Just survived our first road trip with the baby and I'm EXHAUSTED

Dec 21 min read

We drove 6 hours to visit my parents in Portland with our 7 month old daughter yesterday. Sounded like a good idea in theory.

Reality: she screamed for literally 2.5 hours straight in the middle. We pulled over at a rest stop near Salem and I just sat in the car holding her while my wife walked around. Baby had a diaper blowout that went UP HER BACK. Like... how is that even possible?

We got there and my parents immediately wanted to hold her and pass her around while we were both barely functioning. Made it through dinner, crashed at 8pm.

Would I do it again? Ask me after more coffee. Probably though, my dad was really sweet with her and it made my mom cry happy tears. Worth it I guess?

11 comments42 views

Comments(11)

BBob G.RegularDec 2

The screaming for 2.5 hours straight is unhinged. Was she in pain or just mad about the car? Either way that sounds absolutely brutal and I'm sorry you dealt with that.

RRick H.RegularDec 3

Portland trip tho - was your parents place at least worth the chaos? Or is this one of those 'never again' situations where you just do video calls next time?

LLarry K.RegularDec 3

My pediatrician told me that 6+ hour drives with babies under 1 just suck and there's not much you can do. Sometimes it's not a failure, it's just physics. Glad you survived it honestly.

WWill S.RegularDec 3

2.5 hours of straight screaming in a car is legitimately a nightmare scenario. At least you made it to Portland? That counts as a win honestly.

KKevin P.RegularDec 3

7 months is honestly the worst age for road trips. Too old for sleeping the whole time, too young to understand what's happening or be entertained. We learned to break it into two days with a hotel stop. Cost more but saves your sanity.

PPat H.New DadDec 5

Did you try literally anything or just hoping she'd settle? White noise app, different song, toy rotation? Not judging at all, just wondering if the next trip might go different with some tricks in your back pocket.

RRick J.RegularDec 3

The screaming in a car is a special kind of torture because you literally cannot pull over and comfort them in the way you want to. Just gotta white-knuckle the steering wheel and hope you get there soon.

BBob M.RegularDec 3

2.5 hours straight is brutal. We did a 5 hour drive when our daughter was 8 months and she lost it around hour 3. The real failure was packing snacks in a separate bag in the trunk. Pro tip: snacks need to be within arm's reach at all times.

HHenry M.RegularDec 4

My wife wanted to do a similar drive with our 6mo. I said absolutely not after hearing stories like this. So really you're out here doing the hard thing for family time. Props for that but also... maybe fly next time?

WWes B.RegularDec 5

Seven month olds are the WORST for road trips. Too old to be ignored, too young to be entertained by anything. You survived, that's the real victory here.

OOmar S.RegularDec 5

Did she eventually fall asleep or did the screaming just... continue? Because if it was the latter I have questions about how you didn't lose your mind driving.