Travel Beds

Road-tripping with a baby can be a great way to spend some quality time together, so long as you don't spend the bulk of your vacation sitting in the car. For the hours that you will be on the road, consider these tips:

1. Have one parent ride in the back seat with the baby to help keep her entertained and comforted, while allowing the driver to focus on the task at hand. Since she'll be riding rear-facing, she'll especially appreciate the face-time with you during drive times.

2. Whenever you need to stop and stretch your legs, make sure that your baby gets some physical activity, too, whether that means stretching and rolling on a blanket, crawling on a park lawn, or practicing walking laps around a restaurant. Her sleep schedule, digestion, and disposition will be better as a result.

3. Avoid the temptation to plan an overnight drive “while the baby sleeps.” Few people start a road trip as tired as parents with a baby, and you'll likely have a hard time making up the sleep lost during your vacation. What's more, your baby might end up surprising you by NOT sleeping as much as you expected in the car at night — those bright headlights behind you can be pretty distracting to a rear-facing baby over 4 months old.

Whether you'll be crossing the county or crossing the country in your family car, here are the five top products you'll find to help make the most of your adventures.