Four vehicles. Three carseats. Two trailers. One mini van.
Our voyage from Kansas to New Mexico would have been a simple day trip a couple years ago. Things are just different with 6-month-old babies on board, but that doesn’t make it impossible!
How long did the trip take?
We split the trip up into three days and two nights. We stayed the first night with family who lived on the path. We stayed in a hotel the second night. My husband’s parents each drove a vehicle, my husband took another, and I drove the boys in our Honda Odyssey. I also had my sister-in-law with me to pop pacifiers back in as needed.
What are some quick baby travel hacks?
My mother-in-law bought each of the boys this carseat toy bar for their carseats. It helped distract them in the time between putting them in their seat and go time.
If your kids are like my boys, they get really fussy, really quickly when the vehicle stops. If you need to take them out of their carseats when you stop for food, try keeping them out as long as possible. There were some times we packed the boys up earlier than everyone in the caravan was ready to drive out. When they started screaming, I drove laps around the lot and that helped a little bit.
Keep your babies comfy! We’re talking zip up footie pajamas (because nobody wants to snap up a wiggly baby at a rest stop), soft bibs, and keeping their portion of the vehicle at a comfortable temperature.
Have a decent idea of clean and safe options for stopping along your route. Especially at night. Think Quik-Trips, Buc-ee’s, and other well populated and well lit stops. Whether you go inside or take care of the babies in the car, be VERY aware of your surroundings and use the buddy system. Eyes on the kids at all times and NEVER leave them unattended. Trafficking is a real risk.
Have a solid idea of stretches where stopping might not be easy or possible. Avoid stopping on the shoulder as much as you possible. Not only is it very unsafe for you and your babies, but it is wildly inconvenient. A little trip planning goes a long way.
What went well for us?
The boys sleep really well in the car and stayed relatively quiet most of the trip. The U-Haul required frequent gas stops, so we had plenty of opportunities to take the boys out for feeding and diaper changes. If they were sleeping and didn’t need either a bottle or diaper, we let them snooze.
For diaper changes, it helped to have one person take each baby and get it done quickly. I also would like to add that when they eat, go ahead and change that diaper! We did a “just in case” change that definitely would have resulted in cleaning the carseat if we hadn’t checked. Even if you can’t feel it, see it, or smell it, this is the time to be extra cautious.
Any hiccups?
We planned to set sail from our family’s home much earlier in the day. However, high midwest winds and large U-Hauls don’t mix. This only caused a half-day delay and stole some sleep, but we were able to spend more time with family.
The babies did have some episodes, but overall, we really can’t complain. We let them sleep an hour past meal time once, which led to a triple wail-fest. We just had to a pull over about an hour and a half from our destination to feed them. They weren’t stoked the rest of the way, but that was the very end of our trip.
What items do I need to keep easily accessible?
We kept all of these products in the mini van with the babies. Do not pack this stuff under anything else. You want it to be easily accessible. If you can’t reach it within 30–60 seconds of pulling over, reconsider how you’ve packed. (My boys are now formula fed, so the feeding list is for the formula parents.)
Travel feeding essentials:
- Plenty of bottles (we kept all 12 of ours clean and available each day)
- Formula
- Purified water bottles (room temperature works for us, so we didn’t bring a warmer)
- Soft and comfortable bibs to catch drool and spit up, reducing onesie saturation
Pro tip! We kept our bottle drying pad in a plastic bin similar to this, and had a towel laid under the pad, inside the bin. This made it super easy to throw bottles in on the go. We only washed bottles when we stopped for the night. Consider bringing a small bottle of dish soap as well.
Travel diaper essentials:
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Portable changing pad (although we did most changes in the driver’s seat)
- Triple paste (this stuff is the best)
Other essentials:
- Pacifier (we did fine without clipping them to their outfits, but I think next time we will use clips)
- Carseat mirrors – especially if you are driving the babies without an extra hand on board.
- Window shade for the babies
- Keep LOTS of backup outfits handy
- Dry bags and/or plastic grocery bags to store soiled clothes
- Snacks and a stocked drink cooler for YOU
- Think about where your babies are going to sleep each night and pack accordingly. At our hotel, we ended up folding up a comforter, laying it on the floor, and laying blankets from home on top. However, we also had pack and plays ready to grab if needed. You want to get a good night’s sleep, driver! Bring that sound machine if you need to.
- Clothes for YOU! Account for spit ups, lunch spills, and comfort.
When it comes to traveling with babies, skimping is truly not the best option. This is not the time to think like a minimalist. You don’t need to pack every toy they’ve ever loved, but do what you can to keep your kids happy.
Disclaimer: This is what worked for us. Always follow proper safety precautions.
three in one 
Leave a comment