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Winter Car Travel with Your Newborn
Author: Heather Slee
Driving in the winter (for those of you in snowy states) can have its hazards: dead batteries, accidents, getting stuck in the snow. You may not have put a lot of thought into having a winter car kit, but once you have a baby, you have to be prepared. Create your own winter car kit for your trunk, and if something unforeseen happens to you, you can breathe a little easier knowing you have supplies.
Car kit essentials:
Blanket(s)
Extra jacket, hat, mittens/gloves, scarf, boots
Jumper cables
First-aid kit
Cat litter (for traction)
Ice scraper
Shovel (if you have room)
Flares/distress sign
Flashlight
Candy bars
Diaper bag essentials:
Extra diapers (obviously!)
Wipes
Fresh Sacks (for used diapers)
Warm sleepers
Hats
Extra breast milk or formula (and bottles)
Extra pacifiers
Blankets
Other tips that can give you peace of mind are: Always charge your cell phone before you get in the car. Invest in AAA if you can afford it (also great for a Christmas wish list). Make sure someone knows where you are and what your plans are. There are still a few areas out there where you get no cell phone service!
Also, the best thing to do is to stay out of a jam altogether. While some things are unavoidable, there are a couple things you can do to minimize the odds of getting stuck in bad weather. Make sure your car has been "winterized" with a tune up. Avoid travel completely (if you can) when the weather is nasty. And, finally, be hyper-aware of other drivers. It seems every year people forget how to drive in snow. Keep your eyes peeled for inattentive drivers, speeders, and fish-tailers.
