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Original poster

6 hour car journey with 6 month old

18 replies

SpongeCake23 · 17/04/2019 08:55

Travelling on Friday.

Any tips?

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MustBeAWeasly · 17/04/2019 09:03

We did a 6 hour journey with a 3 month old and again when she was 6 months. It all depends on how your baby is in the car seat but it was fine. We left right before nap time so she had her nap in the car. We stopped every couple of hours for 20 minutes to get her out, stretch and eat. Lots of toys, as soon as she got bored with one we gave her a new one. And make sure you have a mirror so you can see each other

TigerQuoll · 17/04/2019 10:13

Put a plastic sheet over the car seat to protect against nappy leaks

Bring way more towels and paper towels and wipes than you think you need

Leave space next to the car seat so one of you can sit next to them if needed

Leave twice as much time to get to your destination as Google maps says since you'll need to stop all the time

Have a couple of brand new toys that are nothing like they've seen before so they're more likely to stay amused for longer

Have some CDs of familiar lullabies or other music that they like

Namechangedcositstime · 17/04/2019 10:46

Definitely plan to leave at nap time and when the baby is full. They might sleep longer than usual with the motion of the car.

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Rosebud1302 · 17/04/2019 10:55

Sorry I'm jumping on this post as I'm also travelling tomorrow for a long-ish journey. He is 8 months. He doesn't nap for long at all in the car. Probably half an hour. So I was thinking of leaving in the middle of his two naps so he is full awake and happy and then goes to sleep. I guess it depends on each baby. No idea how it will go!!! 🤦🏼‍♀️

moreismore · 17/04/2019 11:02

Plan on your journey taking 8 hour. Leave around an hour before a nap is due and get as far as you can on the first nap leg! Have a bag of toys/household objects that are safe to chew, ideally novel ones. When you take a break make it at least an hour. Expect some grotting! Hope it goes ok.

moreismore · 17/04/2019 11:03

And if you can leave before the first nap of the day as I find it’s the longest...depends on your DC though

SheChoseDown · 17/04/2019 11:11

Put baby shark on a tablet. On repeat. For the entire journey

Original poster
SpongeCake23 · 17/04/2019 13:03

Thanks everyone, he tends to sleep in the car seat anyway. So I’m hoping he’ll sleep for a lot of it.

Do we have to stop for a whole hour? Or can we do several 20 minute stops?

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Chippychipsforme · 17/04/2019 18:22

I'd aim for at least 2 X 30 minute stops and 1 X 1 hour stop. Due to be warm so he'll probably feel it more trapped in a sweaty car seat so minimal clothes. Passenger in the back if possible for entertaining purposes.

Original poster
SpongeCake23 · 17/04/2019 21:29

@Chippychipsforme that was my worry about dressing him for the journey in the heat, how would you dress him?

OP posts:
Leyani · 17/04/2019 21:43

Most important us to make sure you’re next to your baby so you can see them at all times, and get them out of the seat and moving very regularly because they can suddenly start to struggle to breathe in the slumped position. Rare but can be very serious.

Recommendation is to stop for 15 mins every hour, or if asleep, wake them after 90 mins at the latest for a 20-30 min break.

Although some are even more cautious: www.babysafeltd.com/safety/2-hour-rule/

Good luck. We’ve done a journey like this when ours was a similar age, but took pretty much a whole day over it

Chippychipsforme · 17/04/2019 21:46

I suppose it depends what time you're setting off as it's still cool early on. I'd say light trousers or shorts if you've got them and then a short sleeve vest and then you can always put extra t-shirts, hoodie or blankets on as needs be.

DappledThings · 18/04/2019 08:41

I do a 5 hour journey to my parents regularly. DC are now 3 and 1 but since DC1 was a baby we've done it with everything in the car night before, adults up at 4.45 and dressed, DC taken sleeping out of beds into car and away. First 2 hours then done with quiet roads and DC still sleeping.

hopefulhalf · 18/04/2019 09:27

Leave at bedtime eg: 6:30 pm, then transfer sleeping baby on arrival, otherwise it will take you the whole day !

LTSsurrey · 18/04/2019 11:43

Hi, I’m new to renting in the UK and about to do my first check out inventory of a property. Even though I used something that should have easily removed to hang a calendar, the stickers removed a layer of paint and now there are for patches of paint missing. Any idea how much of my deposit would be taken for this? Just checking if it’s worth me doing the repair myself. Thanks!

FurrySlipperBoots · 18/04/2019 12:38

@hopefulhalf

That's tempting, but it's dangerous for a baby to be in the bucket position for so long.

hopefulhalf · 18/04/2019 14:07

I thought that advice was for new-borns, (based on reasearch of premature infants)your baby is 6 months old

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