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Original poster

3.5 hour journey with a baby

43 replies

Pingu49 · 13/02/2018 07:55

Hi all,

I'm taking my 7 month old on a Little day trip tomorrow and we will be travelling 3.5 hours in the car each way.

LO will probably sleep for an hour or so then we'll stop off to have a little break so he can get out of the car seat and have some milk/food etc.

Has anyone got any tips how to prepare and keep a baby amused for this kind of journey?

He's going to meet his new baby cousins!

OP posts:

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strawberriesandcream23 · 13/02/2018 18:49

We regularly travel 5 hours to visit in laws. Baby is now 7 months old and sleeps the whole time , we usually stop once or twice for a feed and stretch. Baby also sleeps the same at night despite being asleep in the car

bonbonours · 13/02/2018 19:47

We drove for 4 hours when dd1 was about 5 months. She had never ever slept for more than an hour in the daytime before so we thought we'd have to stop loads and feed her. As it turned out she just slept on and on so we just kept going and she only woke when the engine stopped at our destination. It could go either way to be honest.

Abra1de · 13/02/2018 19:50

It’s really not that far. We used to drive 550 miles to the north of Scotland, often in one day, and it was never as bad as I feared it would be. Songs and music help keep them amused.

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NotSureThisIsWhatIWant · 13/02/2018 20:28

At that age the movement of the car might mean he will sleep all the way back and there.

My advice for long trips is very simple: no sugar (no juice, no sugary biscuits, no sweets (when older). Water, milk and food with no fruit. It makes for a much calmer trip.

Xkirsty1x · 13/02/2018 20:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Xkirsty1x · 13/02/2018 20:37

Sorry I am new here, was trying to start a new thread. Sorry to crash your post I will figure out how to delete

NerrSnerr · 13/02/2018 20:38

@Xkirsty1x you really need to start your own thread, then you’ll get answers.

OP, is it just you and your baby going in your car? If so, can you book a travelodge and come back the next day?

NerrSnerr · 13/02/2018 20:39

@Xkirsty1x if you report your post they’ll delete it for you.

rebelrosie12 · 13/02/2018 20:40

Seems I'm in the minority but I wouldn't have batted an eyelid driving 7 hrs in a day with either of mine at that age. It's when they're 2+ that would have been hellish. Stop for feeding and a change and other than that mine just sleep or look around. Ha!

butterybean · 13/02/2018 22:57

My family are 200 miles away which usually takes 3.5hrs. I did it solo for the first time with DS aged 10 weeks.

I fed him at fed 10am, put him in the car seat and he was asleep until we stopped halfway 2hrs layer. I woke him up, we did change, feed, lunch for me and a wonder around - total break 45 mins....then got back in the car and he slept the rest of the way. His sleep that night was fine.

I'd never do there and back in a day tho...

FloralSocks · 13/02/2018 22:59

That is far too long in a car seat in one day for a baby.

You really need to stay over somewhere and split it over 2 days.

Sipperskipper · 14/02/2018 10:08

Hmmm this thread has just been the deciding factor in me not booking a holiday to Wales (5.5 hrs away) with 9mo DD! Was apprehensive about the journey anyway, but this has sold it! Good luck, OP.

FloralSocks · 14/02/2018 10:31

@Sipperskipper but surely you wouldn’t attempt to drive the whole way there and back in one day! You could drive half way there, stop over for 1 night, then drive the rest of the way there. Same on way back.

I don’t think you should avoid travelling with a baby, you just need to be mindful that hours and hours in a car seat isn’t great for a little baby. They need a break to stretch out, kick their legs, crawl etc. Half an hour in a motorway service station doesn’t provide this, however a night in a premier inn and they can crawl about your hotel floor and have a bath at least, before starting the rest of the journey the next day.

Reallycantbebothered · 14/02/2018 15:16

Can't believe some of the responses here saying you'd have to spend a night somewhere cos 3.5 hrs is too far .... there are soft play areas / outdoor play areas at service stations so that dcs can get out and play you know! ...if you plan the trip and break it down into 2 hr blocks it's perfectly possible to trave a distance of 350 miles in one day ....used to take us 7-8 hrs travel to visit relatives in Scotland for a week and stopping at hotel on way there and back with 3 dcs would have been too expensive for at the time
Tebay services on M6 is amazing ( both N and S bound)
just take crap snacks, change of clothes and be prepared to listen to inane kids music again and again

Sipperskipper · 14/02/2018 15:21

floral no, but we were only going for 5 days - (were tagging along on parents holiday!) so stopping over would massively eat into it.

Original poster

Pingu49 · 15/02/2018 08:36

We survived and he slept no worse than normal when we got home!

OP posts:

WishUponAStar88 · 15/02/2018 13:35

Glad you all survived! Hope the journeys weren’t too bad.

MummySparkle · 16/02/2018 10:16

Well done Pingu! Be prepared for him to be a bit grouchy today, but well done for doing it. Hope you've got a chilled day today

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