5 tips to Keep Parents Sane During a Long Car Trip with a Baby

Since Finn was born 5 months ago, we’ve done a fair few long car trips. Canberra to Melbourne, Canberra to Sydney, Canberra to Port Macquarie. I’ve learnt a few things that should help you new parents avoid vowing you’ll never again do a long car trip with a baby. The goal is to help keep you (and of course your precious cargo) sane, safe and happy.

1. Allow yourself additional travel time

On average we add about 2.5-3 hours on top of our usual travel + stops time for a 5-8 hour journey. Feeding, changing, resting and being stimulated in a new environment all takes time. To help with this, plan your stops to be something enjoyable for YOU. Yes ladies, read ‘you have permission to peruse at the antique shops you’ve always dreamt of as you pass through town’. Other ideas are stopping at a nice coffee shop or going for a walk in the bush or along the beach.

2. Be prepared with a variety of toys

Distraction with toys that make noise are my life savers, especially from about 3-4 months old. You will also need a range of toys that are different textures, shapes, colours and ones that baby can have a good gnaw on if they are teething.

3. Safe and comfortable car seat

Travelling with a baby can be nerve wrecking for new parents (speaking from first hand experience! I think it was 2 months before I drove with Finn). Their safety and comfort is your number one concern. So choose a car seat accordingly. I use the Maxi-Cosi Moda (RRP $599) – suitable for 0-4 years. This was gifted to me by Maxi-Cosi. Check your local stockist here.

Please consult with a professional to ensure car seat has been fitted correctly

Opt for the newest safety technology – Air Protect

The latest award winning safety technology is Air Protect Side Impact Protection. Air Protect is designed to reduce the severity of side impact crash forces by absorbing the energy and transferring that energy away from the child’s head. It does this by extending ride-down time, this is the amount of time it takes to slow a child’s movement in a crash. By extending ride-down time, Air Protect creates a slower, softer landing.

Side impact car accidents cause a third of all child crash fatalities, nearly all of which are due to head injuries. These are frightening facts, but brands such as Maxi-Cosi, Safety 1st and Mother’s Choice have been incorporating Air Protect™ Superior Side Impact Protection into their car seats to help provide a safer environment for children in cars.

The comfort

I’ve found Finn finds the Moda comfortable to travel in as there’s not excessive cushioning that bulks out for him to sink into. The only thing he hasn’t enjoyed is when getting into the seat I have to pull the buckle out from under his bum because the padded fabric under the buckle it won’t sit back without being held.

Otherwise, he enjoys it. It’s a sleek compact design covered in a beautiful wicking fabric to keep him cool (important when he gets himself worked up crying and as the car cools down when we first get in on summer days). The Moda also lies back more than other’s I’ve used because it has three angles to choose from for the recline making it suitable for various car seat designs. This is better for getting Finn to sleep and lets face it, I’m a fan of anything that encourages sleep!

4. Leave room for in-car nappy changes

Some stops there won’t be a mother’s room (or one that you want to use) or you may need to stop on the side of the road for a nappy change. For this reason, it’s a good idea to have a space ready that you can change bub in eg. in the boot, backseat or front seat with a few disposable change mats on hand.

Please consult with a professional to ensure car seat has been fitted correctly

5. Leave a spare seat next to bub

Sometime you’ll need to be entertainer/distractor so leave a seat free for one person to sit in the back with the baby.

IF ALL ELSE FAILS, be kind to yourself

Sometimes, no matter what toys you have, which car seat they’re in or how often you stop, parts of car trips will look like this: 

But know you are doing all you can and being a great parent! One day (maybe in 20 years when they have their own children), your little one will say thanks Mum… I can’t believe you did all this for me! In the mean time, take the smiles and the cuddles as a thank you and BELIEVE that you are doing a great job.

Do you have any other travel tips for new parents? Leave them in the comments below so we can all learn from your wisdom!