We are taking our first road trip tomorrow - my grandparents are finally getting to meet their first great grandchild! 
It's a 5 hour drive and we'll be gone for 4 days. Anyone have any tips or advice? Which things would you pack and things you would skip? I feel like we're bringing everything but the kitchen sink!
ETA- He'll be nearly 12 weeks
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
Bring a towel, change of clothes and a trash bag in case your LO is car sick and you can't stop the car in time!
Unfortunately, I've dealt with this too many times!
pear / 1664 posts
We took two 300 mile road trips with my LO back and forth from the airport when she was 9 and 10 weeks old. My tips are:
---Stop often, but don't stop every time she fusses. You'll NEVER get there.
---If it's hot where you're going, consider buying a stroller fan and clipping it so it circulates air in the back of the car. I'm glad we did. It was 100 degrees outside and it tends to be hot in the back seat. They're cheap little things but helpful.
---Don't bring anything that never works for you at home!! In the car it isn't a big deal like flying, but I mean, everyone INSISTED I bring my bjorn sling. It never worked well for us at home. Yet I hauled it across the country with me and guess what. We never used it.
--Bring an easily accessible extra set of clothing for you and anyone traveling with you. At least a shirt or sundress. Also, 2 extra outfits for your LO. And if LO is a spitter, put a bib on for the car. My kid is always soaked after even a short car ride, otherwise.
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
Make sure you have a bottle ready, change of clothes, extra diapers, wipes accessible.
I would only bring something for LO to sleep in while there, and one "calming" gear such as bouncer, stroller, assuming she has laundry don't go too crazy with clothes. How will you do bath time? White noise? A few toys.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
Have fun! We did that distance when she was around 8 weeks.
-- Have a bag in the car for stops with plenty of diapers/wipes.
-- Make a few music CD's with fun kids songs that you can sing to the baby but also maybe some lullaby music.
-- Think about where the sun will be on baby while driving. For example, if you are driving west in the evening, with the sun setting behind you it could be in baby's eyes.
papaya / 10473 posts
@locavore_mama: We decided to bring the tub sling since bath time is essential to getting him down at night. DH has a white noise app on his phone, so that will be no problem. He sleeps in a Rock n Play, so hopefully it fits well in our trunk!
papaya / 10473 posts
@T.H.O.U.: Good call on the sun! It's a direct east/west route there and back. I wouldn't have even thought of that!
pear / 1664 posts
@grizz: I fit our rock n play IN MY SUITCASE for our flight. My dad was impressed. lol
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
@LazyLightning: woah! haha
and you need to change your avatar to a lightning bolt!
squash / 13199 posts
we took our first road trip when she was 7 months and it was a 12 hour drive. For us it worked out best to travel at night, and to take EVERYTHING we could possibly need.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
@Mrsbells: I agree, traveling during night time or during a long sleep period was KEY for us at that age.
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