Tips for Road Trip for 4 Month Old

when my daughter was about three and a half months old we took a trip to nebraska (where all my family lives). It was about a 12 hour trip. She slept almost through the entire trip and only woke up when she was hungry or needed to be changed. I would definately take the other ladies advise and get her used to sleeping in a pack and play before your trip and leave the dog either with friends or in a kennel. Most hotels dont allow animals and you don't want to have to worry about your dog while your trying to visit and have a good time with your family. Good luck, I hope you have a nice vacation.

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My husband and I drove to Hershey, PA from Michigan when my daughter was almost three months old. She slept most of the time and only woke up when she was hungry or needed to be changed. We knew it would be more challenging and we planned on stopping every two or three hours to take care of the baby. We also bought the canned formula in her brand and I took dish soap to wash out the bottles. We took the pack-n-play for her to sleep in too...although many hotels have those available. If you have an easy-going baby you shouldn't have anything to worry about. Same goes for your dog...if he is an easy-going dog it should be fine. He will probably love that you are stopping at the rest stops so he can run around a little. You'll just have to plan ahead and find a hotel that accepts dogs. There are a few websites out there where you can search for pet-friendly hotels. letsgopets.com petswelcome.com. Good luck and have fun!!

1 mom found this helpful

We went on a 12 hour road trip with my little one several times. I always rode in the back seat with him and brought plenty of toys and books to entertain him. He slept a lot too. We had a little dog with us too. Don't worry, it will work out. I just have my little one sleep with me when we are traveling.

put the dog inthe kennel. traveling with a babyis hard enough. the baby will be fine inthe hotel. bring a pack and play or playpen that she can sleep in. maybe have her sleep in the pack and play a couple times at home to get used to it.

I bought formula in 8 oz ready to serve cans to just pour in bottles so we didnt have to worry about keeping her formula cold or spoilage. someone should sit inthe back seat with her most of the time- so she will be happy- maybe she will fall asleeep in the car..

Hi R. -

My husband and I have a seven-month-old son. Our families live anywhere from six to 13 hours away from us therefore we spend quite a bit of time in the car going to visit our son's grandparents. We also travel with our two cats on occasion - we know what complicated travel is all about! :) My first piece of advice is to start taking your daughter on road trips now (which you're obviously doing) - if she's used to being in the car for longer periods of time she'll deal with it better. Our son seems to mind trips less and less each time we hit the road. Second, plan to have to stop more often than you would otherwise and calculate that additional time into the overall length of your drive. Basically just be flexible about when you plan to arrive at your destination as your baby's mood will determine how many times you'll have to stop to tend to her. Third, drive while she's sleeping. Once our son falls asleep in the car, we keep driving until he wakes up, unless of course we have some kind of emergency. As far as staying in a hotel goes, we've done that too. I recommend, if possible, getting a room that has a divider in it (a living area on one side separated from the sleeping area on the other side by a partial wall). We like this because it allows us to put our son to bed in his pack-n-play in one part of the space and still stay up in the other part of the space. Good luck, and please feel free to let me know if I can be of assistance in any way - I know how challenging the road trips can be!

HI

Leave the dog at home. Remember to breathe, that stops are inevitable, relax and enjoy the ride. Most kids do really well in the car. Maybe stop at a couple restaurants, even a fast food place just to let her out and moving. If you feed her there and relax for a little bit, maybe she'll go to sleep when you start the car moving again.

When we stayed in a hotel, i usually brought a travel play pen from home. I would have them nap in it for a while regularly before we left and then used lots of blankets from home to use to make it very comfy.

It will be fine and you'll have a great trip. Enjoy it and have a safe time.

L.

When my daughter was 6 months old we drove to Alabama. Everyone thought we were crazy but she did really well. She still sleep a lot in the car so it was nice enough. As far as the hotel they do have cribs you can get in your room, but my daughter wouldn't sleep in it, so I sleep, not very well, with her in the extra bed in the room and she had no problem with that. Good Luck!!!

We haven't done a really long trip yet, so I dont't have any advice from my own experience. However, I have heard that hotel cribs are often unsafe, so a play yard or co-sleeping is probably the way to go.

All good advice. Make sure you plan your drive time around when she sleeps. Make sure she is fed and change just before you get in the car. And remember, it is suppose to be a fun trip so don't stess about the little things.

I am not sure if your baby sucks on biter buiscuits yet, but if so, those would be a great idea becasue they last so long albeit messy hehe. But whenever I take mine anywhere thats gonna take a while to get to, I keep those on me.

I wouldn't worry... the dog may make things harder on your first trip with her. maybe leave the dog at home, and see how this trip goes. if it goes well, try it with the dog the next time.

we took my son starting at 2 months old on road trips anywhere from 5-15 hours. it is just another thing for them to adapt to :) it will be eaiser if you start now, and get her accostumed to the traveling... almost like another routine. remember your pack-and-play, and alot of toys from home, so she will be comfortable with familar things.

also, no offence to anyone; i wouldn't sit with her in the back of the car for the whole trip. you want her to feel comfortable without you there. i am guessing that this is a trip you will make often, and if you take it alone in the future, you don't want her dependent on constant entertainment for long drives. *just my opinion*