Trips away, help required
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=22785
Printed Date: 11 September 2025 at 7:16pm
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Topic: Trips away, help required
Posted By: FionaO
Subject: Trips away, help required
Date Posted: 27 November 2008 at 4:31pm
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Hi, Ok we are going away at Christmas to stay with the inlaws for about 4 or 5 days (4 if i have it my way) its about a 5 hour drive. I am just after tips from people who have taken a small baby away, I guess he'll be about 10 weeks or so by then, any ideas on how to keep them settled, he is settling himself to sleep well at the mo, but I have noticed if we go out too much in a day or do lots of things he really needs a day in his own home of doing not a lot to relax. He is happier at home in general By Xmas I know he will be older so does this mean he might cope better? My other worry is we are staying with the inlaws who are ok but have quite different views on child rearing to me and we are staying in a tiny house and i am a bit worried about how i will cope and i do know that happy baby = happy mummy. Just after ideas on things to do/avoid, how to cope with the journey and how babies normally react to sleeping in a totally different place etc.....
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Replies:
Posted By: weegee
Date Posted: 27 November 2008 at 4:50pm
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We took JJ away for a weekend when he was about that age, it was a 4 hour drive (and at that time he wasn't sleeping in the car, so I really hope for your sake Finley does!). Just allow a little bit of extra time for the journey so you can stop and give him a feed or two on the way. Also, pack the car in such a way that you can sit next to him in order to settle him if you need to.
I took way too many clothes for JJ when we went away  but I guess they all pack up small!
I was surprised at how well he slept while we were away, we took his normal bassinette with us (the legs fold up so it doesn't take up too much room), are you able to take whatever Finley normally sleeps in with you? Or if he's going to be sleeping in a portacot I'd suggest trying to put him down for a few naps in it every now and then so it's not totally unfamiliar when you get there. You've got a good excuse for the in-laws, you can say "he normally sleeps better at home, but since we're somewhere unfamiliar he's out of his normal routine and so we're just going to have to follow his lead and do whatever works to keep him happy". Try to smile and nod at all the unwanted advice! ------------- 
Mum to JJ, 4 July 2008 & Addie, 28 July 2010 |
Posted By: FionaO
Date Posted: 27 November 2008 at 5:01pm
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Thanks - I really want to take his bed, just not sure we have room. We have Finley on a routine (nothing strict) and they cannot understand that which my mum thinks is nuts, my mil keeps saying ooooh it will be hard to stick to anything when you are away which is upsetting me as i just want to run things similar to how we are at home for his sake. I also cannot stand my bil he is just not a great person and i don't want people clambering all over the baby - ok i am starting to dread it which doesn't help. I hadn't thought about sitting next to him in the car though - good idea I will do that. -------------
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Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 27 November 2008 at 6:50pm
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I took Jackson away at about 6 weeks. We took his bed with us and he was fine. If you can take his own bed, that would be good. If you can't, maybe you can take the mattress and bedding so it smells familiar?
We also travelled at night time (about a 4 hour drive) so he was asleep most of the time. We woke him once for a feed so he wouldn't wake hungry on some dark stretch of highway! I would expect him to be a little out of sorts - especially with Christmas being such a crazy time - but just do your best. Ignore the rellies, and if they say anything say "look, I appreciate your thoughts but I know what Finn needs." Good luck hun! I know you're not particularly looking forward to this. Will your DH take your side? PS - My SIL travelled with her three month old twins from Australia to New Zealand for a wedding and stuck roughly to their routine. So it can be done. Try not to get stressed yourself though (this is coming from the world's biggest stresshead, but hey!). |
Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 27 November 2008 at 6:52pm
| Oops - I called him Finn. Have I seen you do that before? Where did I get that from? |
Posted By: jaycee
Date Posted: 27 November 2008 at 7:03pm
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I was going to suggest that if you can't take his bed, bring the sheets & blankets that he has been spleeping on for a few days, they will smell familiar.
Good luck with the in-laws  . Don't over pack for your wee boy - look at what you are taking for him and then put half back!! -------------   
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Posted By: emmakate
Date Posted: 27 November 2008 at 8:34pm
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i have travelled heaps with my two girls from when the eldest was a wee dot. both are in a routine and i keep to it whilst away. i find that people are pretty happy to accommodate babies into what you are doing, so we end up back at hotel/ friends house/ familys house for the luchtime sleeps as i find those most important for the girls.
good luck! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: gypsynita
Date Posted: 28 November 2008 at 8:15am
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We took Cian to visit family in Wanganui (about 5 hour trip normally, took as 6-7 with the extra stops...) when he was around that age. He slept really well in the car, just waking when he was hungry or needed changing and apart from that we just stuck to his normal nighttime routine. Even though the time was different, still did the bath-bed thing when we got there and slept him in his portacot with same bedding as would use at home, and he settled fine... like someone said, we "practiced" with the portacot for day sleeps for about a week before we went so it was familiar for him. ------------- Anita Mum to Cian (Aug 08), Josh (Jun 10) http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: scribe
Date Posted: 28 November 2008 at 12:35pm
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I just wanted to add, make sure you ignore your ILs and stick to your routine.
We had a great routine going before we took Clara over to Oz (she was about 3 mths old) - but we didn't stick to it, as it would have meant starting our day at 3.30am Aus time. In hindsight, we should have at least stuck to giving her her big lunchtime sleep (in the morning instead), as since then I've struggled to get her back into it and she's been rather unsettled ... a month later we only just have a routine going again but it's not as good as the one we had. And take lots of stops on the journey - I heard a horrible story about a baby dying in the backseat on a long journey - the parents just thought it was asleep. Also, just try to relax and enjoy yourself - Clara was a perfect angel when we were away, I think that's because I was a happy mummy (and I think babies also enjoy a change of scene, and new people? Well this one did anyway). Best of luck! |
Posted By: weegee
Date Posted: 28 November 2008 at 1:29pm
 Scary Anna!!! Now I'm going to be even more paranoid on longer trips in the car! (Already I don't drive with his window down after that story about the baby who got burned from a passing driver throwing a cigarette butt out the window.)-------------
Mum to JJ, 4 July 2008 & Addie, 28 July 2010 |
anakk wrote:Posted By: FionaO
Date Posted: 28 November 2008 at 8:15pm
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Ok, have bought a travel cot to practice with Finley can be Finn Laurie i must have said it. I think Dh will back me up, i just don't get on very well with some of his family and his brothers kids are nuts and seem to live on madness and lollies so not sure they will understand the baby is not a toy. I love the other tips, so will use them all, especially in the car. -------------
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