https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 09 May 2026 14:11:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-solo-car-trip-versus-solo-parenting-at-home#post-928958 Sat, 13 Jul 2013 15:26:56 +0000 sera_87 928958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: I left at nap time, drove 4 hours (he slept the entire time). Stopped &amp; let him out. Drove another 2 hours, he fell asleep until we hit crawl-along traffic for an hour &amp; then he cried the entire time. Which was the hardest part, tbh. After I got out of that traffic I stopped for a good half hour, and then continued on another 2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-solo-car-trip-versus-solo-parenting-at-home#post-928940 Sat, 13 Jul 2013 15:07:01 +0000 ALV91711 928940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd say go. It would be a good opportunity to see your family and it is always nice to have the extra help. Just be prepared to have an extra stop if LO is starting to get really cranky. Otherwise I'd say you could do it in two stretches. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-solo-car-trip-versus-solo-parenting-at-home#post-928867 Sat, 13 Jul 2013 13:59:53 +0000 Honeybee 928867@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: Hahaha, I've just had a lot of practice. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-solo-car-trip-versus-solo-parenting-at-home#post-928862 Sat, 13 Jul 2013 13:50:34 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 928862@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Honeybee: that's because you are superwoman! I did the trip to bear lake with two by myself and it was kind of a nightmare. They were four months and two years. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-solo-car-trip-versus-solo-parenting-at-home#post-928857 Sat, 13 Jul 2013 13:40:35 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 928857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would do as @Honeybee suggests! Even now I time things to coincide with my LO's one and only nap. He sleeps the first couple of hours, wakes up and is reasonably content for an hour, and then we stop for a long break (way longer than you would need at that age). And then he's reasonably content in the car for a little while again before he passes out for the night and I finish the drive in peace :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-solo-car-trip-versus-solo-parenting-at-home#post-928855 Sat, 13 Jul 2013 13:39:31 +0000 Foodnerd81 928855@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: the fact that its on the water and your parents will help definitely makes me say go! It's always nice to get away anyway. And I want to go to a beach house now but I have to stay within an hour or so of my hospital now- plus I don't know anyone with a beach house. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-solo-car-trip-versus-solo-parenting-at-home#post-928853 Sat, 13 Jul 2013 13:38:55 +0000 matador84 928853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: and make sure your gas tank is full before you leave! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-solo-car-trip-versus-solo-parenting-at-home#post-928850 Sat, 13 Jul 2013 13:37:53 +0000 matador84 928850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: none!! i was like ok, as long as he keeps sleeping, i'm going to keep driving. I remember on the 4 hour trip I had to pee SOOOOOOOOOO bad, but I didn't want to stop and just wanted to get there! Not everyone is like me, but hey--it worked for me! </p> <p>We even just got back from a 5.5 hour road trip this week, again solo, and only had to make one stop for a diaper change/snack/food--he slept the rest of the time and he is 10 months old! I think it's all about timing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-solo-car-trip-versus-solo-parenting-at-home#post-928848 Sat, 13 Jul 2013 13:37:20 +0000 Silva 928848@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Honeybee: great advice, thanks </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-solo-car-trip-versus-solo-parenting-at-home#post-928845 Sat, 13 Jul 2013 13:34:22 +0000 Honeybee 928845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, I would do the trip. I've done 5+ hours with the kids and just me before and it's usually pretty smooth. I use one of two schedules when 8 drive by myself to my parents' house (about 5 hours away): 1) I take the kids to lunch and leave right after. We drive about 4 hours straight (they usually sleep for at least 2-3 hours), then we stop for a 15 minute break and then finish out the last hour, or 2) we drive for about 1-1.5 hours and then stop for lunch. We stop for a full hour to eat and play and then get back into the car for the rest of the drive (which they usually sleep 2 or 3 hours of the remaining 4 hours of driving). With a 3 month old, I might do a schedule of leave right before a naptime (hoping she'll sleep in the car) and then drive another hour after she wakes up. Stop for a break until she's ready for another nap, again, and opefully you'll be there before she gets too grumpy, after the second nap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-solo-car-trip-versus-solo-parenting-at-home#post-928843 Sat, 13 Jul 2013 13:33:01 +0000 Andrea 928843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>From the sounds of it, I would definitely take the trip! If my parents were only 5 hrs away, I would totally go to stay with them when DH goes on business trips. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-solo-car-trip-versus-solo-parenting-at-home#post-928841 Sat, 13 Jul 2013 13:31:52 +0000 MrsRoo 928841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Take the trip! I just did this with my 11 week old while DH was out of town for work. Getting packed and out of the house was the most stressful part for me. My car trip was only 2 hours, an LO definitely needed a break by the time we got to my parents house. If you could take a nice lunch break halfway, I'm sure you'd do great! I actually got to really relax and enjoy my trip because my family was so excited to see LO that they were jumping at the chance to hold her or change diapers! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-solo-car-trip-versus-solo-parenting-at-home#post-928833 Sat, 13 Jul 2013 13:26:36 +0000 Silva 928833@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@matador84: How many stops did you take when your babe was 3 mos? I was thinking of just breaking it up in to two legs... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-solo-car-trip-versus-solo-parenting-at-home#post-928832 Sat, 13 Jul 2013 13:25:40 +0000 Silva 928832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsF: @Mrs. Yoyo: @ktdid23: It would be nice to be on the ocean for a few days- and with my parents there to help I might actually get to do a little sunbathing and relaxing on the deck! You are giving me confidence! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-solo-car-trip-versus-solo-parenting-at-home#post-928831 Sat, 13 Jul 2013 13:25:36 +0000 matador84 928831@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've done both. Personally, I've never regretted going on vacation! I made a 5.5 hr and another 4 hour (both one way) solo road trips when DS was 3 months old and was sooooo nervous but he slept the whole time. I left around 6a, nursed him, loaded the car the night before and just left. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-solo-car-trip-versus-solo-parenting-at-home#post-928828 Sat, 13 Jul 2013 13:24:37 +0000 Silva 928828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: She is usually pretty good in the car- often falls asleep. I was thinking if I did a morning shift and then got out for 1 1/2 hours or so for lunch, she might just take two long naps...probably wishful thinking, but maybe! My folks are great. I'm not sure how long we'd be at the house- a few days at least</p> <p>@Mrs. Jacks: He would be able to help during the evenings that he is just working the day shift- I'm mostly worried about the weekend. He is covering nights in inpatient from 6pm to 6am two weekends in a row (in addition to the regular outpatient days).</p> <p>@sera_87: How did you break up the car trip for your LO? I hate for her to be cramped in the seat that long </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-solo-car-trip-versus-solo-parenting-at-home#post-928825 Sat, 13 Jul 2013 13:22:51 +0000 ktdid23 928825@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Def take the trip! I did a 3.5 hr trip solo with a 6 month old and she slept most of the way :-) Go when you think your LO is most likely to sleep and just be ready to pull over to feed when you need to. Unless your LO has a major car aversion... go for it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-solo-car-trip-versus-solo-parenting-at-home#post-928823 Sat, 13 Jul 2013 13:22:08 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 928823@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would totally do the car trip as long as your LO is reasonably content in the car. I've actually done that many times with LO at a variety of ages while DH has been out of town for work. It makes the time go so much faster and it's so nice to see my parents/let LO see them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-solo-car-trip-versus-solo-parenting-at-home#post-928822 Sat, 13 Jul 2013 13:20:32 +0000 MrsF 928822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd probably take the car trip. Both tough options though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-solo-car-trip-versus-solo-parenting-at-home#post-928818 Sat, 13 Jul 2013 13:12:36 +0000 sera_87 928818@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not bad at all. I did an 8hr solo car trip when LO was 6 months. If your parents will help with baby &amp; your LO tolerates the car well enough I say go for it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-solo-car-trip-versus-solo-parenting-at-home#post-928817 Sat, 13 Jul 2013 13:11:44 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 928817@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've done both an I find the solo road trip was harder than staying at home solo... Because there was no one to help with screaming car babies! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-solo-car-trip-versus-solo-parenting-at-home#post-928813 Sat, 13 Jul 2013 13:07:49 +0000 Foodnerd81 928813@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How long would you stay at your parents house? Will they be helpful and are they already really eager to see the baby? I lean towards your parents house. Oh- and how is the baby in the car in general? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-solo-car-trip-versus-solo-parenting-at-home#post-928809 Sat, 13 Jul 2013 13:05:33 +0000 Silva 928809@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Take a 5-hour solo car trip with a 3 1/2 month old to go stay with my parents at their house on the coast for a few days</p> <p>or</p> <p>Stay home, while husband works the second half of a 14 day stretch (Mon-Thurs. days, Friday-Sunday nights). I get crazy bored at home, and we'd have to try to plan lots of things for the weekend days because my husband will be trying to sleep.</p> <p>so...how terrible does the car trip sound? </p>