Traveling with a baby is a new adventure! Driving allows you to be flexible and keep the baby as comfortable as possible.
Road trips are a great way to vacation with a 6 month old. Be sure to have an adult sit next to the baby to monitor their breathing and comfort. Take breaks every two hours and take the baby out of the carseat to feed them and change their diaper.
Young babies can have trouble repositioning themselves in their carseats so it is important to give them frequent breaks from the carseat.
The biggest danger is positional asphyxia where a baby may slide down and make it difficult to breathe or they may stop breathing all together. This can be very dangerous for young babies.
Feed babies at these stops instead of while they are in the car seat. The semi-reclined position of a car seat is not a good position for bottle feeding and often causes milk to run down onto clothes and into skin folds.
If you are breastfeeding I recommend a manual breast pump to relieve pressure and allow you to make bottles on the road.
Change diapers every two hours as well to prevent uncomfortable diaper rash. Always pack diaper rash cream on a road trip just in case.
It is a good idea to pack diapers and rash cream from home so you can be sure to pack the brands that your baby is used to in case of an adverse reaction.
Keep essentials in easy reach. Keep diapers, wipes, rash cream, bottles, change of clothes and burp cloths in a basket in the foot well below the baby’s seat to make stops more efficient.
I also recommend a quick change of clothes for mom in case of a blow out diaper, spit up or a bad spill. I’ve been there.
How Long Can a 6 Month Old Ride In the Car?
When planning your road trip it is best to keep total travel time to 6-8 hours with stops every 2 hours. Stops can be short or long, but be sure to get the baby out of the car seat and change their diaper at each stop.
Some families choose to drive overnight or during regular nap times. This works very well for some families, and allows them to cover more miles each day.
When driving overnight be sure to have someone sitting next to your baby to monitor their breathing.
How to Plan a Road Trip with a 6 Month Old
When you are used to traveling with adults, a road trip with a baby is a new adventure. Although it will look different, a road trip with a 6 month old can be a great vacation.
Plan to Stop Every 2 Hours
I have found that it is more practical to plan travel days and wing most of the stops. I like to plan no more than 6-8 hours or 300-400 miles of travel in a day.
We have had the best success when we found one stop in the middle of the day that we are all excited about. A local restaurant, playground for the older kids or a friend’s house are all great stops.
Plan Fewer Miles Per Day
Even if you take your sweet baby out of the carseat every two hours, it is still best to limit their overall time in the car seat each day.
While the guidelines vary depending on who you ask, babies will let you know when they are not going to sit in the car seat happily anymore.
We just got home from a long trip and we found that 6 hours was the least stressful on myself and all the kids.
Pack Extras
The car can start to fill up fast, but it is important to pack plenty of extra outfits, diapers, and burp cloths for your 6 month old.
Be sure to change diapers every two hours to avoid diaper rash and discomfort or blowout diapers.
It is also a good idea to have some extra outfits so that you can keep the baby dry and clean too.
I also keep an outfit change for myself within reach because taking care of a baby can be messy work!
Let Them Sleep
Although you want to keep to the every two hour rule, if your baby is sleeping and there is an adult to monitor their breathing, you can stretch out the driving within reason.
While I do not recommend driving through the night, driving at nap time can be a good way to stick to your schedule while getting in some miles.
Be sure that the driver gets plenty of sleep and stop if they start to feel drowsy.
We do not usually drive during the night because then kids are well rested and parents are exhausted!
Travel Together
Traveling with a baby is a team sport, bring a partner or trusted friend to ride along with you. Having another adult to monitor the baby while you are driving is very important when traveling with a very young baby.
I know there are times when you will travel alone with the baby. Still plan to stop frequently and monitor the baby any way you feel comfortable. You can install those mirrors that allow you to keep an eye on our baby, but they can be very distracting, so use your judgment on that one.
Is it better to fly or drive with a 6 month old?
The most comfortable transportation will be the one that your family does most often.
If you are a seasoned fly-er and you are comfortable navigating the airport, checking bags, booking tickets and arranging transportation to and from the airport then flying may be easier because the trip is likely to be shorter.
Flying with a 6 month old also means booking another seat and carrying the car seat or holding your baby during the flight.
We prefer to drive because that is how we are used to traveling.
When traveling with a baby, driving gives you more control over your environment and schedule.You can stop for diaper changes, outfit changes and clean ups when you are driving and you can pack more of the big stuff.
Traveling by car also gives you privacy for things like outfit changes, diaper changes and feeding.
I love road trips for the freedom it gives you to choose your own adventure. You can always turn back if you must and you can always stop for things you forgot. I recommend driving.
