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July 2014 Moms
Pinksundrops
member
Driving longer distances with LO
Pinksundrops
member
We live in a part of town where most people and things are close to us - within fifteen minutes even with traffic. There are a few places we go on a regular basis that are a half hour away, 45 minutes in traffic. I have been avoiding these places since LO has been born with a passion. He's now 7 weeks and I can't do that forever. He does take a pacifier so if it falls out and he wants it I have to end up pulling over. Miserable drive and LONG if I have to pull over a ton. I let him scream one time to go see my sister who was in from out of town since I was almost there - ten minutes away but felt horrible the whole time. Not to mention that extra drive time adds an hour or more to us being out of the house wherever we're going. He does fall asleep a lot of the time, but not guaranteed and he tends to wake up randomly, especially if we're sitting in traffic or at a light for awhile.
How are you guys who have to drive longer distances on a regular basis or even an occasional basis doing it when it's just you in the car and no DH or other person to help soothe LO?
How are you guys who have to drive longer distances on a regular basis or even an occasional basis doing it when it's just you in the car and no DH or other person to help soothe LO?
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Re: Driving longer distances with LO
We went on a 4.5 hour drive alone last weekend and stopped 5 times (one feeding and 4 calm downs). On the way home, knowing formula keeps them full longer, I fed her a nice big bottle of formula before we left (I EP and she normally takes 3 oz every 2 hours. I gave her 4 oz of formula right before we left). She slept for just under 4 hours of the drive. Having my sanity intact was blissful!
But, unless I want to do formula daily (which I would prefer not to), that's not realistic. So, I let her cry.
Also, if she starts to scream, I'll roll down a window or two and the noise seems to help calm her down. If that doesn't work, I find a static station on the radio and crank it up. The white noise works the majority of the time.
I make sure to feed him and change him right before we are about to leave. I also try to leave with plenty of time in case I need to stop and calm him. If he's fussy and I can't stop, I turn the radio up and sing to him. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't.
I was nervous to go places alone with him at first, but eventually I just did it because I was sick of being cooped up at home.
I've done a couple of 1-1.5 hr trips alone. I have his seat in the middle so I can reach and put the paci in. I can actually hold a bottle as well, but that's not really safe or comfortable. Generally, if he's dry and full when he gets in the seat he is fine once the car starts moving.
I took a 4 hr drive when he was 3 or 4w and I took a friend with me who could comfort and feed him while I drove.
@twizzyg The white noise seems to work like a charm. And my older kids don't even notice it - the twelve year old thought it was air conditioning and had to listen closely.
@cko521 I had just ordered a Nookums which somebody else on another thread on this board had recommended - like a wubanub but you can attach to a pacifier he already likes. I tuck the legs in like you mentioned and he's golden!! The pacifier kinda sticks in front of his face with the elephant I bought so he roots around for it if he stirs awake, then falls back asleep while he's rooting. Amazing.
I'm a little in awe I just drove an hour without having to stop - I even brought him inside in the car seat and he's stirring now, but he's been sleeping in there for the last twenty minutes. I bought him a Boppy Noggin nest cause I'm paranoid about flat head so I don't feel too bad leaving him in there. Especially since he was screaming from being too tired earlier.
You ladies rock!!
...and other clarity issues I'll fix when my mobile stops being a toosh.
We did a 12 hour drive when DS was 3 weeks old. I was incredibly worried that it was going to be awful but he did better than my 3 year old. He will scream when the pacifier falls out but luckily my daughter can reach him to put it back in. When I had my first child, my commute was an hour and DH's was 45 minutes. There was nothing we could do when we were alone but let her scream because I felt like it was really dangerous to pull over on the interstate or highways. I seriously put an earplug in one ear just to dampen the noise. DH just turned up the radio. We did get her a mirror that played music and that helped a little. It had a remote so we could turn it on and off.