A few months back, on a lazy Sunday afternoon, my husband and I decided that we had not taken a proper holiday in the last 2.5 years and it was high time we took one. From trying to conceive to the pregnancy and the baby; time just flew by. We have taken a couple of short weekend breaks or combined a day or two on my husband’s official trips with our little one, but now we decided to do a road trip with her. When it comes to driving, it meant our favorite destination; Rajasthan. So, we planned the itinerary and we decided to do a seven-day trip.

When we started telling friends and family about this trip, we got strange reactions from everyone. Most of the people with children said we were being adventurous and it was not a good idea with an 18-month-old. We discussed again, but we thought that the worst-case scenario would be reaching our destinations later than planned. We decided to go ahead with it.

Now we are back from a fabulous trip and I have no regrets. My daughter was an angel and I can confidently say she enjoyed as much as we did. From my experience I can say, if you keep some basic things in mind, you also can enjoy a road trip. Let us talk about a few:

Comfortable Seating

One of the biggest reasons our road trip went smoothly was her car seat.

Since she was a month old, she has always travelled in a car seat. The only time she didn’t use one was when we travelled by flight, where she stayed in our lap.

But on road trips, a car seat is a non-negotiable for us.

When a child is comfortable, travelling automatically becomes easier. She didn’t even expect anyone to sit with her all the time—as long as she could see both of us, she was happy.

Car seats make life simpler because:

• The baby doesn’t jump around inside the car.

• The driver stays focused without distractions.

• Kids fall asleep easily and stay comfortable.

• Most importantly, it keeps them safe.

And when it comes to safety, there should never be any compromise.

Plan Around their Routine

Our first day was the longest drive, so we left at 6 AM.

My daughter usually wakes up around 8:30-9 AM. She woke up briefly when we placed her in the car seat, but soon fell asleep again. She finally woke up around 10 AM.

That one decision helped us cover a major part of the journey while she was sleeping.

For the rest of the trip, we planned most of our driving time around her routine, especially her meal timings.

You may also like: Tips for Travelling with a Baby

Do Not Be Rigid about Rules

Rules are important at home.

But when you are travelling, especially with a baby, being too rigid can make things stressful for everyone.

A baby is already out of their comfort zone. So you have to relax a little.

During our trip:

• She slept whenever she wanted.

• Meal timings shifted.

• Fruits and snacks happened at random times.

And that was okay.

Because at the end of the day, it’s a holiday—and everyone deserves to enjoy it.

Plan the Meals

Meals do become a challenge when on a road trip. I packed sufficient snacks for her and would take bananas for her from the hotel we were at. Do not force the child to eat. If the child is sleeping at a time you think they should eat, let them sleep. When they get up they will be fresh and would eat well. A child will not stay hungry, so do not worry. Pack enough dry snacks and carry water and other drinks in sippers. The baby bag must be well stocked with napkins and eatables.

Be Organized

People often make fun of me when I make lists before I go a trip. Trust me this is the easiest and the most efficient way to ensure everything is packed. Make your lists of clothes and things to carry and pack well in time. Do not leave things for the last minute. Stock up the car a night before you have to leave so that there is no last-minute confusion. A bag for the baby with toys, diaper changes, a change of clothes and snacks must be packed separately and this should be put in an easily accessible place and not in the boot of the car.

Plan Well

Do not make an adventure out of the trip. Know your route and directions. Taking risks and unnecessarily extending the driving time will add problems and make the child restless. Ensure all your hotel bookings are done so that you know exactly where to go. Also, while booking look for kid friendly places to stay and restaurants to eat at. Do your research about things to do and see and ensure you do not club too much on a day. Your itinerary at your destinations have to be made keeping in mind the child.

Entertainment

Parents encourage kids to watch movies etc. in a car but I am against it. Depending on what you allow your child to do and the interest of the child, have some entertainment handy. Singing nursey rhymes and songs or playing games with them are a good way to keep them entertained when they are not sleeping.

Be Flexible

A child will act a bit strange as they are in new places daily and of course, they do not have a routine. Be patient with them and give them time to adjust. They will eat when they are hungry and sleep when they are tired. Forcing them will make matters worse. Do not wake them when they sleeping as this will make them cranky. Flexibility will make life easier for everyone.

Proper planning and flexibility is a key to a successful road trip. You need to prepare your child so that they know what is expected of them. A road trip in Rajasthan is a great option. Another of my favorite is the hills. You can check Preeti’s post on 7 Places in Pauri in Uttarakhand to find more places to explore in that area. So go ahead and plan a road trip with you baby; trust me you will never regret it.