Road trip with a young child: 6 tips

On his trip to Briançon, Yannick, the writer of the travel blog "Soms ook heimwee", set off in his converted camper van, together with his partner Charlotte and their baby Sue.

In this article, he tells us about his adventure and shares his experiences. He gives some useful tips for travellers who, like him, want to go on a car trip or road trip with a (very) young child.

How do you go on a road trip with a young child?

Load up the vehicle and off you go?

Since the birth of our daughter Sue, about two years ago, we decided to travel "a little more comfortably" in a van. We swapped our spacious camper van for a comfortable family car. Car journeys to the grandparents' and to nursery are now much easier. Trips to the mountains would now be a thing of the past.

That's what we told ourselves, anyway. But the urge to travel doesn't just disappear overnight.
To make this happen, the dream combination remains one that brings together the family car and a tent/camping. But how do you set off on such an adventure?
We headed to the Briançon area to give it a try.
And here are our tips, based on our experience. I hope you'll find them useful:

1. Packing your bags

Pack your bags and suitcases carefully, but above all arrange for a babysitter while you do so.

Packing is a fiddly and fairly stressful job. On top of gathering your things, you don't want a young child "under your feet". A little whining tearaway can seriously derail your plans. (In our case, ours had a toothache just as we started packing.) Best avoided!

So give yourself a bit of a breather and call in a "babysitter". After five minutes of trying to deal with our luggage, it was clear that grandma needed to come to the rescue. While the child was taken care of, we could focus on our task: not forgetting anything!

Travelling with a child means it's even more important to check everything. Forgetting a pair of socks is forgivable. You can manage, or buy some on the spot. But leaving the nappies at home is a different matter altogether. You probably don't want to put up with the smell for two hours inside the vehicle.

2. Managing driving times

Driving times follow the rules of relativity: set your watch to run more slowly.

Sure, stories of "cowboys" driving their car day and night without stopping are the stuff of legend. Unfortunately, they belong to the past once you have a young child. You don't know how your child will react to a long journey. Maybe they'll sleep the whole time, maybe they'll cry non-stop.

Avoid running out of steam before you even reach your destination. Set your watch to a slower pace and manage time like Einstein. Take it easy. Everything, absolutely EVERYTHING, moves more slowly with a child. Allow twice the normal time for the journey. Take as many breaks as needed. Try to drive while the baby is asleep or calm.

France is full of rest areas. Every ten minutes or so, you can pull over on the side of the road to rest, eat or take a bathroom break. Rest areas generally have facilities suited to babies, such as nursing cushions and play areas. Not really a fan of motorway rest stops? Follow any exit. The chances of finding a nice spot to stop further along are high.

Also don't forget that you'll need to pitch your tent once you reach your destination. Arrive in good time and allow yourself enough time and daylight to do so.

3. Plan carefully

Don't make wild plans. Don't get your hopes up too much.

Travelling with a baby means, first and foremost, taking care of them. Just like at home, you always need to be there to meet their every need. Whatever time is left can be spent on relaxed family activities.

As for our trip: Briançon is packed with outdoor activities. We enjoyed them, but in moderation. So, if you go hiking, limit the distance. If you go kayaking, don't head straight out to paddle around on the Durance for hours on end. You need breaks, breaks, and more breaks.

Driving along winding roads is always a rewarding experience. You can stop every 15 minutes to admire a beautiful view. This lets everyone, especially the baby, stretch their toes.

4. Choose your destination carefully

Don't stray too far from your base.

When it comes to destinations, it's best not to improvise too much. Find a few good campsites and use them as a base for your daily plans.
Is your trip about two weeks long? In that case, look for a maximum of four campsites, ideally fairly close to one another.
The term "road trip" takes on a different meaning with a toddler in tow. Driving for hours between two places isn't a good idea. What's more, too many changes can affect your baby and their sleep. And, ultimately, yours too.

Bear in mind that campsites in the mountains can be at different altitudes. In our case, one campsite was 600 metres higher than another. That makes a temperature difference of around six degrees. It was always warm during the day, but at night it can get a bit colder than expected. Also watch out for altitude sickness, which affects a baby differently than an adult.
Pack several sleeping bags and clothes for your child so you're ready to handle any weather conditions.

5. Choose the right tent

What type of tent should I bring?

Think carefully about the type of tent you're going to bring.
If your child sleeps alone at home, try to bring two separate tents. That way, you can chat about the day and reflect in your own tent without worrying about waking the baby.

If you share a room at home, take one large tent instead of two small ones. Be realistic and don't take a standard three-person tent. That's too small. It's nice to be able to stand up in the front compartment. That way, you have room to wash yourself and the baby, to cook, and to lay out your things.

6. Choose the right activities

Being outdoors = happy baby (and happy parents)

The key to a successful car road trip with a baby lies in the travellers' mindset. If you take everything in your stride and don't rush, everything will go smoothly. You'll really feel like you're on holiday.

Do as much as possible outdoors, and only head out when the weather allows. Nothing is more frustrating than being stuck under the rain in a damp tent. Just like Sue, your baby will make the most of the outdoors and discover nature with a big smile. A happy baby will be your best ally.

About Yannick and Charlotte
Yannick and Charlotte travel around the world with their son Sue. They publish their stories on the blog Soms Ook Heimwee and have been loyal partners of Redion for several years. Soms Ook Heimwee is a visual travel blog which, through inspiring travel stories and engaging storytelling, wants to convince hesitant travellers to set off too. However, you'll have to plot your own itinerary, as they don't write ready-made travel guides.