Advice/WWYD? Re: road trip

JessWhatINeeded · April 2014

We have a 3+ hour road trip this week. LO goes 3-4 hours between feedings, mostly it's closer to 3 hours. MH has to be at our destination by 8:00am. His plan is to leave at 5:00am. That doesn't give us time to stop if she needs fed, but I don't know if I can handle getting us up & out the door earlier.
So would you chance it that she'll sleep the whole way and not wake up to eat? (She can be a 5 hour nighttime sleeper). Or try to leave even earlier than 5am? Or something else? If she eats at 3am should I top her off right before leaving?
We FF, if that makes a difference. So I'd have to find a place with hot water to heat a bottle.

irisheyez123 · April 2014

My DD seems to sleep longer when we are moving so I would top her off & chance it. Sometimes if I know I'm going to be out for a long time & may need a bottle & not have access to hot water I heat a bottle really hot & by the time she gets hungry it's cooled down enough to feed her (I still test it to be sure before giving it to her).

SuzyQq02 · April 2014

How essential is it that arrive exactly at 8? I would give yourself more time than less, just in case.

You'd obviously have to stop to feed anyway, but if you're queried about finding a place to stop vs just pulling the car over, you can always bring a thermos of hot water with you. They make ones specifically for bottles (I received a tommee tippee one as a gift), but any decent quality one should keep it hotenough ffor you to heat up a bottle.

RondackHiker · April 2014

If I had to be somewhere at 8am and was driving without kids, in good weather, somewhere familiar so I wouldn't get lost, and somewhere unlikely to have traffic, I would give myself at least 30-60 minutes of extra time, depending on how essential it was I arrived exactly at 8am and how important the event was. A completely essential work event three hours away might have me spend the night there so that a car issue wouldn't mean I lost my job.

It honestly shocks me you wouldn't leave extra time. Doesn't everyone leave time to spare on road trips?

I'd leave an extra hour at an absolute minimum. Preferably enough time for two feedings (however long those usually take), plus some extra for a diaper change with each feeding and car/traffic/navigation issues.

I'd load the car with every single thing you need the night before, remembering that babies need spares. Then I'd fill the tank and check the fluid and tire levels.

I'd wake the next morning and throw on clothes you laid out and change and feed LO while the other makes coffee. Put LO in the car seat and go. No effort needed. You can do your hair and make up in the car. don't waste time at home doing that.

If you absolutely can't wake earlier than five am, get a hotel a few minutes from your destination, at least for dh.

keags5496 · April 2014

I'd leave an hour earlier if at all possible. I'd personally leave right after the 3am feed. Feed, get dressed, and go. Best case scenario would be I got to destination at 6am and had time to get Bfast somewhere.

Also, I always pre fill bottles with water and just add the formula powder when needed. Bottles are always at least room temp that way.

littlepig2 · April 2014

if it's a 3+ hour road trip, why are you leaving at 5 if he has to be there by 8? that's not nearly enough time, especially if something holds you up and you leave later than expected. I agree with PP's that I'd give myself at LEAST an extra hour. do you have to go with DH? are you staying over somewhere? what will you be doing when he is busy? if you're staying over somewhere, most hotel check-in's (if you're going that route) aren't until late in the afternoon... if it was me, I'd personally go down the night before. that way everyone can get a good nights rest and no one is rushing the day of the event.

I always plan for something to go wrong because something always does - traffic, poopsplosion, leaving later than expected, extra feeding, etc.

ziggy903 · April 2014

It's a 3+ hour trip and DH wants to leave exactly 3 hours to get there?

Murphy's law says you won't actually leave until 5:45 and that there will be an accident site to pass(read: heavy, unexpected traffic)
I'd leave at 4 at the latest. 3 would be ideal because baby. You can always get breakfast by the destination if you're early.

Unknown · April 2014

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ScaredOfCats · April 2014

I would go the night before and stay in a hotel because I worry about everything. With a baby a road trip can double in length if he/she is having a rough day.

breadpudding · April 2014

I just did a road trip this weekend with LO. We went to DH's grandma's house which is 3 hours away. We have done this trip many, many times with DS1 (who is 3) so I thought I knew what to expect with LO.

Wrong.

It took me from 5am until 12:30pm just to get everything ready. Breakfast, everyone dressed, feeding baby (he is EBF so he eats frequently), diaper changes, packing car, changing diapers again as we get in the car because they love to poop as soon as you get them in their car seat, etc. you name it... It stalled us. And I didn't even do my makeup at home.

You need to give yourself extra time. Seriously. Even if your LO slept through Feedings why would you chance not having enough time to get there? What is baby poops? Obviously can't just sit in it. And if your trip involves going through the mountains (like ours did) then you should consider that the change in altitude with most definitely make LO's ears pop and it will most likely bother them. They scream and cry until their ears pop. None of the above even factors in if there is car trouble, traffic or wrecks along the way.

Wanna know how long my normal 3 hour trip took from the time we left? Almost FIVE hours. Shit happens. Be prepared, Momma and give yourself extra time. You will feel much better.

Good luck.

JessWhatINeeded · April 2014

To answer questions.
It's a 3+ hour drive for me driving the speed limit, with potty breaks. He goes faster and stops less often.
He's hauling stuff in the truck, meeting a guy for work and carpooling with him another 2 hrs to their work destination. LO and I are keeping the vehicle and staying with my mom a half hour away for the weekend. The men are giving themselves an hour leeway at the final destination.
It's a rural area, no traffic issues...unless road construction, which I just thought of now.
The Gerber formula I'm using is super clumpy so I make and shake a larger batch in a protein powder shaker, then carry in a cooler. Could do that on the road I guess. I do need multiple feedings though because LO & I have to entertain ourselves in town the rest of the morning so my aunt can meet her at lunch.
I did plan to do my getting ready in the car.
What a hassle trying to fit a newborn into everyone else's schedule.
You all are making me think we should go after work on Wednesday and stay at my moms, even though she won't be there. Leaving at 7:30am is more doable. I'll see if hubby is agreeable to that.

RondackHiker · April 2014

Honest question... Is this the first time you and your H have ever done a road trip?
It really baffles me that you are planning a 3+ hour road trip and think leavin at 5am to arrive at 8am will work. Even ignoring the baby that doesn't make sense.

Edit: didn't see your update before I posted

JessWhatINeeded · April 2014

Originally the plan was leave at 5, meet to carpool at 9, which felt okay to me with baby. Then their work thing got moved up an hour. DH didn't want to leave any earlier. He's thinking there is still some flexibility on his end. He's also less of a planner and worrier than me. If it were me, I'd err on the side of caution. Just gotta convince him - babies throw off your timeline

RondackHiker · April 2014

JessWhatINeeded said:
Originally the plan was leave at 5, meet to carpool at 9, which felt okay to me with baby. Then their work thing got moved up an hour. DH didn't want to leave any earlier. He's thinking there is still some flexibility on his end. He's also less of a planner and worrier than me. If it were me, I'd err on the side of caution. Just gotta convince him - babies throw off your timeline

He's been a dad for at least a month now and he doesn't get that babies throw off schedules?

Firefly9 · April 2014

You definitely need more time than 3 hours for a 3 hour road trip. Traffic jams, potty stops, your car breaks down, etc. As for the bottles, just pack some water bottles and make it with that, or stop for coffee somewhere along the way and ask for a separate cup of really hot water to stick the bottle in to warm it up. I've done that multiple times; sometimes it's even faster than a bottle warmer.

You said, "He's thinking there is still some flexibility on his end." Yeah--being flexible enough to leave earlier to be sure you have enough time!

littlepig2 · April 2014

JessWhatINeeded said:
To answer questions.
It's a 3+ hour drive for me driving the speed limit, with potty breaks. He goes faster and stops less often.

but this doesn't answer the question of your LO. poops happen, bottles happen, spit up happens. is he going to be driving like a madman to make up for lost time if/when you have to stop? this logic is so flawed. you can't say "I drive slower and stop so we can leave later because he doesn't stop and drives faster." babies change everything as I'm sure you're noticing. this just seems irresponsible. I would 1000% stay at my mom's the night before and honestly, if it were my DH and he said he didn't want to, I'd tell him to go alone. no need to risk anyone's safety because he's trying to make it to work on time.

Noethola · April 2014

I agree with the going the night before or going at least an hour earlier than 5am.

but also wanted to chime in: you can get a cup or hot water at Starbucks. Ask for it half full, and you can heat the bottle pretty quickly. (And then you get to get something too!)

ehighlan · April 2014

Just as a reference point…we did a normally 7.5 hour trip a few weeks ago. It took us between 12 and 13 hours and it was not because of traffic or weather. Like PP have said, things happen and it is better to have more time than less. Good luck!

JessWhatINeeded · April 2014

Yes. We are going the night before now.

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Advice/WWYD? Re: road trip

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