Tiny Travelers, Big Adventure: Our Baby-Friendly Road Trip to the Smokies
The weekdays and weekends in postpartum all blur together. When our friends mentioned they’d be in the smoky mountains during spring break, we jumped at the opportunity to go on a little family getaway and meet them. Google maps said 4.5 hours from Charlotte but that didn’t factor in the construction traffic in Asheville after the hurricane (be careful on I-40). Collectively, it was about a 6 hour drive for a quick weekend. In hindsight, we should have stayed an extra night but it was still worth it.
How did we manage going on a roadtrip with a 2-year old and an 8-week old? It always starts with a list. Packing is something you can control, so focus on being organized and it’ll make the unknown factors seem less stressful (crying, traffic, etc.). I created individual packing lists for the kids and one combined list as well. I also made a list for myself since a mama with a newborn has a lot to pack (breastfeeding/pumping/bottles, etc.).
In our household, I’ve always made the lists and taken my time to pack. My husband can pack 5 min before a trip - what is it with men and being able to do that?! However, now that there’s more people to consider, one important thing to consider is vocalizing your lists and communicating to your partner what you need help with. Just because I like to create the lists doesn’t mean the packing has to be all on me. Especially when there’s sleep deprivation and postpartum brain involved!
Here are some of my favorite road trip essentials for babies & toddlers (leave a comment if you want the links):
For baby:
Dock a tot
Baby Bjorn Bouncer
To-go sound machine
Wildbird carrier
Boppy for feeding
Barefoot dreams blanket
Doona car seat + stroller
For toddler:
Interactive books (peek-a-boo flaps, music, etc.)
For both kids:
Travel monitor
Parker Baby diaper caddy
Skip Hop Signature changing station
Honest baby bath soap & washcloths
Roll of doggie bags for diaper trash on the go
Sunbum sunscreen stick
For mama:
Spectra pump + wearable pump
Nursing cover
Boon Milk Chiller
Nursing + pumping bra for the car
Postnatal vitamins
The mountains were calling to us and we will definitely be back. We spent a lot of time at the cabin (it had 3 decks with mountain views!) but did get to explore Pigeon Forge for the day. The Island at Pigeon Forge is great for kids - but for young kids and babies it was way too crowded and over stimulating. There is a nice green space in a shopping district on the other side - highly recommend checking that out and dining at Junction 35 where you can sample moonshine, a Tennessee staple!
It was refreshing to break up our routine and build confidence as a family of four to travel more. Happy roadtripping!