We recently embarked on our first long trip with our baby, traveling from Florida to Georgia for a baby shower. This eight-hour journey, a familiar route for visiting family, took on new dimensions with our little one in tow. We were quite apprehensive about how this trip might disrupt our baby's sleep schedule and anticipated a challenging adjustment period upon our return (spoiler: it did affect his sleep, but not as badly as we feared).
To ease into the journey, we split the drive in half and stayed overnight at a hotel. This decision turned out to be wise, as we were unsure how our baby would handle being in the car for such an extended period. Adding one tiny person to our travel party brought more changes than we had anticipated. We found ourselves packing all of his essentials, including a pack 'n play, bottle warmer, sterilizer, clothes, and more. Packing for your first long trip with a little one often means overpacking, but it's always better to have and not need, than need and not have, right?
Our destination was a charming BNB on a farm, where our baby was delighted by the horses grazing outside but found the random chicken particularly fascinating. We were unsure how he would transition from his crib to sleeping in a pack 'n play, but it went surprisingly well.
Visiting my family member came with its own set of concerns. We have two dogs and a bearded dragon at home, while they have five dogs, three cats, ferrets, and a bearded dragon. We were especially worried about allergies, as my wife has asthma and cat allergies. To prepare, we located nearby urgent care centers, hospitals, and fire stations in case of emergencies. Fortunately, we didn't encounter any major issues. He did start wheezing and coughing more frequently, which worried us. However, a visit to the doctor upon our return revealed that he was just experimenting with a new sound, and there was nothing to worry about.
The baby shower itself was a delightful experience. Our baby met many new family members, which naturally led to concerns about potential illnesses from all the interactions. This was also the first time he saw another baby his size, and he was absolutely ecstatic. Watching them look at each other and laugh was a heartwarming highlight of the trip.
The drive back home was a different story. We decided to tackle the entire drive in one day. There was a fair amount of fussing, and my wife did her best to keep him entertained throughout the journey. Between gas station stops and diaper changes in the car, we finally made it home.
This trip was a significant learning experience for us. We now have a better understanding of what we need to bring on long trips and how to keep our baby entertained. We also got a new car seat for the trip (review coming soon), which played a crucial role in keeping him comfortable. All in all, it was a valuable and memorable adventure.
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