" When are longer trips with children okay? "

As soon as your baby is born, many parents plan a trip to visit relatives or even a first family vacation together. But are long car journeys even advisable in the first few weeks of your child's life or are they far too strenuous for the newborn?e? How can parents keep their nerves even when the baby is screaming and what things should not be missing when traveling with the whole family? We have put together the best tips for traveling by car with a baby.

Driving with babies

You might think that babies are the ideal travel companions: they sleep more than 15 hours a day, do not yet have their own day-night rhythm and do not yet have a natural urge to move. In theory, new parents could therefore go on vacation with their offspring and the car - at any time of day or night. After all, there is a very good chance that your little one will quickly fall asleep in the car after you leave.

For newborns, the best choice is a reclining seat with neck support

In practice, however, things look very different: Not only do some babies dislike driving enormously and communicate this loudly, but there are also medical reasons to avoid long car journeys in the first few weeks of life.

Long car journeys with a baby: when should you start?

Infants weighing no more than 9 kilograms must be transported in a special child seat (infant carrier) facing the opposite direction of travel, as this provides better protection for the baby's head in the event of an accident. Most parents transport their baby in the rear seat, as the front passenger seat is only permitted if no front passenger airbag is activated. In this context, most midwives and pediatricians recommend avoiding long car journeys during the first three months of life. The reasoning: In a baby car seat, the baby lies in a semi-sitting position. However, as the spine and neck muscles of newborns are still very sensitive, babies should ideally spend most of their time in a lying position. The baby's head is so heavy that the prolonged pressure on the spine in a semi-recumbent position can lead to severe postural damage. In addition, the child's breathing is also affected, as the chest is always slightly compressed in a baby car seat. You should therefore postpone a car journey lasting longer than an hour until your child is 12 weeks and older.

You should avoid long journeys for the first 3 months

Off on vacation: Traveling with your new family member

Once your offspring has reached the recommended minimum age for a longer car journey, there is of course nothing to stop you going on a family vacation by car. However, as we all know, traveling with children can be a real challenge. While babies loudly announce that they are not enjoying the journey in the car, toddlers have some ingenious ways of expressing themselves. The well-known phrase "Will we be there soon?" is often uttered after just ten minutes of driving. However, there are some clear recommendations for parents who are driving that will help to make car journeys much less stressful:

1. Plan your journey well

Good planning is the be-all and end-all when traveling with children. You should not travel more than 500 km per day by car. Plan sufficient breaks. You can find child-friendly rest stops on your route on the Internet in advance.

The journey should be well planned

2. The right timing is important

As a parent, you know best when your children are particularly lively. Make sure you plan breaks at these times, including for eating. It is often advisable to set off in the late afternoon, as this is when the little ones are usually tired, and the roads are usually clear at night and there is no risk of traffic jams. It is best to book a trip outside the school vacations, as this also significantly reduces the risk of getting caught in a traffic jam.

3. Make sure you are entertained

Whether baby or toddler: as soon as boredom sets in and sleep is no longer an option, the little ones usually get restless quickly. Older children can occupy themselves with a coloring book, listening to a CD or solving puzzles. For the youngest children, on the other hand, you as a parent must provide sufficient entertainment during the car journey to prevent an unintentional disaster. The following have proven themselves classic toys such as colorful grasping toysa simple picture book or small cuddly toys. Also a cuddly toy should ideally be packed for your little darling, as many children quickly forget all their worries when cuddling.

4. Don't forget provisions

Picnic breaks are important - both for your child and for yourself. Pack some sandwiches or other treats as well as the necessary provisions for your little one in the snack box box. Sufficient drinking is also important, especially in warm weather. So remember to pack plenty of still water. Tip: Drinking bottles and lunch boxes should also be on board if you want to keep things clean in the back seat.

5. Reassurance for the offspring

There may come a time when your offspring has finally had enough of the long car journey. Then, under certain circumstances, only a cuddly cushion and blanket or the pacifier can help to calm him down. It is best to attach the pacifier to a nice pacifier chainso that it does not fall into the footwell of the car and

6. Safety

In summer, it can quickly become unbearably hot in the car. Therefore, do not overdress your baby. Also make sure that no direct sunlight reaches the child seat. A sun visor for the window or an awning for the baby seat are recommended here.

Long car journey with a baby: the bottom line

If you are planning a long car journey with a baby, good preparation is extremely important. Before setting off, make sure that your little one is sitting safely and comfortably in the car seat or infant carrier and plan enough breaks during your journey. This way, nothing will stand in the way of your plans and you will be able to head towards your vacation destination relaxed.