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Real Families, Real FUN: Get Out!

Traveling with Baby by Car
By Melissa Ramsdell for Real Families, Real Fun


For new parents, the holidays are exciting and joyful. You can imagine the pride and delight you'll feel when relatives will meet, and make a fuss over, your baby for the first time.

But first you have to get there. For many families, going to grandma's house means hours on the road. If your baby is about to take his or her first ride, you'll need some advice. "Preparation is the key," says Vicki Lansky, author of Trouble-Free Travel with Children.

A rear-facing infant car seat should be the priority item on your packing list. Since half of all car seats are improperly installed, make sure you read the directions thoroughly. For helpful advice, go to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Web site, www.nhtsa.dot.gov. And if you use a second-hand car seat, search for its make on Consumer Report's Web site (www.consumerreports.org) to ensure that it hasn't been recalled because of a safety problem.

Once you buckle in your baby, you'll need to think of ways to amuse him or her. Lansky suggests tying a bagel to a string and attaching it to the car seat. "That makes a good teething item," says Lansky. Also, "Bring along a large stuffed animal to keep your child company in the back seat." If it's sunny, you can use the toy to shade his eyes. A cassette player with your baby's favorite songs will keep him or her entertained for miles. Bring a blanket, familiar toys, and favorite snacks to quell tantrums.

For an upcoming visit to a relative's home in Michigan, Snower plans to leave during her eight-month-old daughter's afternoon naptime, so she'll sleep for half of the four-hour trip.

Traveling by car with a baby probably will take twice as long, but if you follow these suggestions, you may be surprised to find yourself at ease when you arrive instead of feeling frazzled.

TAKE IT FROM ME:
If your baby wakes up hungry, stop the car to breast-feed. Safety experts say it's too risky to take an infant out of the seat in a moving car, even for a few minutes.


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