Even though she was twenty-nine and I was only two, I ruled that day from my perch in the backseat of her automobile, not even on a baby seat, just the basic, pillowy one that came standard in Fiats in the ’80s. She was supposed to “deliver” me to my grandmother so we could spend the rest of the summer together without any problems. My grandmother’s cottage was only four hours away from where we were staying in the capital, but little did my poor mother know that this trip would forever alter her opinion of long car rides. Also, kids.
That day, in case you hadn’t guessed, I resolved to put to the test every precocious talent I possessed. I kept hopping on the backseat to test how well my legs worked. I heard a piercing scream because I wanted to know if the soprano voice was in me. My doctor-mummy told me that eating an apple daily would keep the doctor away, but I wasn’t buying it. What was it she did? She attempted to drive while holding me back with her free hand. Nothing good came from that. She sobbed as I was about to launch into the driver’s seat.
For most of you, that era of history is best left in the 1980s. No laws require child safety seats, no DVD players in the rear of the front seats, and even short trips take forever because the top speed limit for cars is 50 miles per hour. Oh, okay. Miracles have been accomplished through technology, but not the one that keeps a baby peaceful on a long flight. Are we parents destined to spend our car rides listening to a never-ending loop of woods and boohoos?
1. Prioritize safety first
For a newborn to be calm and content, his environment must be ideal. But it can be tough to balance security and ease when it comes to long excursions by car. Getting him settled into a safe and comfy car seat is your first order of business. How would you act if you had just learned how to use your feet to jump and run, and your child would spend the next few hours of his life immobilized? I doubt it.
You can always start over.
Travel at your own expense. There are no public transportation deadlines that you must adhere to. To get to the beach by early afternoon might sound ideal, but ask yourself if you can handle waking up your baby, packing him up, loading him in the car, and making him stay still in the back seat for hours without getting a headache. Try not to deviate from his typical night routine. Instead, set off thirty minutes early, driving calmly without frequent stops or accelerating like a Formula One driver while listening to soft music.
3. Don’t stress out about making him feel at ease.
First, watch your kid not become too hot or cold on the trip. Protect him from the sun’s harmful rays and keep him from getting sun-crazy by installing sunscreen window blinds. If he’s still in diapers, prepare accordingly; pack a portable changing mat and change his diaper as soon as you see it’s dirty. Stopping will help him defuse, and you can benefit from the extra stretching time. Keep him watered and fed as you usually would. It would be best if you didn’t assume that your infant can survive a four-hour car ride without eating.
4. Make small talk
I’ll be honest: I only want to vent about how miserable my life is after hours of driving solo on the interstate. The only problem is that I’m alone. Your infant certainly has someone to vent to, and it will most likely be you. When on the road, a baby can only see your back and won’t stop fussing until they hear your voice or see your face (typically, their mother’s). Reassure him that the world is a secure place to live by speaking to him in your soothing voice. Or, employ the agent that always gets a chuckle out of him. If he’s already chatting, join the conversation by telling him a story (real or imagined) or asking him questions. Many intriguing questions, such as “What does that cloud remind you of?” or “The cow goes…”, can be explored in conversation with him. You understand what I mean.
5 Replay it over and over
It’s a well-known fact that great car trips require great music. Since there is now an additional passenger in the automobile, the days of driving “Like a Rolling Stone” to Iggy Pop’s “Passenger” are over. While going, he plays some of his favorite tunes and sings along. If you want to get his attention, you can play him some new music and see what happens. Keep the volume reasonable and avoid turning your car into a disco.
Six, including all of his close buddies.
A girl’s best friend is a diamond, while a child’s best buddy is a plaything. Attaching a baby activity center (of which there are wide varieties in stores) to his seat may be the ideal option if he is a young child. You should bring his “gang” along on the vacation if he’s a toddler and encourage him to play with them as soon as he starts to act up. Questions like “What is Teddy going to buy in the supermarket?” or “What happened to Mr. Tickles at the dentist’s?” might be worked on in tandem. If you’re traveling with other individuals, have them entertain him. Just relax and take it easy.
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