https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 23:51:30 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/surviving-a-long-car-trip-with-a-10-month-old#post-766171 Tue, 07 May 2013 15:56:40 +0000 Honeybee 766171@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a similar situation when DD was 11 months. My whole family decided to congregate at my aunt's house and spend one last weekend as a family with my grandma; she had cancer, and she didn't want to say goodbye too late, since she knew it would be a long, painful process. I'm glad we went because it was the only time my daughter got to meet her great-grandmother. It was a very special weekend for us, and something I would have regretted not doing.</p> <p>The drive for us was 12 hours each way. We had to make it a fast trip, since we only had three and a half days in a row off from work. We left on Thursday, right after DD's lunch, and she took a good nap in the car (maybe 3 hours?). We stopped once she got up and took a little break (15 minutes or so), then got back in the car and drove until dinner time (maybe 1.5-2 more hours). She did get cranky, but I just sat in the back with her and tried to keep her as happy as possible with books, puppets (she loved puppets at that age), and toys. After dinner, we did as much of her bedtime routine as we could (lotion, pajamas, bottle in the car) and then took off again. After a little fussing, she went to sleep. We drove for about 5 or 6 hours straight, and then stopped for gas. DD did wake up a bit at that point (gas stations are too brightly lit!), but she went right back to sleep once we got back on the highway. After that, we only had another couple hours, and we rolled into town around 2 am. We tried to get settled into the hotel room as quickly as possible, but DD did have a little trouble getting back to sleep. She did sleep in the next morning, though, which was nice. On the way home, we did the trip during the day. Our routine was basically: drive for 1-1.5 hours, stop for 15 minute diaper/snack, drive for 1-1.5 hours, stop for 15 minute stretch, get back in the car for a 2 hour nap, repeat. Coming home was fine, but driving by night was much easier. If your LO sleeps at all in the car, that's what I would suggest.</p> <p>ETA: Just saw that your LO doesn't sleep well in the car. In that case, I would use the schedule I posted above. Just planning on stopping about 15 minutes every hour to hour and a half. Try to plan activities she can do in her seat that take up a lot of time. In the past, I've wrapped the kids' toys in wrapping paper (which is very entertaining, if a little messy) and I've packed lots of snacks. Puppets are great travel toys because they can used as a lovey, to tell a story, or sing a song, and babies are fascinated with making them "work." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/surviving-a-long-car-trip-with-a-10-month-old#post-766163 Tue, 07 May 2013 15:52:36 +0000 BelugaBean 766163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LuLu Mom: She actually doesn't sleep well at all in the car (she will if she's really tired so she should nap to an extent). Otherwise, this would totally be an option as she sleeps 12-13 hours at night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/surviving-a-long-car-trip-with-a-10-month-old#post-766156 Tue, 07 May 2013 15:50:50 +0000 LuLu Mom 766156@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What abotu driving through the night, leave at her bedtime and do as many hours through the night as possible? As long as she sleeps in the you might be able to get a solid 8 hours in or so before needed to stop for her? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/surviving-a-long-car-trip-with-a-10-month-old#post-766144 Tue, 07 May 2013 15:44:51 +0000 BelugaBean 766144@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: Thank you. I think with LO it'd be easier to just drive. Not to mention cheaper. I think taking her through the airport plus what we need to bring would just be more of a hassle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/surviving-a-long-car-trip-with-a-10-month-old#post-766137 Tue, 07 May 2013 15:37:40 +0000 Bao 766137@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry to hear about your aunt. Is flying an option? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/surviving-a-long-car-trip-with-a-10-month-old#post-766126 Tue, 07 May 2013 15:34:40 +0000 BelugaBean 766126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So my mom and brother are going up to Michigan soon as long as everything falls into place this time. They're going because my aunt has cancer and is dying. She's doing better than they expected her to be at this point but my mom wants to go spend a few days with her. </p> <p>Part of me thinks it'd be easy to just say that I have a baby and not go because it'd be too hard. Deep down I think it'd be more because of the implications of this being the last time the three of us would see her. But I also want to see my aunt and I want LO to meet her because I'm the only one among my brother, my one cousin, and me to have a baby so I feel like she'd love to see her.</p> <p>So besides being able to take the trip emotionally, I have to think about the logistics of taking LO that far (it's a 12-13 hour drive if you make no stops). My mom and brother both understand that I would want to take two days to make the trip and I would want to stop every couple of hours to let LO get some air and space. We also talked about renting a minivan to give us space for ourselves and all the stuff I have to take for LO (pack n play, diapers, etc). They know I'll have to go by her schedule to keep her as happy as possible since it'll be really different for her anyway (new scenery and away from DH for a few days). I also know I need to kind of have a plan as to where LO will nap every day. </p> <p>Are there any other tips for taking LO up there? DH has to work so he wouldn't be able to come. He's waiting to go with us if a situation arises where he needs to be there (as in, if I need him to keep LO while I go to the funeral). Any advice? </p>