Make Your Long Car Journey Less Stressful

No one particularly wants to take a long car journey with their baby but the reality is that sometimes long trips are unavoidable.

Fortunately, by preparing yourself and by planning the finer details of your drive, you can reduce some of the stress involved while also taking steps to ensure that the trip will be less taxing for you and your little one.

The right child car seat

The single most important thing you can do is to ensure that you have a suitable child safety car seat. There are many available and it can sometimes feel confusing trying to work out which is appropriate for your child. But by ensuring your baby is in the right age/height/weight-specific car seat, you will help to maximise their comfort and manage your fear for their safety.

Check out the current safety guidelines and Car Seat Law on the GOV.UK website page: https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules. Alternatively, the My BabyManual page on Child and baby car seat safety has all the information you need.

Play a game of peek-a-boo before you leave

If you’re planning a long journey, it is a good idea to tire your child out before embarking on the drive. If you’re travelling with a baby, you should try to ensure they have plenty of playtime and physical and mental stimulation before you leave. If your child is old enough, you could take them outside to play before leaving. Whatever the case and whatever the age, burning some energy before a long journey should help ensure both a pleasant level of fatigue and a more enjoyable and less restless journey.

Plan to take regular breaks

One landmark study by Great Western Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with the University of Southampton and the University of Bristol found that newborn babies may have difficulty breathing if they are left for long periods in their car seats, especially if the seat is upright (at a 40 degree angle or more). This is why many organisations recommend that you do not allow your newborn to spend more than 30 minutes at a time in their child car seat.

Furthermore, you should also take regular breaks even if your child is a little bit older; the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents advises that you give your baby a 15-minute break for every two hours they spend in a car seat.(1) Take a blanket or playmat with you so that your child can have a bit of fun and stimulation during these stops before returning them to the restrictions of car seat travel.

Time your journey with your child in mind

There is little point aiming to get anywhere in a hurry when travelling with a baby or toddler – it will almost always take longer to complete a long journey with a child than it would without them, not least for the reasons mentioned above. As such, it may be a good idea to not only accept that the journey will take longer, but also to plan it for a time when your child would normally be napping. Not only might this help ensure a quieter and calmer journey, it will also help ensure that you do not upset their routine too much. And if at all possible, try to travel when the traffic is not heavy – getting caught in a rush-hour traffic jam is no fun for anyone and even less fun with a screaming baby in the back who you are unable to comfort.

Breast and bottle feeding for long journeys

Not only will you want to time your journey to coincide with your baby’s nap routine when possible, you will also have to try and align it with their usual feeding times. Ideally, you should try to feed them around half an hour before you leave, but not last thing. This is because if your child is travelling when full up with milk, they may become uncomfortable and, if they are prone, may suffer from reflux. Give your baby time to digest the feed.

If you’re breastfeeding, you should wear comfortable and convenient clothing for mid-transit feeds; and if you’re bottle-feeding, you should make sure that all the equipment you will need is sterile and securely packed somewhere that you can access it easily. Lastly, whether you are breast or bottle feeding, remember to burp your baby before returning them to the car seat.

If your child is eating solids, try to give her a healthy and sustaining meal around half an hour before you leave. You should also pack some healthy snacks and, if necessary, a lunchbox meal that can be eaten easily during stop-offs.

Is it safe for your child to eat snacks in the car?

In general, particularly if your child does not have an adult sitting next to them on the rear passenger seat, you should avoid giving snacks while travelling. This is because there is both a choking risk and an accident risk, the latter of which may happen if you try to feed your child while driving or try to intervene if they seem to be choking. Instead, offer the snack when you stop for a break.

Consider your seating arrangements

If you are travelling with your partner or another adult and have a baby or young child who you know finds long journeys difficult, it may be useful for the other adult to sit next to them in the rear passenger seat so they are able to sing to, talk to and generally engage with your child. This can be really useful to help to keep your child calm and happy on a long car journey.

Dress your baby comfortably

On a cold day, it can be tempting to dress your baby in warm clothes, such as a snowsuit, hat and mittens, before bundling them into the car, but once your journey gets underway, they may be unable to let you know that they are getting too hot. If your car is extremely cold when you set out, you could cover your baby with a blanket which they would then be able to pull off or kick out of the way when the car warms up. And remember, if you are too warm for a hat and coat, your baby is likely to be feeling the same thing. Also, remember that too many layers can get uncomfortable under a five-point harness, so try to make sure your baby is wearing something loose and soft.

In-car entertainment

Playing music to your baby and singing songs can be entertaining while in the car, but they can also help lull your baby to sleep. Older children may find useful diversion in having books and toys to hand, while family spoken games such as “I spy” may also be fun – as long as they do not deteriorate into yet another opportunity for bickering and warfare. Be prepared to loosen rules for young children as the object of the game is not to win or be perfectly correct every time, but to keep your child entertained.

Pack carefully – your checklist for car journeys with a child

Every child’s needs will differ, but consider the following as a useful packing checklist for your next long car journey with a baby or toddler:

Medication. For example, an asthma inhaler, antihistamines, Calpol, etc..
A first aid kit.
A dummy or other comforter, if your child uses one.
Formula milk and sterile feeding equipment (if your child is bottle fed).
Packed lunch and snacks.
Bottles of water.
Changing mat, spare nappies and nappy bags.
Sun cream for summer journeys when you might need to sit outside the car on your travel breaks
Window shades.
Baby blanket or playmat.
Baby carrier, sling or pushchair.
Toys and books.
Change of clothes

Never leave your child unattended

As tempting as it might seem to quickly nip out of your car to use a motorway services toilet or to get a quick coffee to go, leaving your baby in the car unattended should be a “never event” – you should never do it, not even for a minute. If you are not there to watch over your baby, you can never be sure they are safe and unexpected delays could mean your few moments away could turn into several minutes – which could be too long. It’s just not worth it. Always take your baby or child with you, even if that means waking them up.

Is it safe to drive while your child is crying?

If your baby is crying or distressed, it is likely to be difficult for you to focus properly on driving safely. As such, it might be best to pull over as soon as you can carry out the manoeuvre safely so that you can comfort your child and ensure they are calm before driving again.

If you are on a motorway and there is no safe place to stop (the hard shoulder is not a safe place to stop) then you may need to drive on until you can find a suitable parking place. Try to stay focused on the road as much as possible…and remember most crying fits are not as a result of an emergency.

Sun safety and staying cool on long journeys

You should also think about the impact of the sun and the heat when making a long car journey with a baby or young child. The sun is at its hottest between 10AM and 4PM from March to October, so try to avoid travelling during this time. And remember, the rear window may filter out most UVB rays, but harmful UVA rays can still penetrate and potentially burn your baby. Consider buying a UV shield or installing a professional protective window film in order to protect your child from the sun’s rays.

If you have air conditioning in the car, it may be useful to keep the car interior cool, but you should check that your baby is not in a cold spot or direct draft for too long and if your baby is in the rear of the car, they may not be experiencing the same temperature as you, so keep an eye out for overheating.

1. https://www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/warning-over-babies-sleeping-in-car-seats/