help! driving with an 8mo

[moongloe]

we have to drive from southern california to oregon (and back) for my mom's funeral. my lo is 8mo, and doesn't like to be out of our arms for long. i am freaking at what his reaction to a day and a half in his carseat will be.
we cannot fly there, because i have a severe phobia to flying, and the train is too expensive.
ideas? help?

[Hannah'sMommy]

We haven't driven that far, but from our experience with driving 3.5 hours when our DD was 3 months old, we know that frequent stops/breaks are good, and leave yourself as much time as possible to get there. Our DD likes the Tiny Love Musical Nature Stroll, an arch that attaches to the carseat with hanging toys. It's good because they can't throw the toys on the floor. I would also try bringing a bunch of toys, and change them out frequently, so they're "new" to him. Having someone in the backseat also helps

Good luck!

[1stBabyAt39]

We drove from northern CA to southern CA (about 7.5 hours each way) when DD was 6 months old, and I worried about it too. Turns out she slept a lot of the time. We stopped every few hours to nurse and change diapers, and she did just fine. Shen she was awake, she enjoyed looking out the window at everything going by.

Definitely bring a variety of his favorite toys, and have someone sit in the back with him if you think it will make him happier. Good luck, and I'm sorry about the circumstances of your trip.

[Flower of Bliss]

I'm so sorry for your loss

When DD1 was a baby we did a 5-6 hour trip (each way) one weekend every month. I quickly learned that the night time driving trick so many people use didn't work well for her at all. She wanted to nurse frequently and was used to being on me that whole time and it was awful. However, she did great if we left shortly before her normal morning nap time. I'd nurse her right before going, and she'd fall asleep in the car not too long into the drive. We'd stop about half way, eat lunch, nurse, etc, and she'd go back to sleep not too long into the second leg of the drive. DH and I got some of our most peaceful alone time during those drives, with DD sleeping in the back.

I'd recommend planning drive time around normal sleep times that aren't regular fussy or cluster feeding times, and be prepared for frequent stops.

Packing plenty of snacks for you so you don't need to stop, and can stop anywhere and not be worried about food could really help. If your little one is really eating solids, snacks for him too. If possible, it may help to have someone ride in the back with him. Music he likes may really help too.

I wish you a peaceful drive.

[Theia]

The hardest part of long distance trips for my DD at that age was being so confined and unable to move. She wasn't walking and I wasn't about to let her crawl around a rest area, it was also cold and wet at the time. But maybe if you can plan long stops and wear your DC around rest areas or whatever on short walks, that might help. Or if you have weather appropriate shoes for him, if your DC is able, maybe you can hold hands and "walk" for a few minutes in the rest area so that your DS can at least get a bit of exercise. Frequent stops (2-3 hours) and expect for them to be longer than usual. However, if my DD is sleeping, I keep driving until she wakes

The other tips are also really good. I still use the new toys trick with my toddler when we make our long drives.