https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 06 May 2026 11:08:40 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-gear-road-trips-and-cars-will-my-car-work#post-1028446 Mon, 19 Aug 2013 07:33:02 +0000 mrsmate 1028446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You'll be fine. Get smaller profile car seats, roof rack and a Thule box. As for gear it's hard to say without knowing in advance your parenting style and your baby's temperament, but obviously it will help if you buy small, lightweight versions of everything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-gear-road-trips-and-cars-will-my-car-work#post-1028428 Mon, 19 Aug 2013 07:19:35 +0000 kml636 1028428@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't say you have to get something big right away, but eventually you are going to want something bigger. For me it was when she was 5 months. I had a super small Lexus is250 which I loved. One road trip in, and I sold it for a toyota highlander. For me, It was just too small but I also have a medium sized dog and all her gear that we take along with the baby stuff to our family's vacation home. So, I really didn't have enough room. Plus the third row is convenient when my in laws come, etc to drive everyone around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-gear-road-trips-and-cars-will-my-car-work#post-1028422 Mon, 19 Aug 2013 07:15:09 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1028422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it depends on how lightly you can pack. Like @looch: I typically bring a lot of my own stuff which isn't really needed. I like to pack my own diapers instead of buying them on the road since I buy them cheaper on Amazon. But that means I have to pack a case of diapers. </p> <p>I would really think about what stroller you buy. Its nice to haev a big one that can carry stuff while you are out on long trips, but they do take up more space in the trunk. Same thing for a travel bed/pack and play. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-gear-road-trips-and-cars-will-my-car-work#post-1028409 Mon, 19 Aug 2013 06:54:14 +0000 looch 1028409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've done several road trips and for a kid under 2, I usually like to have a place for them to sleep (pack and play), their bathtub, because you never know the kind of set up you will have and a place for them to eat. I also like to have an umbrella stroller, but depending on where you are going, you might not need it.</p> <p>We have a Toyota Venza, the trunk space isn't huge, but I am a strategic packer and often order/send stuff ahead. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-gear-road-trips-and-cars-will-my-car-work#post-1027823 Sun, 18 Aug 2013 16:16:03 +0000 bisous 1027823@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you pack lightly, I think it is do-able! DH and I just took our LO when she was 10 weeks on a road trip for 5 days in our Honda Accord. We were pretty packed in the car, but we made it work. As far as "essentials," I found traveling with an EBF baby to be very easy...I imagine once she is on solids, packing will be only slightly more complicated. We brought one large suitcase for all of our clothes, B-Agile stroller, boppy, playmat, breastpump (I didn't end up using it!), baby towel and bath supplies, pack n play, a couple grocery bags of food. Also had a diaper bag and kept extra diapers in the suitcase.</p> <p>After our trip, we figured we could definitely do it again. We won't consider a bigger car until we have a second kid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-gear-road-trips-and-cars-will-my-car-work#post-1027800 Sun, 18 Aug 2013 16:02:32 +0000 jackieomy 1027800@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have an impreza outback sport, and fitting a rear facing caraway in it is really tight. The backseat isn't deep enough to fit our carseat in the center. It fits behind the passenger seat, which has to be moved up so it makes riding in the passenger seat pretty uncomfortable. You may want to test out carseats for fit before you decide on one. It makes it so my car isn't the car that we all go in, let alone the "road trip car." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-gear-road-trips-and-cars-will-my-car-work#post-1027768 Sun, 18 Aug 2013 15:35:54 +0000 heffalump 1027768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We managed to pack for camping with our baby in our small car. But I will say since then we've bought a mini van....... not for road trips but because we also have a big dog, and knew we wanted more kids, so that just made more sense for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-gear-road-trips-and-cars-will-my-car-work#post-1027753 Sun, 18 Aug 2013 15:29:35 +0000 Silva 1027753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sure it would be fine. We have a toyota matrix, which is a little bigger than the impreza and it works fine. We keep the stroller (a bob, so bigger than yours) in the back, and then put bags in the seat next to the car seat. We co-bed, so we don't bring a pack n play. The longest I"ve gone for is 4 days, and we had plenty of room.<br /> As for road tripping with a kid- it definitely depends on the kid. Our daughter will usually sleep in the car if I time it right (with her naps). But she cried for 3 hours straight on the way home from our 5-hour trip. I stopped every hour to take her out, feed her, play, change diaper, etc. But every time I put her back in she started crying again. So...who knows. On the way there, she did great- I stopped 3 times during the 5-hour trip, and she only cried for maybe 20 minutes total. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-gear-road-trips-and-cars-will-my-car-work#post-1027748 Sun, 18 Aug 2013 15:24:55 +0000 ALV91711 1027748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I brought DS on a 15 hour car trip at 10 weeks with what we need for the summer as we are staying at my mom's.</p> <p>I just brought a smaller stroller, pnp, bouncy chair, activity gym, some toys and clothes. I didn't bring a tonne of clothes for myself, pretty much 1 weeks worth. </p> <p>We will probably be going on a week road trip every year to visit our family. You don't need to have every single gadget for a week, just what is needed. I also got my mom to pick up things like diapers, wipes, bath stuff before we got here so I wouldn't have to pack it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-gear-road-trips-and-cars-will-my-car-work#post-1027739 Sun, 18 Aug 2013 15:17:46 +0000 AmeliaBedilia 1027739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I drive a Subaru Impreza (small sedan) that I LOVE. We are TTC. We go on week long road trips a few times a year and hope to do this after baby comes, since many family and friends are scattered and this is the best way to see them. Since my car is less than 2 years old, I really don't want to get a new car. DH's car isn't any bigger than mine. We really like smaller cars due to environmental impact, and ease of driving and parking. We pack lightly, and have room to spare now, but I wonder if it is enough. We have a B agile for stroller, which doesn't take up much room. My questions:</p> <p>1. What are the absolute essentials for a week with a child under 2? What are the "really nice to have" items?</p> <p>2. Can this be done in my car or do you think a bigger one will be needed?</p> <p>3. Are we crazy to think of taking a small child on a road trip? I don't want to get a bigger car for road trips and then realize it's too much of a pain.</p> <p>Thanks so much! </p>