"Let’s be real: Buying plane tickets for a whole family is expensive. But planning a road trip with a baby instead comes with its own challenges, too. From the dreaded choruses of “Are we there yet?” from bored older kids to all the work it takes to pack the car to the brim with everything your family will need while on the go, embarking on a family road trip isn’t always an easy feat.
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You might be asking yourself, how do you keep a baby happy and entertained on an extra-long car ride? And what should you bring with so they’re comfortable once you arrive at your destination?
For starters, the basic suggestions for road tripping with a baby include aiming for a destination that isn’t too far away and allowing yourself ALL the breaks and extra time. Because, well, a blowout or overtired meltdown will inevitably happen, and you have to prepare for it. Oh, and being smart about what to pack and bringing only the essentials for your little one. The good news? Planning a road trip with a baby is totally doable, especially if you follow the 14 tips below.
Drive when the baby naps
Babies in the 4- to 5-month age range usually nap in 90-minute increments, two or three times per day. This means that, with proper planning, you can cover approximately 300 miles a day while your little one is peacefully quiet in the back seat (fingers crossed!). This works best if you have an already established nap schedule you can work around.
Map out fun stops along the way
If you’re traveling a long distance and are needing to break up the drive with short stops or an overnight stay along the way, consider looking up places where you can fit in a family-friendly experience. It can be as simple as finding a cool park to have a picnic in or finding a quick beachside stay before you move on to your final destination. Who said the actual road trip can’t be fun, too?
Wear your baby
When you aren’t driving, wear your baby in whatever carrier is most comfortable to you. In many situations (like at rest stops during your drive or during outings once you arrive), wearing your baby allows you to move around easier than using a travel stroller. And babies at this age still love being snuggled close to you, which might induce a bonus nap along the way.
I’ve tried out so many baby carriers, and this one has so many ways to carry your baby from the newborn stage and on. My favorite feature? The lumbar support, so you can wear your baby for a long period of time if you have to.
5 styles available
An easy and on-the-go way to wear your baby. It’s lightweight, easy to pack, and so cute, too.
20+ colors and patterns available
Pack as little as possible
This is really advice for the adults. Packing items from a seasonal capsule wardrobe is a great way to mix and match pieces into many outfits during your trip. Or opt for lightweight and easy-to-throw-on dresses for an effortless outfit that includes one main piece. For the baby, pack a handful of outfits and do laundry when you can during the trip. Be sure to also pack a few wet/dry bags to contain dirty clothing from blowouts or messy meals while on the road.
Organize everything you need in these water-resistant travel pouches. Organization at its best for both you and baby!
20+ colors and patterns available
Be ready for anything that comes your way, including having a place to store wet clothes from accidents or spit-ups to an impromptu splash pad pit stop.
9 colors and patterns available
Ease up on the toys, too
I admit, we panicked and packed way too many toys for our son on a recent trip. But instead of playing with them, he preferred plastic cups and empty water bottles. Everything is a toy at this age, and a new environment is ultimately the best entertainment. Pick just a few favorites, including your child’s comfort object for bedtime consistency.
Keep your baby entertained in the car with sensory toys and a musical foot pad that hangs right from the seat.
But do pack a baby monitor
If your baby goes to bed early, a video monitor allows you to keep an eye on your sleeping baby while you have some personal time to unwind when you get to your destination or during one of your overnight stops along the way.
The battery lasts long, and Wi-Fi isn’t required, so you can easily monitor your baby. Other features include clear night vision, and you can see the whole room with its 360-degree rotating camera.
And a white noise machine
Sleeping at a new place can come with unexpected noises. A nice white noise machine can hide most of these disruptions. We like the Yogasleep Hushh Sound Machine because it’s portable. If you use one of these at home, consider bringing one with you.
Sooth your baby to sleep in or out of the car. Plus, the brown noise is so pleasing to the ear.
Maintain your sleep arrangements
Don’t make your trip a time to change or try something new when it comes to sleep. If you co-sleep, keep at it. If your baby sleeps on their own, consider bringing a travel crib or check to see if your hotel or Airbnb offers one. Of course, exceptions happen, and flexibility is important.
Catch more Zs with blackout curtains. Curtain rod not required.
Keep a bedtime routine
I am a strong believer in a solid bedtime routine. It has always helped our son transition to sleepy time and sleep well. Most bedtime routines can happen on the road—a bath, a story, and a swaddle or sleep sack. We always pack a crib sheet for use in the travel crib for extra consistency.
Perfect for your baby if they’re still needing to be swaddled. Its zip-up and velcro features ensure that your LO doesn’t get unraveled.
40+ colors and patterns available
Let your baby sleep comfortably in this buttery soft sleep sack. I have them in so many different colors!
50+ colors and patterns available
Prepare for your feeding situation
No matter how you choose to feed your child, it’s important to be prepared. You may be breastfeeding and come across a situation where you need to give your baby a bottle or need to get a quick pumping session in. A hand pump takes up less space, is more discrete, and is easier to clean than an electronic pump. Plus, it requires no charging. If you’re bottle-feeding your baby, make sure to pack a travel bottle washing kit and lots of extra formula and bottles.
Warm up milk with a temperature-controlled milk warmer. It’s editor approved.
Store all of your milk for your trip in an insulated bottle bag.
Be prepared for diaper changes
One of my favorite mom hacks for taking a road trip with a baby is to bring a separate diaper caddy stocked with all your diapering essentials designated for the car ride. It makes those quick diaper changes in the back of the car during pit stops so much easier. I’d also recommend having extra baby clothes ready for unexpected blowouts. Trust me: You’ll be thanking yourself later.
This diaper caddy means that you don’t have to worry about restocking your diaper bag—something you can specifically use for when you’re out and about. And as an added bonus, the caddy is easy to transport once you get to your hotel or end location, so you don’t have to live out of your diaper bag the whole trip.
This caddy also comes with a waterproof changing pad, so every mess can be contained!
Don’t forget about yourself
Another way to survive a road trip with a baby is to not forget about packing things for yourself to do. Save all your favorite podcasts and audiobooks and listen to them while you drive. If you’re traveling with a partner, maybe whip out a book or your Kindle—if you’re not prone to getting carsick, of course. Or maybe finish up a crochet project you’ve been working on for a while.
Enjoy the journey
Yes, the Ralph Waldo Emerson quote, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey,” is somewhat cliché. But think of this quote anytime feelings of disappointment or frustration come up during your trip. If you miss a tourist destination, forgo a well-rated restaurant, or skip a photo-op, think about the one-on-one time you’re having with your partner, the milestones your baby is reaching, or that thing that was maddening yesterday but is funny today. You’ll have plenty of happy memories coming out of this trip, even if it looks different than you imagined.
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As the editorial assistant, Patty works with The Everymom’s team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. When she’s not working, you can find her spending time with her family, training for half marathons—she ran one 16 weeks pregnant—traveling, cooking, reading a rom-com, and keeping her sourdough starter, Rose, alive.