Best time to make long car journey with a baby

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What's the best time of day/night to make a long car journey with a seven month old baby? I need to drive somewhere that's 5.5 hours away next month (assuming lockdown is over) and am wondering how best to do it. Or is completely unfeasible altogether and should I break up the journey with an overnight stay on route?

I would leave at bedtime and then stop at a services half way and get baby out of the car seat for a stretch etc and get a coffee. They are likely to fall straight back asleep in the car when you set off again and you can always give them a feed.

My dc were both good sleepers though so this would not have been a problem.

We did this in the summer. We split the journey down and timed each leg with a nap (as best we could). We stopped half way at a nice town, had lunch went to a local interest point. Someone sat in the back with my son. Essentially we just took the entire day about it

My baby is the same age ( currently 6 months).

For us the best time would be after breakfast, about 8.30am start. Baby is usually ready for nap by 9-10am so car would hopefully settle them off.

I couldn’t drive nighttime right now, I’m hardly getting any sleep from baby up every hours so it wouldn’t be safe

It's a tricky one, it's tempted to go at night when they should sleep but then if they don't it's going to be a complete disaster. We did a long journey in the summer and left around 5am so they slept for the first 2 hours, but if they hadn't slept it wouldn't have been the end of the world.

Like others say split it up. Stop for lunch and somewhere for a walk and fresh air. Time your journey with their longest nap time, that's when you're likely to travel the furthest distance. Personally I'd be doing it through the day because I'd be so tired at that stage anyway.

For us it made sense to do it first thing as DS has always liked a long nap after his 6am feed. So then we could break the journey up to coincide with our breakfast / lunch times.

Bedtime or just before, in PJs already. If you’re alone bring a flask so you can stop for a coffee without having to wake the baby. Eat as you go.

Thanks everyone. I'm wondering whether to get the train for most of the way and hire a car at the other end, but babies just have so much stuff!

We did a similar journey at 5.5 months. We set off for the morning nap, I entertained him in the backseat when he woke up which lasted an hour till the crying started. Stop for lunch, set off in time for next nap, rinse and repeat.

I have also taken him on a solo train journey (at about 9 months) and it was doable, it just focuses your packing as to what you can do without! I borrowed a cot, highchair and carseat at the other end and only packed what I could fit in the pram basket.

We have also done the overnight flit - picked him up from nursery, driven till he started crying, stopped for tea, then he fell asleep as soon as we set off. That only works if you have someone to get everything set up at the other end so you can dump a sleeping baby in the cot when you arrive (we were going to my mum's who has a nursery set up).

You'll know your baby's routine and personality best, also whether they are good in the car or not.

We did this so many times and managed to to 5, 6 and 8 hour drives when dc was around that age. I arranged the journey during the day so that I could fit in 2 naps but also stopped a couple of times to feed and stretch legs. Is there going to be anyone with you when you take this journey? If someone is with you that would be a bonus at least you have someone to occupy the little one with cuddles and tickles and maybe snacks as well.

Same as other posters, we set off in the morning when she was due her first nap (around 9am). We drove until she woke up and then stopped for lunch, stretched our legs and gave her an hour or so out of her car seat. Then we got back on the road when she was due her next nap.

We did this when she was 3 months, 5 months and 6 months. It's totally doable if you time it right. For us, if she wasn't due her next nap she would only last 30 mins in the car before crying, so timing is key. Also I sit in the back with her to distract her if she starts getting aggy! I realise not everyone can do this but it really helps.

Good luck!

At that age, setting off shortly before their first nap is due, so I suppose shortly after breakfast.

I'd counsel against a nighttime drive with such a small baby. They might not sleep, services are starting to shut and are creepier and you are probably very tired. And once you get to your destination you'll be knackered but they'll be well awake.

Try to tire out the previous day (swimming?)
Feed them well whenever you stop.
Try to plan your stops. There are lots of places suitable to stop that aren't services once you look.
If you've a passenger, get them to check traffic frequently. Traffic jams and babies is not fun.

And pack an overnight bag ready to grab in case it's all too much and you do need to crash at a hotel.
Often these journeys are surprisingly alright!!

My parents are a 5 hour journey away. We used to do 5am start so transfer straight from bed to car and get the M25 bit out of the way before rush hour. Made it to a big Tesco Extra for about 7.30 where we could get them dressed then have breakfast, pick up a few bits and then they'd be ready for a nap again when we did the second half.

Now they are bigger (2 and 4) so can be in their seats for longer we've started leaving about 19.30 and doing the 4 hours of drive straight through with just a quick toilet/driver swap over break and then into their beds about midnight.

Logic suggests nighttime, but our DD would have failed miserably. She’s such a light sleeper that she’d wake up as soon as we stopped at services, and absolutely was never ever able to be transferred without instantly waking.

We did a similar journey at about the same age. We set off straight after morning feed, then stopped for breakfast for an hour, and she luckily fell asleep for the entire second stint 😅

P.S. Once they get a bit older it gets a LOT easier. At about 16-18 months she got into the Donaldson animations so would happily watch two or three in a row on an iPad 👍🏻