Long car trip advice for a 15 week old who spits up a lot?

Question

My husband and I are taking a 10 hour car trip (w/o baby...who knows how long with baby!) with our 15 week old baby. We've never traveled with him for more than an hour before. He spits up a lot after he eats and I generally never take him in the car for an hour after he started eating. We could do this trip in two days but would prefer one day just to get it over with. I breastfeed so he can't eat in the car...we'll have to stop, burp, change, etc.

How long do you think should we wait before getting back in the car?

How long do you think a normally 10 hour trip will take us?

Answer 1

I am THE expert on long car rides with a new born. Only I did it by myself. We lived well over four hours away from where my sons father worked... so we would make the four hour long car ride several times a month. NO it is not ten hours, but not only did my son spit up all the time, and not only did I breast feed as well, but he was VERY colicky. So he basically cried/screamed the entire way there and back! My key advice is to be patient. Be considerate of your child, and take things slow. Know before hand that you WILL have to stop more, so that you and your husband don't get frusterated. Enjoy the time together as a family, and laugh about it. (think about the stories you can tell him when he's older). Maybe one of you should plan to spend time in the back seat when he is awake to entertain him, and keep him happy. You can also try and route out where you want to stop, and plan meals around his schedule. It is definitely do-able, and just keep in mind, its okay for "baby" to cry. It might drive you bonkers, but turning up the music might soothe all of you! Good luck on your car ride :) hope any of that advice helped!

Answer 2

You might be surprised at how little spitting up happens in a car seat.  I had a very spitty baby but I don't think he ever spit up in the car.

When my son was little the 2 hour trip we took usually only took 2 hours, but once we had to stop 3 times and it took almost three hours.  Now that he is older he doesn't just sleep the whole way and we are trying to find a good time to go, but I think we are just going to have to stop for an hour or so in the middle.

I would bank on 15 hours for a 10 hour trip as the baby isn't going to sleep.  I would also make sure that you pack the car in such a way you could ride in the back if you need to.

Answer 3

As a former nusing mother, I sense you are not getting enough air out of his tummy after he nurses.  Also, do you have lots of tomatoes,or other acidic or spicey elements in your diet.  Cow's milk in the mother can do this, too.  

What makes you think you can't breastfeed in the car?  If you have rear facing seat and you sit in the back, with your seat belt still on, nurse him like in the football hold.  Stop for the burping though.  

I would recommend taking your time and remember:  It's not the Destination, it's the Journey.  

Answer 4

Try traveling at night...

Answer 5

I didn't have any spitting up issues with my son while on the road. The problem was after we got home, I don't know what did it but being in the car seat for so long really messed him up. I took him to the chiropractor as soon as we got back and she got him fixed back up. He had acid reflux that wasn't managed well with meds so we use the chiropractor instead anyway. He was doing great before the trip.

Plan to stop for 1hr at each feeding, give or take depending on how long it takes him to feed.  

Answer 6

first off you CAN breastfeed in the car i did with both my kids i would lean over their carseat and just pop a boob in their mouth its uncomfortable but you get used to it. so you dont have to stop every time he needs to nurse but you should stop every 2 or 3 hours to change him and to give your legs a stretch. also pack ALOT of bibs and burp rags to clean up his spit up. you should wait maybe 10 or 15 minutes before heading back on the road give you guys some time to stretch and let your baby's tummy digest. should take you guys oh maybe 12 hours or so give or take.