Camping guides
Road trip with 1 month baby: 6 essential family tips
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After you’ve taken a few weeks to settle into life with a new baby, you get used to their routine - which should hopefully involve a fair bit of sleep! You might also be itching to set off on your first adventure together. And it doesn’t have to be stressful, either. As long as you plan around their sleep and feeding routine, you can enjoy an easy road trip with a 1 month old baby - all the while making plenty of family memories as you roam.
Not sure how to tackle this type of holiday? Read on for six top tips for taking a road with a 1 month old baby that will have you exploring New Zealand together without a worry.
Advice for a road trip with a 1 month old baby: 6 tips for a smooth journey
1. Make a checklist
It’s no secret that newborns come with a lot of stuff! They often go through multiple outfits a day, not to mention bibs, nappies, bottles (depending on how you’re feeding), dummies and more. In the lead up to your road trip, start putting together a list of all your essential items: the ones you can’t live without during the day and night.
Depending how long your trip is, you can factor in stocking up on supplies along the way. For example, you will likely be able to find nappies and wipes in your travels, so don’t go overboard loading up the campervan. Just enough to get you by those first few days.
In short, you want your camping with a baby checklist to be as thorough as possible when it comes to your newborn. Having everything you need on hand will make the trip much less stressful.
2. Plan your stops
Most newborns are on a sleep/feed schedule. This makes a road trip ideal for them: stop for a feed and then pop them in the car for their sleep, with the next stop planned in time for their next feed.
It helps to get out a map and plan your stops in advance. Work out how long your little one generally goes between feeds and plan off this. As a general rule, you want to get them out of their car seat at least every two hours, so use this timing as a base to start planning your trip.
3. Be prepared to feed on the road
You won’t always have the opportunity to pull into a nice cafe to sit and breast or bottle feed, so it helps to have everything you need on hand, ready to feed on the side of the road. After all, if your little one is hungry, they aren’t going to wait for you to find the perfect spot to stop!
This means packing along a nursing cover, so you can sit comfortably no matter where you are. If you’re bottle feeding, then travel prepared with a thermos of hot water that you can use to heat up the formula when you need it. If you use a breastfeeding or bottle feeding pillow at home, pack it along for the trip! You want to be able to get as comfortable as possible for those feeds.
It’s even worth designating a spot in your campervan for feeding - whether you’re on the road or at the campsite. Set it up with plenty of cushions to get comfortable, so you can feed on the go.
Shop here: Nursing Cover, $34.90
4. Pack a portable change table
Another essential for your road trip with a 1 month old baby? A portable change table. That’s because you need to be prepared for changing nappies on the go. Nothing stinks out a van faster than a dirty nappy, so it helps to be able to pull over and change your little one as soon as possible.
Keep a basket handy with a stash of nappies, wipes, nappy rash cream and nappy bags under the seat near the door. Make sure you also have a change mat (disposable or reusable) on top. You can simply open the door, pull out the mat and change your little one on top.
Shop here: Pronto Changing Station (Chevron), $73.32
5. Find family-friendly camping grounds
If you’re on a road trip with a 1 month old baby, you don’t want to stray too far off the beaten track. Instead, look for caravan parks for families where you’re surrounded by other parents, along with plenty of facilities to make your stay as comfortable as possible. It’s the perfect way to ease into camping with a baby, with access to helpful tips and advice from your fellow campers.
Ahead of your trip, spend some time planning your stops and searching for family campgrounds in New Zealand where you can pull up for the night without any stress.
6. Bring a first aid kit
There’s nothing better than being super prepared and ensuring your little one stays safe and cared for - which is why a first aid kit is so essential. You can buy a ready made kit or use the first aid kit that comes in every Camplify van (ask the owner where to find it!) and simply add some of your own extras to it.
Extra things to think about for a baby include:
Baby sunscreen
Baby bandaids
Allergy medication
Nail scissors or slippers
Pain relief
Baby sunglasses
How long can you go on a road trip with a 1 month old baby?
As long as you plan your stops carefully and ensure you keep up-to-date with your little one’s health checks (including immunisations), then you can plan a road trip for as long as you like.
Just remember, newborn babies should be in their car seat for a maximum of two hours at a time, so be sure to plan your stops with an opportunity for your little one to breathe some fresh air and enjoy a feed.
Hire a van for your road trip with a 1 month old baby
What are you waiting for? Hit the open road and discover all that New Zealand has to offer with your newborn baby. With just a little extra planning and preparation, your baby will slip right into your road trip for a stress-free family adventure that will be remembered for years to come.
And with Camplify, you can choose from an extensive selection of family-friendly campervans to take you on your road trip with a 1 month old baby.
Why Camplify?
Camplify is the fastest-growing camper vehicle sharing community in New Zealand. We proudly include the following advantages with all Camplify rentals:
Comprehensive hire insurance
AA roadside assistance
24/7 customer support
Member verification
Plus, by hiring a vehicle through Camplify, you are directly supporting local families and companies who share their vehicle through our platform!
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