Road Trip With a Baby or Toddler: Everything You Need to Know
A road trip with a baby or toddler can be such a fun way to explore somewhere new. You have the freedom to stop whenever you need to, take as much luggage as you like and travel at your own pace - no airport queues or worrying about how much you can fit into your hand luggage!
Of course, long car journeys with little ones can come with their own challenges. But with a little preparation, we've found that road trips with children can be much easier than you expect.
Here are my best tips for making a road trip with a baby or toddler as easy and enjoyable as possible!
For a full packing list, guide and short course on taking a road trip with a baby or toddler click here!
1. Pack the essentials - but don't overpack
One of the best things about a road trip is that you don't have the same luggage restrictions as you do when flying. If there's space in the car, you can bring the things that make travelling with your baby easier.
You'll want to have the usual essentials easily accessible, including:
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Diapers and wipes
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A changing mat
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Milk/formula or feeding supplies
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Snacks and food
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Water
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Spare clothes
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A few favourite toys
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Any medication your baby might need
2. Make sure your car seat is right
This is one of the most important things when travelling by car with a baby or toddler.
Make sure your child is travelling in an age and size-appropriate car seat that's correctly installed and suitable for your vehicle.
If you're travelling abroad and hiring a car, check your options before you go. You may decide to bring your own car seat or hire one with your rental car.
In case you decide to bring your own car seat these are the ones we use:
3. Keep their favourite things within reach
One of my biggest road-trip tips is to make sure the things your child is most likely to want are easy to reach.
You don't want to be unpacking the entire boot every time your toddler asks for a snack or their favourite toy.
We usually keep a selection of toys, books and snacks in the back seat where the children can access them.
For babies, think about toys that are easy to hold and don't have lots of tiny pieces.
For toddlers, you can introduce things like books, activity toys, sticker books and travel games.
And here's a tip from our own experience: don't put every toy out at once!
Use this car seat tray to give them a surface to play on without dropping their toys on the floor!
Here are a few travel toy ideas per age group:
4. Create a little entertainment box
If you're going on a longer road trip, I love the idea of having a dedicated box or bag of things to do in the car.
You can fill it with a mixture of things your child already loves and a few new activities that will keep them interested for longer.
We actually always keep a box of toys at the back of the car because, after playing for a while, our little ones have a habit of throwing everything onto the floor!
And it's an easy way to keep the car looking neat because you can throw everything in the box in a few seconds and your car suddenly looks tidy!
5. Don't underestimate snacks!
If there's one thing I've learnt from travelling with children, it's that snacks can make a surprisingly big difference.
We bring an insulated bag to keep any sandwiches or fruit fresh!
For toddlers especially, having a few familiar snacks available can help break up a long journey.
I like to bring a mixture of things they already love and a few options that take a little longer to eat.
Use whatever works for your child, but make sure anything they eat in the car is age-appropriate and safe for them to eat while travelling.
6. Use music and sing-alongs
You don't need to rely entirely on toys to entertain your little one.
Sometimes the simplest things work best!
Play their favourite songs, sing nursery rhymes together or put on some children's music. We also love using familiar songs as part of our baby's nap routine.
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is a particular favourite in our car when it's time for a nap!
7. Plan regular stops
t's important to plan breaks into a longer road trip.
Getting out of the car gives everyone a chance to stretch their legs, have a change, eat something and reset before getting back on the road.
With toddlers, you can turn your stops into part of the adventure - find a playground, grab a snack or simply let them run around for a few minutes.
And if you have a baby, use the stop to change them, feed them and give them some time out of their car seat.
9. Think about when you drive
If your baby sleeps well in the car, timing your journey around their sleep can make a huge difference.
For example, you might choose to leave around nap time or start a longer drive after bedtime.
For younger babies, this can mean getting a good chunk of the journey done while they're asleep.
Final thoughts
Road trips with a baby or toddler might require a little more planning, but they also give you something really valuable when travelling with children: flexibility.
You can stop when you need to, bring whatever you need with you and change your plans when your little one decides they need a break.
Don't worry about making the journey perfect. Pack the essentials, have a few things ready to keep them entertained, plan some stops and give yourself plenty of time.
And most importantly, remember that the journey is part of the adventure too. ❤️
