+!

Shop the deal

This cute belt bag is the most minimalist (and chic) diaper bag. I review the Kibou to talk about all the features.

It has a fold-out changing pad, and in the main compartment I can fit diapers, diaper cream, a pacifier, my phone and a slim wallet. Plus, it has a waterproof zippered wipes pocket on the inner side, which is so handy and cool.

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A guide to road tripping with a baby, in 9 highway-tested steps

The back seat is your new best friend

The “poop-tastrophe” at the Canadian border — as one of her children coined it — still haunts Nasreen Stump. And then there was the carsickness episode in a rental car in Seattle.

“We’ve put a lot of miles in with a lot of kids, and had a lot of unfortunate experiences along the way,” said Stump, a mother of four in Texas who writes for the family travel site TravelingMom.com .

In the greater journey of parenting, road trips have it all: discovery, boredom, tears, joy, gear galore and so many bodily fluids. As the holidays approach — and as road trips have become a covid-era alternative for families who want to avoid flying — we asked experts like Stump what strategies they deployed for limiting chaos while traveling with babies and toddlers.

As a relatively new mom, I could have used the advice at this time last year. Since then — through seven round-trip drives between D.C., Florida and Pennsylvania, mostly to stay with family who helped care for our baby — I’ve learned some of my own tricks.

The following nine tips are lessons only a parent with some miles under their belt could deliver.

Should you travel with kids during the pandemic? Consider these 6 trip scenarios.

Get your car checked before you leave

Need an oil change, tire replacement or air-conditioner check? Get that done before heading out. When there’s a fussy baby on your lap and all your bags are strapped to the roof, an auto repair shop is the last place you want to end up.

It’s also a good idea, Stump writes , to find a technician who can make sure your baby’s car seat is properly installed before taking off. She recommends checking with fire departments, ambulance services or hospitals to see if a technician can take a look.

Digitize your packing list

Handwritten packing lists are fine. But if you want to get fancy about it, create a spreadsheet so every computer-using person in the family can contribute and easily update your must-have list. Bonus: it’s easy to copy the basics and customize for future trips.

In making the list, think about everything your baby needs, eats, drinks, uses and wears over the course of a day. Figure out how long you can go without doing laundry or a grocery store run, and pack what you’ll need for that time (plus a little extra). Keep the crucial stuff accessible in the car to avoid frantically unpacking a suitcase for extra clothes or diapers.

You may think you can buy just about anything on the road. But Colleen Lanin, a mother of two and founder of TravelMamas.com , says a middle-of-the-night emergency could test your resourcefulness. If the kid spikes a fever at 3 a.m., you don’t want to search for a 24-hour pharmacy.

“Have that stash of your medicines ready,” she said.

And don’t forget a bag with extra personal protective equipment and hand sanitizer.

Can you still cancel a flight at the last minute? Your holiday travel questions, answered.

Throw the ETA out the window

Google Maps says you’ll arrive in six hours? What a fun fantasy! Your GPS is not the boss of the baby.

American Academy of Pediatrics spokeswoman Dina DiMaggio, a doctor at Pediatric Associates of NYC and at NYU Langone Health, recommends stopping every two to three hours for feeding, diaper changing and taking a break from the car seat.

Dirty diapers or meltdowns might require more frequent stops, so patience is key.

Lanin suggests mapping out pit stops in advance, and being realistic about how much time they’ll add to your trip.

“Babies and toddlers are not great at being stuck in the same place for hours and hours on end,” she said.

Timing the drive to avoid traffic is also a good idea, Stump said. Ever sat in a traffic jam with a screaming baby? It’s not great!

How to travel with your pet this holiday season

Join baby in the back seat

DiMaggio, a co-author of ​" The Pediatrician’s Guide to Feeding Babies and Toddlers ,” does not recommend allowing babies to sleep in a car seat for too long, especially if no one is watching them. She said one parent should ride in the back, putting them in position to anticipate diaper stops, help naps along, and offer snacks or drinks — not to mention provide entertainment and a steady stream of distractions.

Stump recommends bath toys and books for road trips because they can be inexpensive and “really easy to sanitize.”

Make your car a rest stop

Maybe some parents with an unvaccinated, too-young-to-mask baby feel comfortable strolling into a rest stop, sitting in the food court and using a diaper changing station in the restroom. My family is not.

Many of our nursing sessions and diaper changes took place in the back seat of the car. We took advantage of drive-through or curbside pickup for meals, or food delivery services at Airbnb stays. Mobile ordering at Starbucks let us order breakfast and packaged lunches in advance and then run in to pick it up quickly without having to wait in line.

Keep the baby’s schedule consistent

If the kid naps every three hours, try to maintain that timeline in the car. If white noise is helpful, bring a portable machine or use an app. Do they have a favorite bedtime song or book or cuddly toy? Keep those handy.

Driving at night while the baby is sleeping might work for some parents — and we’ve done it many times — but we found we prefer to quit traveling closer to the baby’s dinnertime so everyone can eat, wind down and rest. For us, this means breaking up a long trip into a few days.

How my wife and I have traveled with our kid, from 12 weeks old to toddler

Know your lodging needs

Maybe you can get by with a standard hotel room. Bless you. Once our baby started an established bedtime routine, we needed something with more space — and, frankly, walls. In our case, extended-stay brands checked many boxes: they’re pet-friendly, offer separated spaces and include a fridge. When we can afford it, we look for vacation rentals so we can avoid crowds and easily load and unload the car.

Stump is a fan of Hilton’s Home2 Suites because they offer a curtain to separate the bed from the couch, and the rentals have “really long counters” that are particularly useful. She warns that parents with babies should not assume every hotel will have some kind of portable crib.

“They should call ahead multiple times or travel with something for the baby to sleep in, just in case,” she said.

Prepare for a mess (or two)

Both Stump and Lanin offered the same one-word advice: “buckets.”

“Have you seen how babies and toddlers throw up?” Lanin said. “They don’t aim.”

A good receptacle is important for kids who get queasy from carsickness or the stomach flu. Stump likes a collapsible beach bucket because it folds up flat for easy storage.

After Stump’s “poop-tastrophe,” when her family was returning from Montreal , she added layers of protection to the car. That includes waterproof covers that are meant for babies to wear over cloth diapers and replacement covers for an infant seat.

“Never again on a road trip without backups on those things,” she said.

Always, always check the fridge

My toughest lesson came on an otherwise stress-free morning. I congratulated myself on being ready to check out of the hotel early — with two dogs and a 7-month-old — on the final leg of a trip home to D.C. from Florida.

Two hours later, I was weeping as we drove north on Interstate 95, realizing in horror that I forgot to open the refrigerator for the one thing I couldn’t easily replace: 36 ounces of breast milk that I’d spent hours pumping over the past few days.

When I frantically called the hotel, I was told the room had been cleaned and any perishable items tossed. I vowed then and there to never leave a room without triple checking the fridge. Due to parental brain fog, I promptly forgot this vow on a trip a couple months later. But — in an endorsement for the shared packing list — my husband remembered before we left the parking lot.

More travel tips

Vacation planning: Start with a strategy to maximize days off by taking PTO around holidays. Experts recommend taking multiple short trips for peak happiness . Want to take an ambitious trip? Here are 12 destinations to try this year — without crowds.

Cheap flights: Follow our best advice for scoring low airfare , including setting flight price alerts and subscribing to deal newsletters. If you’re set on an expensive getaway, here’s a plan to save up without straining your credit limit.

Airport chaos: We’ve got advice for every scenario , from canceled flights to lost luggage . Stuck at the rental car counter? These tips can speed up the process. And following these 52 rules of flying should make the experience better for everyone.

Expert advice: Our By The Way Concierge solves readers’ dilemmas , including whether it’s okay to ditch a partner at security, or what happens if you get caught flying with weed . Submit your question here . Or you could look to the gurus: Lonely Planet and Rick Steves .

Traveling with a Newborn by Car: How to Stay Sane

Summer is the best time for taking road trips. We love getting out there and exploring. My husband and I have always been into discovering what’s around us. In China, it was more difficult since we didn’t always have a car there, but here, we love taking the girls to see new sights.

We had them on planes from the time they were newborns though, and I talked about that in this post .

Now I’m going to focus on road trips. My youngest had just turned one when we moved to America, and we had to take her on road trips back and forth from my parents’ house to where we were looking to settle down and live. I thought it was going to be a disaster, but it turns out, it was great.

With a newborn, though, they do have a bit more needs. But that’s ok because it’s all a learning experience. And you’ll look back and laugh on those trying moments.

How soon can a newborn actually travel long distance by car?

In a car, you can take your newborn for a journey at any time after birth. After all, you’ll need to drive your baby home from the hospital . As I mentioned in my post about flying with your baby, some airlines even allow it at just 2 days old. So you’ll be fine to take your baby along for a road trip as long as your doctor says your baby is in good health.

And as long as you are too! Remember, if you’ve had a c-section, you’ll need to wait to drive the car yourself. If your husband is driving though, you can sit back and relax, and use the following tips to help you plan your road trip by car with your newborn.

Tips for Traveling by Car with a Newborn

Before you even pack your bags, USA Today advises that you have your car checked out thoroughly. Also, if you didn’t have an infant road trip companion, you should always make sure your vehicle is road-worthy. Breaking down on the roadside is one of the most irritating experiences known to mankind. I can’t imagine doing it with an infant.

Have the tires inspected as well as everything under the hood. Ideally, you should do this at least 2 weeks before you hit the road so you can have any necessary repairs made.

The other thing advised by USA Today is to be sure your child safety seats are properly installed. Heaven-forbid you get in an accident, and they’re not! You can go to your local police station or firehouse and have them help you.

Once you have that peace of mind, here are other things to do as you get ready to hit the road:

Plan your route in advance

We all have smartphones with GPS, but I can’t tell you how many times mine has rerouted us into some strange place. If it wasn’t for my knowledge of local landmarks, we’d have never figured it out. With construction zones, sometimes the exits and roads you’re looking for aren’t available.

The best thing you can do is print out your route options from your computer as a backup should your GPS falter on you. You should also do what my dad STILL tells me to do which is keep a map in the glove box.

Put stick-on mirrors on the car seat

When you get your car seat installed, you’ll be told rear-facing is the safest for infants. You should always know the best position for your brand car seat and the age and size of your baby. When you have your baby facing to the rear, a car seat mirror can be a huge blessing. My friends who have used them say this helped keep them from panicking on drives with their babies.

Plan on making stops

A newborn needs to breastfeed every couple of hours, so be sure you stop frequently. It will help you to stretch your legs too, which is better for your health. You can take some pumped milk along if you would like, but newborns can’t grasp the bottle. You’d have to sit in the backseat next to your baby while your husband drives.

It’s just better to stop and see the sights and enjoy them during those pit stops. You’ll make more memories and be able to show your baby new things along the way which is excellent for their development. Yes, even at this stage!

When on a road trip with an infant, or even an older baby or toddler, taking along all the necessities is a must. Those diapers, wipes, change of clothes, blankets, socks, hats, pacifiers, baby toys, and other essentials should all be in the main cabin of the car with you.

Don’t forget snacks for you either. If you take a small cooler, you can keep from eating unhealthy options and instead of fruits and veggies. When you have toddlers, snacks are even more important. You can mix it up with crackers and those types of snacks, but having fresh foods will be helpful.

A picnic is a great way to eat whether you have an infant or an older child. This saves you money on restaurants plus allows you to have more of a comfortable breastfeeding experience in nature. And picnic blankets allow for a safe space for your baby to wiggle while you eat your food.

Don’t drive straight through

If you think a road trip is exhausting to you, it’s definitely tiring for your baby. Some babies handle the car better than others. The best way to handle it is to make efficient stops. Never try to drive straight through to your destination. You need to stop at the bare minimum to feed your baby!

Make sure baby is full before you hit the road

To keep from having to stop as soon as you set off, make sure you fill your baby up before the drive. Hungry babies will fuss, and doing this will make your car rides a quieter experience.

Keep the temperature comfortable

If it’s cold out, make sure you’ve dressed baby for the adventure. The same goes for when it’s hot outside. Proper attire and heating or cooling will help keep your baby comfortable. And honestly, keeping a newborn comfortable is the best way to have a pleasant road trip with them.

Make bigger kids happy

Some parents wait until the baby is bigger and eating solids before taking a road trip. If you’ve got an older kid, having snacks in their hand as you start the drive will keep her occupied. Also, good music, their favorite toy, and a positive demeanor from the adults in the car will go a long way.

Play a game:

See if you can make a game of how many cows you can spot on the side of the road or anything else you see. This trick always keeps kids busy. Even though mine are much bigger now, they still love to look out the window and tell me everything they see. On our most recent adventure, my eldest told me she saw 10 people picking their noses! Ew!

On Your Own with Baby on the Road

If it’s just you and your baby, it doesn’t need to be as frazzling as you imagine. Plan with everything as you would if you had a partner along. Make sure you follow all the tips above, though when it comes to stopping to feed your baby, be sure you go somewhere safe.

I’ve written about your rights as a mom to breastfeed in public before. If that makes you uncomfortable, bring along bottles of your expressed milk so you can feed your baby comfortably even if you’re somewhere inconvenient. The same goes for bottle-feeding. I was lucky that in China, no one ever said anything to me about breastfeeding except some older women who told my husband I was doing such a good thing for my babies.

When behind the wheel, try to narrate everything and make it fun. Your baby will eventually fall asleep, leaving you to drive without entertaining.

All in all, driving with your newborn gets easier the more you do it. I felt comfortable driving with my youngest for long stretches because I’d taken her around town a bit, so I’d driven with her before. I also had my eldest to keep her entertained, and my husband would also give both the girls whatever they needed while I drove until we needed to make an official stop.

Don’t worry…you’ll get the hang of it!

But what if you don’t have a car and are hitting the road on a bus or train? Let me help you with that!

Can I travel with a newborn baby on a bus or train?

You can definitely take your newborn baby on the bus or train. If you are using the city bus, it’s best to wear your baby in a carrier. A stroller can be cumbersome, and city buses don’t have latches for you to lock in the car seat.

When we lived in China, we took the bus often with our little ones. We’d use the baby carrier and take them along. The biggest concern for me was germs so I’d do my best to keep well-meaning curious strangers from touching my kids’ hands or faces.

Always take sanitizer and cleansing wipes with you on the bus! The same goes for the city subway!

The advantage of a city subway, if you have one in your city is that you can easily roll a stroller onto them. Some elevators make it easy for parents with strollers or anyone with disabilities to get on. But if you live in a crowded place, a stroller can be a pain to take with you when you need to go somewhere with baby during rush hour travel.

What if you want to take your baby on a cross-country bus?

Here, you may be able to bring a car seat for your baby. On city buses, they travel so slowly and are so big that they rarely have collisions. But buses that go on the highway may have seatbelts. The best thing you can do is call the bus line and ask before booking your travels.

Greyhound , one of the most famous long-distance bus lines, has three-point seatbelts on their newer buses, making it easy to secure your child seat. But on the older models, they don’t. Concord and Peter Pan don’t have seatbelts though. So, a quick call to find out what to expect is encouraged so you don’t lug a car seat that you can’t use.

For trains, there is no way to use your car seat. You should wear your newborn in a carrier and bring a folding stroller if your destination is ideal for it.

Finally…Remember!

For all of these modes of transport on the road or rail, remember to protect yourselves from germs. And if your baby does get fussy, remember that most people will be kind to you, especially if you’re struggling to calm your baby down. Most of the time, your baby will settle down when you nurse her. Other times, she might have a dirty diaper that needs changing.

When you have your bags packed and ready to go, make sure you’ve got all the necessary items. If you’ve forgotten something, so be it. It will make for a fun story down the road, pun intended.

Leslie Berry lives with her husband and two young daughters in Los Altos, California, where she loves helping other moms get comfortable with motherhood and embracing the insanity with facts peppered with laughs.

She loves eating too much sushi, exercising, and jamming out on her Fender. Read more about Leslie here.

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How Soon Can a Newborn Travel Long Distance by Car?

A recent study that revealed babies have a lower oxygen rate combined with an increased heart rate when in a car for more than half an hour has raised quite a few eyebrows, and plenty of questions.

It’s left most parents wondering if their child can die during long road trips, and when can they travel with their new baby. In short, is it safe to travel with your newborn baby?

The study conducted can be concerning, but there is not enough evidence to support that babies are in danger when in their car seats for long periods of time. 

In this article

How Big Is The Risk?

Head support, the car seat, the risk is small, additional head support, take frequent breaks, make sure someone can see them, mark rest spots on the gps, stop even at night, bring extra supplies (just in case), newborns in car seats: is it safe.

While the previous study mentioned was not large enough to produce conclusive evidence that newborns in car seats can experience a complete lack of oxygen when left in a car seat for an extended period of time, it is a bit concerning.

The main concern that this study brings to light is that newborns have a decreased level of oxygen. This is believed to be due to the angle that their neck is at.

Also because they do not have the muscles in their neck to properly support their head, leading to a decrease in oxygen because of the obstruction. If your little one falls asleep in their car seat, there is a greater chance of suffocation. 

While there is obviously a risk, it often comes down to how big the risk is. This depends on the car seat, the age of the newborn, how strong their neck muscles are, and several other factors. 

When babies are born, they have very little if any control over their head movement. They also are not able to support their own head. This drastically increases the risk of newborn babies in car seats suffocating.

As children get older and develop more muscles in their neck, this risk begins to significantly decline.

While the risk might be minimal for older babies in car seats, most pediatricians do not recommend taking children under one year old on extended car rides if it can be avoided. 

Babies that are able to support their own heads have a significantly lower risk of suffocation than newborns in car seats that cannot. However, this doesn’t always coordinate perfectly with age.

For example, my grandson began to really be able to control his head around five or six months because he was a preemie and was a bit on the smaller side.

My son, on the other hand, could turn his head and hold it up for brief periods when he was only a few days old. He could control his head movement sooner than most other babies could.

So, take a look at your own child to determine how much of a risk is there. 

If the car seat is positioned in an upright position, your newborn is at an increased danger of positional asphyxiation. However, revolutionary car seats are being designed that can lay flat like a cot instead of sitting upright.

This one is one of the more popular versions. They can be a bit pricey, but if you’re one to take plenty of road trips and want to take your newborn along, it can be well worth the additional cost. 

• The Infant Seat That Can Be Used as a Car Bed & Carrier!
• 3 Point Harness with Push Button Buckle.
• Installs Side Facing with LATCH Belt.
• Designed for use by children 5-20 lbs whose height is 19-26 inches.
• 28.75 x 15.5 x 8.25.

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

When you opt for a lie-flat car seat for newborns, you instantly eliminate the risk of your little one suffocating due to their position. In this situation, you can take your little one on long-distance trips as soon as you’re ready to. 

For those that are stuck with a long-distance trip without a lie-flat car seat, the risk is small. According to this study, only 3% of infants died this way in ten years.

It’s still a large enough risk that I wouldn’t be comfortable taking my newborn in a car seat for long periods without taking precautions, though. 

Newborns In Car Seats: Always Take Precautions

Sometimes, it can be unrealistic to not travel with a newborn baby for long periods of time, and the lie-flat car seat hasn’t been delivered yet.

If that’s the case, it doesn’t mean that you’re stuck at home or will have to delay a move. Instead, you can take these precautions for the one-time trip. 

Although car seats do not come with additional head support, and most pediatricians do not recommend them, it would be wise to use them on long car trips.

These provide additional support for your little one’s neck, preventing their head from falling to the side. 

• UNIQUE CUT-OUT DESIGN: The Boppy Head and Neck Support has a unique, patented cut-out. Designed to relieve pressure while keeping your babys head safely cradled. The product is endorsed by a Pediatrician.
• SUPPORT THROUGH TODDLERHOOD: The removable neck ring provides support through toddlerhood. Recommended age 0+ months.
• REVERSIBLE DESIGN: Comes with comfortable cotton on one side and cooling mesh on the other.
• MULTI-FUNCTION: Works with a 3- and 5-point harness system and is simple to install in any stroller, bouncer, or swing. The head support should only be used in the recline position for infants.
• EASY CARE, MACHINE WASHABLE: The head support is machine washable for easy care because little messes happen.

Some pediatricians recommend not leaving a newborn in a sitting up position for longer than 30 minutes. Others state that two hours is acceptable when in a reclined car seat.

Opt for taking a break every hour or two to take your little one out of the car seat. If possible, lay them flat. 

This shouldn’t be a problem for those traveling with a newborn, though. Most newborns need to be fed every two hours and sometimes changed in between.

When you pull over to change your baby, take them out of their car seat and lay them flat on the seat in the car. To feed them, do not cradle them in your arm as you normally would.

Instead, lay them on the seat in the car or in your lap. Then, gently lift their head up to prevent choking. (Feeding a newborn baby in a lie-flat position can increase the risk of choking.) This will give them the break that they need from being scrunched up in a car seat. 

When traveling long distances with a newborn in a car seat, make sure that someone can see them. If more than one person is going on the road trip, make sure that an adult sits next to them.

If not, pick up a mirror and velcro or tape it in place so that you can glance back to see your newborn. 

This will give you both peace of mind and can alert you if there is a problem. Someone sitting next to the baby can notice if the baby stops breathing, or begins to turn purple.

A mirror in the perfect position can let you see if your little one’s head falls over as well. 

• Extra-large convex mirror for a wide-angle view of your baby
• Clear-Sight Mirror for superior reflection and a distortion-free image
• Soft-Touch Frame is lightweight and energy-absorbing
• Multiple attachment options fit most vehicles. Child can see driver and their own reflection
• Crash-tested, shatter-resistant mirror for added safety

Travelling Long Distance With A Newborn

If you’re ready to take the leap and drive across the country with your newborn baby, it’s important that you’re prepared. Driving with a newborn baby is not the same as driving with an older child.

This article is packed with information, from a pack list to diaper changing tips for the car and more. In addition to that list, there are several other things to keep in mind when it comes to traveling with a newborn baby. 

The further you get away from larger cities, the further rest stops seem to get from each other. You might see one every sixty miles instead of every twenty miles.

This can be stressful when you don’t see a rest stop but it’s time to stop for a two-hour break. Instead, strategically plan your road trip by marking rest stops along the way.

If you get there before two hours, that’s fine. You can stretch your legs while you give your little one a chance to lay flat on their back before feeding time. 

Most people will enjoy their baby sleeping through the night on a long road trip, but this isn’t safe for newborns. In fact, pediatricians recommend never letting a baby sleep through the night in their car seat due to the position that they are in.

This makes it essential to stop every hour or two so that your little one can have some time laying flat on their back. They’ll need that break after being scrunched up in a car seat. 

Even if your little one is not sick when you leave, that doesn’t mean that you won’t need a few things while on the road. It’s a good idea to put together a baby first aid kit full of the necessities just in case you need them.

Bring along baby Tylenol, diaper rash cream, fingernail clippers, a thermometer, and other things that might come in handy while you’re on the road. It’s always better to have them and not need them instead of needing them and not having them. 

Traveling with a newborn in an upright car seat for long trips is discouraged, but sometimes it is unavoidable. If you find yourself in this situation, pick up a lie-flat car seat before the big trip.

When that isn’t an option, take extra precautions to help keep your little one safe. 

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Family discovers abandoned newborn near walking trail: ‘I noticed two little feet’

KATY, Texas (KHOU) – A Texas couple made a startling discovery on their morning walk over the weekend.

An abandoned baby with her umbilical cord still attached was found, the couple said.

Daniela Fedele decided to take a walk with her family near Katy on Saturday morning before it got too hot outside.

It’s something they do often.

“Went down the street Casa Martin, over the little bridge into, and then we turn left going towards Greenhouse,” Fedele said.

On their way back home, they noticed a towel on the ground.

Their 3-year-old daughter was riding her bike towards it when they quickly realized what was there.

“I noticed two little feet moving, and then my husband was right behind me with the dogs and I yelled to my husband, ‘Oh my God. A baby. A baby,’” Fedele said. “And then my husband was like, ‘Call 911. Call 911.’ And that’s what we did.”

Surveillance video from a neighbor shows the moment Fedele and her husband rushed to help after spotting the newborn.

“Once my husband went ahead and picked up the baby, he found the nearest tree right there, the house down the street. He found a little shade,” Fedele said.

Fedele said her family was in shock, and as a mother, she found it difficult to understand why someone would do this.

“This image has been going on through my head so many times, and this is like, ‘How can you do that?’ I was shocked. I was mad. I was upset,” Fedele said.

She said she is thankful they were at the right place, at the right time.

“I don’t know, made us go for a walk this morning. We usually do, but sometimes you just don’t want to do it. Things happen, but this morning, we’re like, ‘No, let’s go ahead and get out,’” Fedele said.

She had a message to share.

“There is options. I mean, you can drop it off at a fire station, a police station, a hospital. I don’t know, like do something, but don’t leave the baby,” Fedele said.

Like many states, Texas does have a safe harbor law that allows parents to give up newborns with no repercussions.

The same camera that captured the moment Fedele discovered the baby also caught the person who left the newborn behind.

Police are searching for the suspect.

Copyright 2024 KHOU via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.

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Woman Thought Baby's Facial Feature Was Trait from Dad, Then Realizes It's Symptom of Childhood Dementia (Exclusive)

A TikTok video and a trip to the pediatrician ultimately led to Lydia Rachal's diagnosis with the rare Sanfilippo syndrome

A Louisiana mom of two helped uncover her daughter's diagnosis with a serious brain and nervous system disorder after seeing a TikTok video.

Now, she's taking to social media to help other moms spot the signs.

Morgan Rachal says that her 18-month-old daughter, Lydia, had a few health issues typical of a baby — including gastrointestinal issues and trouble sleeping — along with prominent eyebrows, which she thought were just a genetic trait from her dad.

"Everyone always said, 'She looks just like her daddy,' " Rachal says in a video posted to TikTok, as photos of her daughter's prominent eyebrows are shown.

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HopeforLydia/TikTok

But in March, Rachal's mom sent her a TikTok video of a little girl who had been diagnosed with Sanfilippo syndrome, a serious brain and nervous system disorder that causes childhood dementia.

"I looked at it and I just saw Lydia's face in this child," Rachal tells PEOPLE. "I had never thought anything was wrong with her before — she met all her milestones. She has had frequent ear infections, constipation issues and she has sleep disturbances. But those are all common things with babies."

But the video made her think twice so, she took Lydia to her pediatrician just one week later and showed him the TikTok, inquiring about how to get genetic testing done to rule out Sanfilippo.

"He said he had never seen anyone with it, and had never even been asked about it," Rachal, who also has a 4-year-old daughter named Heidi, tells PEOPLE.

After the doctor did some research, he said he didn't feel confident enough to rule it out, sending Rachal, her husband and Lydia to another hospital for blood and urine testing.

Following a series of tests and a "week of nerves," Lydia was diagnosed with Sanfilippo.

Since then, Rachal says the family has been referred to a New Orleans-based genetics specialist, who told the family they caught the disorder early enough that it hadn't yet caused brain damage.

"They told us it hasn't affected her brain yet," Rachal says. "It usually doesn't start affecting them until age 3 or 4 — that's when children with Sanfilippo start to regress."

Still, Lydia's prognosis remains unclear. As Rachal explains, the toddler has Type B Sanfilippo: "it means she is missing an enzyme, which makes it harder for her body to break down certain sugars."

There is currently no cure and treatment options are limited, but include clinical trials for enzyme replacement and gene therapy.

"Those treatments could ultimately slow down the regression and prolong her life," Rachal says.

Now, Rachal finds herself in "a limbo period," active in fundraisers to allow Lydia to participate in future clinical trials if she is approved, and trying to raise awareness about Sanfilippo on social media.

"It's so rare that a lot of moms have told me their child was first diagnosed with autism because that's how it presents," Rachal says. "I hope that by sharing our story, we can bring awareness and ultimately that will lead to more research of the disorder."

She continues: "I'm glad my mom didn't wait to send me that video. If someone reaches out to you with concerns about your child, it's because they love you ... Though it is a scary journey, I am glad my mom sent me that TikTok. I was able to advocate for my daughter and get the early diagnosis."

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Traveling During a Heat Wave: Tips and Precautions

It’s summer and the temperature is rising. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself and your vacation dollars.

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By Ceylan Yeğinsu

Follow our updates for the latest on the heat wave across the U.S.

It’s set to be another scorching summer, with extreme and prolonged heat waves forecast across many parts of the United States and Europe.

The stifling conditions could impact millions of travelers and wreak havoc on vacations at some of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. Multiple heat-related deaths among tourists have been reported in Greece and Saudi Arabia in June following extreme temperatures in the Middle East and Aegean regions. Even those who have booked trips in traditionally cooler places may not be spared from the summer heat because of the growing unpredictability of weather patterns.

Here are some tips on how to manage high temperatures when traveling in a heat zone.

Check government guidance

If a heat wave has been forecast at your destination, check government websites before embarking on your trip to give yourself plenty of time to plan and adapt. In extreme temperatures, governments often issue heat advisories warning people to stay indoors during peak heat hours and provide resources to help residents and visitors stay cool. In the United States, the National Integrated Heat Health Information System has a website with information and tools to help prevent illness and death during excessive heat.

Tourist attractions also provide important updates about the conditions at the sights, including any scheduled closures, as a precaution against high temperatures. Some cities grappling with intensive heat, like Los Angeles, Miami, Athens and Melbourne, have assigned chief heat officers to prepare for the heat waves and lead emergency responses.

Avoid peak sun hours

It may seem obvious, but staying outdoors for prolonged periods of time when the sun is at its peak can put many at risk of heat exhaustion. Even if the temperature does not read exceptionally high, excessive dry heat or humidity can make an environment feel hotter than it is.

Travel advisers are adapting itineraries, putting sightseeing in the cooler early morning and evening hours and prebooking tickets for their clients so they do not have to wait in long lines.

“We tend to do activities and tours in the morning, then stop for lunch, and in the mid- to late afternoon you either go back to the hotel to sit by the pool or go to the beach,” said Gary Portuesi, a co-managing partner at Authentic Explorations, a New York-based travel company that specializes in Europe.

Hiking in the middle of the day is also not advised. On June 5, Dr. Michael Mosley, a British medical journalist, died during an afternoon hike in a 104-degree heat wave on the Greek Island of Symi. Four more tourists, including an American man , have recently died in Greece as temperatures have continued to soar.

“I would always recommend going hiking with a certified local guide and under no circumstances alone,” said Franziska Basso, a Milan-based travel adviser for Dreamsteam Exclusive Travel . “Of course, avoid the hottest hours of the day. Go hiking very early in the morning. And always stick to official hiking trails.”

In some European cities, including Paris and London, air conditioning is not a given, so check if it is available before booking a hotel, restaurant or transportation to ensure you have a cool place to find respite from the scorching heat. Visiting a museum or other indoor sightseeing is another good option, but expect crowds at peak hours.

Stay hydrated and take a siesta

Dehydration and heatstroke are among the most common causes of hospitalization during heat waves and can be prevented by staying hydrated and limiting alcohol consumption. During meals, consider eating foods like melons, cucumbers and celery as it can help to sustain hydration throughout the day. Always carry a water bottle with you and consider a parasol and portable fan to help keep you cool and shaded when outdoors.

While your itinerary may be packed with activities and tours, the heat can take a toll on stamina, so consider following the European siesta ritual by breaking up your day with a short nap.

“I’m telling my clients to adapt their itineraries and take advantage of the after-lunch siesta and then push their tours to later in the day when it’s cooler,” said Sarah Johnson, who owns Paper Ink & Passports Travel, a luxury travel company based in Pennsylvania. “There’s a reason they’ve been doing it in Spain and Italy for generations. Walking around in the midday heat and waiting in line could really hurt some people.”

Wear cool clothing

The National Weather Service recommends lightweight, loosefitting, light-colored clothing for outdoor use as it reflects heat and sunlight . Hats and sunscreen are also recommended to protect the face and scalp from harmful UV rays.

Just because it’s hot, doesn’t mean it will be dry. Heat waves can bring torrential rainfall, so be prepared.

“My biggest advice to travelers is to be prepared — for hot or cold, dry or wet weather since one never knows,” said Laurel Brunvoll, the owner of Unforgettable Trips , a Maryland-based travel agency. “Pack layers.”

Book a flexible trip

Even after taking all the right precautions, traveling in a heat wave can be miserable, making it worthwhile to make flexible bookings and purchase “cancel for any reason” travel insurance to have the option to postpone your trip to a cooler time.

Sensible Weather, a Los Angeles-based start-up that provides a weather guarantee for vacations and outdoor experiences, has recently added high heat protection to its coverage. Travelers booking through a Sensible partner in the United States will be able to add daily protection that will allow them to claim reimbursement for a booking if the temperature exceeds a threshold that is usually set between 90 and 100 degrees.

“Our customers can still go on their vacations, but if it’s too hot for some hours of the day and unpleasant to go outside, you can hang out in the air-conditioning and we will reimburse you,” said Nick Cavanaugh, the company’s founder, who was developing the product while caught in a heat wave in Barcelona last year. Those on package tours are reimbursed for the average daily rate of their entire trip for each day that surpassed the heat threshold.

For more travel advice, visit our collection of Travel 101 tips and hacks.

Ceylan Yeginsu is a travel reporter for The Times who frequently writes about the cruise industry and Europe, where she is based. More about Ceylan Yeğinsu

What to Know During Extreme Heat

Staying Safe:  We asked emergency room doctors for their advice on protecting yourself  from dehydration, heat stroke and other serious health problems.

Heat’s Physical Toll:  High temperatures can put the body under immense stress. Here’s what it looks like .

Medications:  Certain antidepressants, blood pressure pills and other drugs make you more susceptible to heat-related illness .

Travel:  Stifling conditions could impact your travel plans this summer. Use these tips and precautions  to protect yourself and your vacation dollars.

Sunscreen:  How much SPF is enough? Is mineral better than chemical? We have the answers to some common questions about sunscreen .

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Ashley benson denies taking ozempic after shedding baby weight.

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Ashley Benson shut down rumors she’s taking Ozempic .

Four months after the birth of her first child , fans questioned if the “Pretty Little Liars” alum was using the weight loss drug to shed her baby weight when she posed for a slimmed-down selfie.

“My fav hat,” she captioned the Instagram snap uploaded on Monday, showcasing a red and white hat paired with a cropped tank top and low-rise sweatpants.

Benson, 34, left several of her followers dumbfounded by her sizzling mom body with one person questioning, “how was she JUST pregnant?!?”

“How you look so good after having a baby girl tell me 😭” another asked while another commented, “Reminding everyone she just had a baby 4 months ago******* hello??? 🔥😍❤️🍯🥟”

However, it was one comment where a person speculated she was on Ozempic that had her speaking out.

After admitting she wasn’t upset at the assumptions via Instagram Story, she said she simply wanted to set the record straight.

“Comments like this are so funny to me,” Benson wrote. “I know a lot of people take Ozempic and that’s totally fine. To each their own. But don’t discredit people who also work very hard to get their body back like I’ve done with mine.”

She continued, “Getting back to work forced me to focus on my health and working out and I wanted to feel confident and good about myself.”

The mom of one credited her success to wellness guru Melissa Wood-Tepperberg’s fitness app.

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Benson also shared a pic of herself alongside a yoga mat, some free weights and a resistance band.

“Nothing makes me happier,” she captioned the second Story.

The “Spring Breakers” star and her husband, Brandon Davis, 43, welcomed their bundle of joy in February.

The couple — who wed in November 2023 — haven’t disclosed further details about their child, aside from the fact that they welcomed a baby girl.

For Father’s Day, Benson gave a shoutout to Davis on social media Sunday, sharing a snap of the actor holding their daughter , whose face was covered by a flower emoji.

“From the moment I was pregnant you never left my side,” she wrote. “Came to every single appointment because you knew how scared I was. You showed up for me every time and I knew you were going to do the same for our daughter and be the best daddy to her “

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Black veterans take 'honor flight' to Washington monuments to celebrate Juneteenth

Marian Dee Elder's brother bet against her.

She was told she would never make it through basic training.

But today, the 69-year-old has a combined 22 years in three different military branches under her belt. On Wednesday, she will be part of a group of 26 Black veterans who will fly to Washington, D.C., as part of an honor flight to commemorate Black service members on Juneteenth. The group will travel from Atlanta to visit the World War II Memorial , Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia and other landmarks in a "day of honor" to recognize their service .

The attendees of this week's trip include a 101-year-old veteran, three recipients of the Purple Heart, including one who also received a Bronze Star and four women.

"I really feel it's an honor and a privilege that they actually selected me," Elder said.

Elder first heard about the trip from a network of women's organizations she is involved with in Atlanta. When a link popped up from one group on Facebook, she filled out an application.

It's the first Juneteenth trip organized by the Honor Flight Network, a program launched in 2005 to fly veterans to the nation's capital on all-expenses-paid trips to celebrate their service. Juneteenth marks the anniversary of June 19, 1865, when Union troops announced that more than 250,000 Black Americans in Texas were no longer enslaved, years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Also known as "Second Independence Day," it was declared a federal holiday three years ago.

John McCaskill, a member of the National Board of Directors of the Honor Flight Network, said he conceived of the idea for this week's trip several years ago as he asked why more African American servicemembers hadn't participated in the program. Part of their reluctance, McCaskill said, could be rooted in the deficit of appreciation shown to them historically.

"We're hoping that this will help inspire others who have earned this honor to become a part of it as well," he said.

More: 4-legged lifesavers: Service dogs are working wonders for veterans with PTSD, study shows

Decades of service

After an initial stint in the Army, Elder joined the Navy in 1980 and the Air Force as a flight nurse in 1984. Her service allowed her to travel the world – she visited England, Germany, France, Italy, Turkey, Alaska, Hawaii and multiple other U.S. states.

She enlisted in the Army in 1973 fresh out of high school, following in the footsteps of her older brother, who had joined a couple of years earlier.

"He actually made a bet that, as a female, I would not even make it through basic training, that it was too rough for women," Elder said. "He never paid me."

Elder said she faced discrimination throughout her time serving – for both her race and her gender.

As a medic stationed in Germany soon after she joined up, Elder was forced to sleep in the back of the ambulance at night during field maneuvers while her male colleagues slept in a tent.

The opportunities available to her were also limited more than her white or male counterparts, Elder said. "When I first went in, there were only certain fields that women could go in," she said. Elder chose medical.

More: 'We can do better' Donations roll in for 90-year-old veteran working in sweltering heat

Black members fought wars abroad, racism at home

Although Black Americans had served in the military "since that first shot fired from Lexington, Massachusetts, in 1775," they couldn't fight on a legal basis until the Civil War, McCaskill said.

Racism in the military continued through the decades. During World War II, McCaskill said, Black service members of the military fought "fascism abroad and racism at home."

Elder said the landscape has improved since she first joined, but women and Black service members still haven't been recognized as much as others. "Sometimes, even when I'm wearing a military hat or something, people will ask me, did I serve, or did my husband serve?" she said.

It took Elder nearly a full decade to receive full compensation for her service-connected disabilities. "I had to apply several times and appeal several decisions," she said.

Elder said she counts this week's trip as a welcome token of appreciation for her service. She lived in Washington as a member of the Air Force, and last visited the city for a Memorial Day parade last month.

This time around, she's most excited to visit the Women's Memorial. Arlington National Cemetery is also at the top of her travel list.

"Even though I was stationed in that area, I've never seen the changing of the guard," she said.

Cybele Mayes-Osterman is a breaking news reporter for USA Today. Reach her by email at [email protected]. Follow her on X @CybeleMO.