baby roadtrip results

after 2700 miles within the past 2 weeks, I now feel qualified to offer a little baby roadtrip advice, but of course every kid is different. here's what we learned about traveling with Caleb.

the first 2 legs of the journey were quite bad. we started early but not super-early, and hoped not to resort to the Baby Einstein videos for a while, and we wanted to hold off on the benadryl until necessary. Caleb started fussing and crying before the first hour, so on came the video. many, many thanks to the Cooleys and Kennedys for supplying the DVD player and discs. simply amazing. we must have played those 6 videos at least 6 times each. of course I've got little tunes in my head even now, but it's a small price to pay.

but after many hours, Caleb started freaking out. we took long breaks, spreading out the blanket and having a good time of it in some shady spot, and the weather was beautiful. but still he didnt do well, mostly because he would only sleep for about 1/2 hour at a time, and less than 2 hours total for the whole day, which makes for misery for all. a potentially 13+ hour journey took 17. that was the first leg (TN to DE).

the second was a week later (DE to VT), which started out OK, but a little late due to family times. it would have probably been a good trip if it wasnt for the huge delays in the NY thruway, as well as the downpours that followed. the friday of the 4th of July weekend is a bad time to travel those roads. it took us 13 hours to travel what would otherwise take 8.

on the way home, we were traveling from VT to PA and then to TN the next day. we knew we had to try something else. so we gave him benadryl before we left, and took off before sunrise (which in New England is REALLY early). this proved to do the trick, as he got a really good nap first thing, and then another decent one later. the weather was bad, but the roads were good, so that helps. a 6 hour trip took 8. not bad at all.

the final leg was the next day, from PA to TN. it usually takes 12 hours. we ended up leaving early again, giving him the drugs early again (for a 2 hour nap), and then once more in the middle of the day (for a 3 hour nap). the roads were good and the weather was beautiful. we made it home in 14 hours, in time to unpack a little and cool down the house before bed. beer is seldom a more welcome sight after such journeys.

and so we thank God for answering our prayers, and we also sing the praises of benadryl and baby einstein videos. who knows when our next trip will be, but we'll now no longer fear the road. details of actual adventures between the roadtrips coming soonish.