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by Judith Fetzer

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Our first long car ride with our son - then five weeks old - was for a wedding four and a half hours away. We were on the road for well over seven hours, stopping for diaper changes, crying fits and nursing. This trip produced my first "bad mommy moment" which was me climbing into the back seat of our Ford Taurus while my husband was driving. I did this feat of acrobatics so that I could nurse our son, also while my husband was driving. The baby managed to stay in his car seat through the entire ordeal, and did calm down for the last 45 minutes of driving.

Since this awful experience, I have learned that the magic word for motherhood is preparation.

Packing
When packing with an infant, my motto is "light for myself, too much for my baby". While I can wear jeans a second time, often times babies cannot... If you are trying to pack light overall, do your child a favor and don't skimp out on diapers, clothes, wipes or medicine.

Travel Plans
Before you load your car and start the ignition, be sure to think about the time it actually will take you to drive to your destination. Writing a time line, including stops, and communicating the plan to your partner will reduce anxiety and frustration on the road.

Plan your stops
While you are writing your time line, look at a map or go on line to plot the course of your travels. Be sure to think about your baby's needs, not your own. You might be able to make a five hour trip with no stops, but plan on at least two stops to change a diaper and feed your infant. No matter what age your child is, plan to stop for a walk so that your baby gets some stimulation and affection en route.

If you are nursing, be sure to bring a battery pack along with your breast pump; some gas stations do not have outlets in bathroom stalls. Don't skip a feeding/pumping session because mastitis (a breast infection) is incredibly painful.

Think ahead about emergencies
Emergencies with infants range from unending crying fits and diaper explosions to flat tires and getting lost. While you cannot foresee the eventfulness of your trip, make sure your car has an emergency kit. You will also want the diaper bag to be on hand and several toys with lights to occupy your child in the dark.

A Word About Entertainment
With DVD players in minivans and iPods attached to every teenager's ears, it is hard to convince many parents that a good old fashioned car ride is possible. If you start singing songs and playing word games in the car while your child is young, however, you may be surprised to learn that family bonding can still happen on a road trip.

While your infant is still too young to participate, start playing some word games with your spouse so that you are ready when your child is eager for constant stimulation. If you start now, in a matter of months you will be trading your breast pump for games about license plates and bill boards.

Learn more about this author, Judith Fetzer.

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