Traveling with a 3 month old will be different than traveling alone, but it is my favorite way to travel with my babies.
3 month olds can enjoy road trips with an adult seated next to them to be sure they are safe and comfortable. Plan to stop every two hours and take the baby out of their carseat to feed and change the baby.
Although it can be an adjustment I have enjoyed traveling with my very young babies! Road trips are a great way to stay flexible and comfortable when traveling with a baby.
Can a 3 month old go on a road trip?
Three month old babies can travel by car safely as long as you stop regularly and keep a close eye on the baby.
It is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics that you stop and take your baby out of the car seat at least every two hours. This is to make sure that they are not slumping down and having trouble breathing.
This is called positional asphyxia and it is most common in very young babies or those born prematurely. Discuss the risk of positional asphyxia in your baby with your pediatrician who is familiar with your baby’s history.
If you are used to driving 10 or more hours in a day to really get the miles in this may sound crazy, but give it a try.
We just returned from a 3 week road trip and stopping frequently made for a much more relaxing trip.
How often should you stop with a 3 month old on a road trip?
As long as your baby is healthy and fits in their car seat correctly they can safely ride in their seat for 2 hours at a time. Plan to drive no more than 8 hours in a single day with stops every two hours.
Be sure to plan frequent stops, pack plenty of extra clothes and diapers and have an adult sit next to the baby to monitor their breathing and comfort. If your baby is showing any signs of discomfort or distress stop and take them out of the car seat.
3 month old babies are likely still eating every 2-4 hours, so the frequent stops will make that easier.
Do not feed young babies in their car seats as it can cause choking and it can also get the car seat wet and stinky!
If you are having trouble finding places to stop consider:
Finding Rest Stops on Google Maps
Using Google Maps to Find Interesting Things Close By
Breaking Up the Trip With this VERY SIMPLE Planner
Use Exit Signs to Stop at Familiar Restaurants
We have really enjoyed trying regional fast food chains, spur of the moment stops and well planned stops ahead of time.
Traveling with kids requires a lot of flexibility, so it may be best to choose a few places that you would be happy stopping and stay flexible.
What to pack for a 3 month old on a road trip?
Packing for a trip with a newborn can get out of hand fast, but overpacking is not a bad idea when traveling with a baby.
Be sure to pack extra clothes for the baby, plenty of diapers and formula. These essentials should be easily in reach in the car. Some babies enjoy a white noise machine, extra baby blankets, burp cloths, pacifiers, and be sure to pack extra clothes for parents easily within reach.
Breastfeeding moms may be more comfortable if they pack a manual breast pump to relieve pressure while driving. While milk supply has stabilized by 3 months, many babies do experience a growth spurt around 3 months and that can affect milk supply.
Babies often eat less when traveling making it uncomfortable for mom.
I always travel with this manual pump, I have purchased 2 or more because this is the only comfortable one for me. A Haakaa can also be helpful for moms who are used to using one.
Breast pads and a manual pump can save your outfit and make the trip much more comfortable.
I think 2-3 extra outfits is a good idea for a 3 month old, you may not need them all, but they may come in handy. A few extra bibs are a great addition too.
I have a more general baby packing list with a printable checklist that can help you with the number of outfits and diapers that you should pack.
Tips for Traveling with a 3 Month Old
I have 4 kids and we take road trips frequently. I also grew up in a large family and we did major road trips twice a year. These are the best tips I have to make good memories, keep stress low and the car clean-ish.
Start Early (Or Late)
Plan to do some driving during sleep times for your kids. Adults should not drive when they are drowsy, so do not push it, but starting early for those first few hours can make the trip feel a lot shorter to kids.
Pack Drinks
Be sure to pack plenty of water and other drinks to be sure that mom and dad stay hydrated. It is too easy to become dehydrated while traveling.
This makes you much more susceptible to illness and tiredness.
When you are taking care of a baby it can be easy to forget to take care of yourself, so be sure to pack snacks, drinks and comfort items for yourself.
White Noise
It seems like the road noise should be plenty to comfort a baby, but all my kids have needed white noise machines at a moderate volume by their car seat. The linked one is the one I have used for years. The battery life isn’t great, but it has held up for a long time.
Plan To Sleep
Make sure you have a comfortable place to sleep each night of your trip.
Comfort is different for everyone, but be sure that you have a safe comfortable place to sleep so that you do not risk driving while sleep deprived.
I like to use a hotel loyalty plan. This keeps me from having to choose where to stay, I just drive to the closest of my preferred brand of hotel. You can still be flexible and travel without hotel reservations.
Decision fatigue is a big challenge for me on a vacation.
If you do not want to do hotels, there are plenty of options for non-traditional accommodations.
Is it better to fly or drive with a 3 month old?
While it may seem easier to fly with a newborn, driving gives you greater control over your environment.
Road trips are a great way to travel with a baby as you have greater control over what you have and where you go. It is important to take babies out of their car seats every two hours, and this is much easier in the car. Road trips also allow you to pack more supplies and keep things very accessible.
Driving also allows you more privacy. Diaper changes, feedings and outfit changes are not easy in a car, but they are more private.
Consider how you will travel when you arrive at your destination. It is possible to rent a car with a car seat, or you can travel with a car seat.
If you are a frequent air traveler you may be more comfortable traveling by air, but if you do not do it regularly consider hiring a travel agent.
I do not fly often and my family is very large, so we prefer driving.
As a general rule, if you will be driving more than 20 hours and your trip is a week or less, flying may be easier on your baby. I recommend that you do not travel more than 8 hours in a day with a 3 month old, so it would take 3 days to cover that distance.
Take your time when traveling with a baby, stop frequently and go slow.
