We made a very long road trip not long ago. 1200 miles long to be exact. While we are used to road trips with kids this was my first with a baby under one and exclusively breastfed. I must say it went way better than I expected. Traveling with your kids can be a blessing and sometimes needed for one reason or another. Whether it’s summer vacation or heading home for the holidays, at some point you may find yourself in a car for a very long time with your breastfeeding baby. Breastfeeding on road trips can save you a lot of stress as cleaning bottles becomes a non-issue.
Tips for Breastfeeding on Road Trips
- Pack lots of snacks when you will be breastfeeding on road trips. Pit stops will consist of diaper changes and nursing so having snacks handy (like these – yum!) can make the stops less stressful. Besides, trucks stops are not known to be full of healthy foods.
- Bring breast pads even if you do not usually have leaking issues. If baby is crying and there’s no place to stop you may find yourself leaking. Some roads can be very long and empty.
- A small breast pump can be handy. One road trip rule is if baby (or child) is sleeping just keep driving. This lets you get farther without kids fussing but when you’re a breastfeeding mother, well, that can get uncomfortable and a pump can become your best friend.
- Bring extra diapers and clothes. Car rides can make the tummy do some funny tings and while breast milk is easy to digest it is still food and, well, you know the drill. On the other hand breastfeeding on road trips may be just the ticket to a smooth trip without tummy issues, but this is a “better safe than sorry” moment.
- Do not lean over your child to nurse in the car seat during road trips. As tempting as this is your body weight will crush baby and car seat in the event of an accident.
- Plan on lots of stops. I mean a lot of stops. If planned right you can schedule meals for the rest of the group, potty breaks, and to nurse and get other things done. Plus sitting in a restraint to nurse is a lot harder than the front seat of a parked car.
- If you will be stopping at hotels try to book one with a mini fridge and, even better, a little freezer.
- A small cooler with ice/ice packs is the best way to store any pumped milk during the trip.
- If you use a cover bring a comfortable one along. If you don’t use a cover don’t be shy to nurse at any stop.
- Don’t forget to stay hydrated. It is easy to forget to drink water on road trips but for breastfeeding mothers this can become an issue.
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