I teamed up with Wells Fargo for this post- thanks for supporting the companies that help make LoveRavayna possible.
I grew up road tripping to see family and friends, and David and I have done it lots as a couple- it only made sense that we’d keep doing it with Asher! It’s a whole new world though- I used to just need a face mask, pillow and phone charger to keep myself entertained but a road trip with an infant is a wholeeeee thing.
After a dozen or so long and less-long but still intimidating trips over the last year, we’ve got a pretty tried-and-tested gameplan, and I wanted to share it for those that might need some tips.
We start with a fresh slate. The day before the trip, we clean out the car. We don’t always splurge on a detail, but we get the extra shoes and toys and too many reusable grocery bags all out and put away, so that we’re starting from the best possible place. I make sure that the car has paper towels or napkins stashed, and a grocery bag to use for trash. We also always have a blanket, and a clutch with diaper changing supplies so I don’t need to dig for the diaper bag. (All this also ups the chances of the car not being a TOTAL disaster by the time y’all make it home- and if it is, THEN’S the time to splurge on the detail in my opinion.)
Pack a literal bag of tricks. I keep toys tucked away in a wet bag, and I offer them to Asher one at a time. When he (eventually and inevitably) tosses it away, I let him choose a different toy from the bag and return the original one to the stash. It keeps him engaged in his playthings, and the car from becoming the land of discarded toys. For older kids, I’d probably wrap the toys in recycled paper to up the novelty factor, but he’s little enough that I don’t need to do do that yet.
A serious snack bag is a must. I try really hard to use reusable travel containers- both because they are the more planet-friendly everyday choice, but also because they are extra convenient to have on the road. For example, I filled these reusable pouches with applesauce and will wash them out once Asher eats it, and keep them on hand. And then when I order a smoothie the next day, I have a pouch ready to fill and a snack stash restocked. I also lean hard in the direction of the neatest possible snacks, so the less crumbly or juicy, the better.
Come correct with the entertainment. Prebaby, we listened to podcasts on road trips, or I read or napped- those days are over though! We need a soundtrack that entertains (and distracts/drowns out yelling if necessary). Asher loves everything from show tunes to old school hip hop, so don’t feel the need to limit yourself to kiddie music. We’ve also pumped the white noise through our car sound system in desperation- and it works!
And when all else fails, a fatalistic attitude helps. You’ll get there eventually, and everyone will be out of the car only slightly worse for the wear! Our favorite short road trip destination is Palm Springs- it takes us just about two hours to get there, and if we are lucky we can time it with naptime. It’s such a fun and relaxing getaway- I’ve got a whole giant city guide coming to the blog next month too!
And of course, our Wells Fargo Propel® Card is one of our favorite travel companions. I love that we earn 3X rewards points not only on hotels or home stays, but also on gas at gas stations to get us where we’re going. We’ve utilized so much this year that our rewards have really started to accumulate- I’m so excited to put them to good use!
I did want to note that I sit in the back with Ashe to facilitate road trip ease. For us, it makes the biggest difference. Also- lots of people advise a phone or tablet for car rides, and I have no insight there because we simply haven’t tried it yet! We don’t have a fancy car with built in screens, Ashe doesn’t have a tablet, and I’m selfish and don’t want to have to share my phone with him, so that’s where we are on that! ! 🤣
Xx, Ravayna
