Planning a road trip with baby? ‘Snow big deal.
OK, maybe it’s a semi-big deal. Traveling can be stressful - add in kids, and the stress plus stress equals greater than the sum of the parts. But with some planning ahead and with some of our pro tips, you can decrease the stress level, and ramp up the fun. Here are 6 tips for how to reroute from tense-town to paradise city…
1. Car-ma is a witch
When planning a trip, think about all the details before you even set foot in the car. That means including the car itself. Don’t let your car be your weakest link. We can’t prepare for everything, but the more we prep, the more we can (try to) prevent surprises. Get your car serviced ahead of your trip, make sure your tank and tires are full and that everything is in working order. Also make sure you have a breakdown kit geared at winter trips, including tools for cleaning ice off your windshield and anything else that you may need for the way. Think of the car as another partner on your journey. The same way you want to coax all the passengers into submission cooperative mindsets, you want to pamper and prep your car so it cooperates with your plans.
2. Plan your route, old school.
Be prepared for things to change, but that being said, plan your route ahead of time, down to the gas stations where you’ll refill your tank.
You may or may not remember the days before Google Maps and Waze, but once upon a time, people printed out directions or maps with arrows and instructions to make sure they didn’t lose their way. The better you know how to get where you’re getting, and where you want to stop along the way, the fewer decisions you need to make while tired and multi-tasking on the road. And if you’re secure in the decisions you made, it’s much easier to sell them to the passengers in the back whining that it’s been a million miles since you stopped for a snack. You can calmly and confidently tell them, in fact, it’s only been 12. 😁
Of course, still use your navigation app of choice, but if you happen to run into a patch without cell service or your phone falls out of your hand into the no-man’s land between your chair and the floor, you’ll still have a general idea of where you’re supposed to go. Old school wisdom.
Of course, leave room for flexibility and in-the-moment decisions and plans to change, but knowing where you’re going and what’s worth seeing along the way will help reduce anxiety.
Check out some of our more general recommendations for travel with a baby here.
3. Expect the unexpected.
We can only control so much. But preparation goes a long way. The forethought we give to making sure our vehicle can handle the road should be doubled for making sure our families can. We don’t want anything, or anyone, breaking down! Keep a bag in the trunk for emergencies, whether that be getting stuck in the snow or wet pants. Snacks, a change of clothes, wipes, a clean blanket, a wet bag, and other such necessities can help tide you over if you set out on time but the weather has other plans…Nobody’s fun when they’re hangry, or stuck in accident-ridden clothes, or covered in cereal crumbs. As we know, with babies especially, 10 minutes’ thought ahead of time can often save three times that in tantrums.
4. Baby, it's cold outside.
Remember that the temperature in your front seat is different from what baby's rockin’ in the back. Many cars have different temperature control systems for the front versus the back, or even for each section or seat. Each time you (re)enter the car, touch baby’s chest and assess to what temperature to set the part of the car in which (s)he’s riding for comfort, remembering that the layers you can wear outside, you cannot wear in the car. (More on that later). Also, while you can find a way to help baby be more comfortable and even snuggly, remember that you should not attach anything to the car seat that becomes a risk. Yes, that’s a blanket statement. Yes, as always, we’re coming in hot with the puns. Yep, that was another one. Are you counting? You probably shouldn’t.
You may also want to turn on and pre-heat the car before getting in.
5. Don't forget the unforgettable.
It’s important to make enough stops to stretch your legs and refuel, but when rushing to quickly grab a coffee to keep you going, don’t forget something even more important than caffeine. Always check before getting out that you have your most precious cargo with you. Of course, this sounds obvious, but we all know that the same way it’s possible to lock our car keys in the car, it’s possible to pop into a roadside station to ask where the exit you missed is and miss something more important along the way…
With everything you’re juggling, let us take one thing off your plate - our Smart seat has forgotten child alerts. You may forget the lyrics to your toddler’s favorite song despite singing it 37 times a day, but you won’t forget your little one in the car.
5. Jacket OFF!
Getting back into the car after exploring the country’s largest ball of twine or stopping for some french fries? Make sure jackets and heavy coats are removed before going in the seat so you can get them harnessed in snugly. It’s worth repeating that, while coats and jackets and soft snuggly sweatshirts feel like a necessity to keep baby warm, they are not meant to be worn under the car seat harness and can interfere with the safety of your seat in a collision. While the magnetic components of the babyark harness make it much less of a hassle to go through the ins-and-outs of road trips, facilitating easier buckling in of baby, it’s our job as parents to make sure we remove and return the coats upon entry and exit. Our quick lock chest clip helps guide correct placement of the harness for an extra piece of assistance, but remember - heavy outer layers off first!
Drive On
Now that we’ve covered some safety tips for the road trip, don’t forget to take into consideration how you keep your kids entertained! In the vein of being old school, interactive car games are always fun with older kids, while older kids often enjoy devices. With a well-planned route ahead of time, you can also give your kids clarity on how long each segment of the trip should take, and allocate fun and rest to certain sections, including rewards for all of you for surviving.
Winter isn’t coming, it’s very much here, but with a plan, a smile, and a lot of patience, a road trip can be a fun way to explore new destinations and enjoy new experiences with your kids.
Ready for your babyark? Smart!
