PCSing with a Breastfed Newborn (Top 12 Things)
Most people wouldn’t be talking to their moving company on the day they were giving birth to their child, but military families are nothing but efficient when it comes to packing up their lives and hauling families across the world on expedited timelines.
We were fortunate enough to PCS when our daughter was 4 weeks old. We knew that our coast-to-coast journey wouldn’t be as easy as usual, but we felt confident on our pre-mapped hotel timeline.
About 30 minutes into the drive, we realized it was going to be A LONG, LONG TRIP. Newborns don’t eat breakfast, go potty, and sit quietly for the next two hours until the planned rest stop. No…no, no, no. By the second hour of our trip, we’d stopped to nurse twice, had a diaper blowout, and what I can only imagine were screams of anti-car-seat resentment to calm down.
We stopped each time to nurse despite the deep contemplation and burning desire to nurse her while the car was moving. Unfortunately, that isn’t safe nor legal.
Breastfed babies nurse a lot…and if you get a bout of cluster feeding, you may literally stop every few miles. It is torturous – both for your plans to maintain the driving timeline and for the nursing parent and the driver to stay relaxed.
Hydration is equally important for the nursing parent – and downing huge quantities of liquid isn’t your first thought when embarking on a road trip. But in order to prevent clogged ducts and a trip to the first random urgent care you see for mastitis antibiotics, you better hydrate properly…and yes, that means more bathroom breaks for parents, too.
PCSing with a breastfed newborn can feel like the constant stop and lurch of being taught to drive a stick shift. Very little forward progress is made and everyone is frustrated.
To any families that will be PCSing with a newborn, I would suggest setting hotel markers if possible. For instance, if things aren’t going well, we can stop 5 hours away at X. If things are okay by X, maybe we try to stop in 6 hours at Y, and so on. It isn’t always easy to find hotels that have availability, especially if you also have pets with you, but when planning your stops, make more realistic goals and give yourself grace when you don’t meet them. And always try for 100% refundable rooms (pay attention to your cancel dates and times).
Once you arrive at your hotel, it is inevitable that your baby will be wide-awake while you can’t even force your eyes to stay open. Hotel rooms tend to be very cold and if your baby isn’t used to that, it is best to keep warm pajamas and a swaddle and hat accessible so that your little one can sleep comfortably.
It isn’t always fun or glamorous to PCS with a newborn, but many parents have come before you to pave the way. Don’t worry, with a little pre-planning and forethought, you can set up realistic expectations with a car full of helpful items to make your trip across the USA a little easier.
Here is a list of…
The Top 12 Things to Take in the Car While PCSing with a Breastfed Newborn
The LaVie Lactation Massager is a dedicated, rechargeable tool you can use that includes heat and vibration to massage the breast if you feel a clog coming on. If in a pinch, an electric toothbrush’s vibration and a heat pack can help.
The Kiinde Twist Pouch bags for breastmilk are more expensive than some other milk storage bags, but when it comes to ease of use when traveling, these can’t be beat. And when you are pumping or filling up a bottle at 75mph, you want easy.
Liquid I.V. is newer to the market than when I had my daughter, but it is an amazing pour-in-water powder that dissolves well and tastes great. I use it after long runs as well - don’t forget to walk around on your drive, too!
Puppy training pads are a fantastic option to use in the car when you change your baby’s diaper. It prevents your upholstery or leather from smelling like rancid poo when trying to clean and contain a blowout, and in the event of a cool breeze passing by, uncontrolled urination puddles.
Every baby is different and prefers different types of swaddling. Use what your baby has been most comfortable with - the hotel night is not the night to try out a new one. The HALO Sleepsack is a commonly popular option.
Nothing can be more treacherous than a parent trying to tip-toe through a dark hotel room. Every creak, hinge, or toe stub can wake the baby with its deafening roar over room silence. A small, travel, white-noise fan to keep air circulating and minimize the surrounding noise is my go-to for hotel stays with baby.
Pack n Plays and travel cots are great for our bigger littles, but when car space is already at an ultimate premium, an easy to pack, portable newborn bassinet can make for a fantastic, safe sleeping space for baby. The Munchkin Brica Fold N’ Go Travel Bassinet is a great price, a great size, and it folds up really nicely for sliding into the car.
Don’t underestimate the value of easy to access nursing tops - and don’t just have one top at the ready…infant spit up or reflux can require several shirts at the ready for you to wear on your daily journey.
Hunger while breastfeeding is REAL! Buying two Spicy Chicken Sandwich Meals just for mom may not be budget friendly, but it is important to eat if you are hungry to maintain your milk supply and sanity. No one needs a hangry mama or papa. Lara Bars (many flavor options) are my go to travel bar of choice.
A collapsible travel basin has so many uses, but the one that should concern you most is for washing your pump parts, pacifiers, and bottles. Hotels are not sterile environments, especially the sinks. Having a dedicated basin and some dish soap to wash your items will keep you and your baby from contracting inevitable infections from unknown hotel surface diseases.
A portable rocker…are you insane? Nope! Yeah, I get it, car space is already at a premium, but this item serves two purposes. One, you have a place to rock your baby in the hotel room to help soothe them. Two, once you arrive at your empty home destination, you not only have a chair to sit in while waiting for the movers, but that chair rocks. Again, a win-win!
Being able to find hot water to warm up a bottle of frozen breastmilk or heat up a bottle of cold formula isn’t easy. The Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Portable Travel Baby Bottle Warmer easily stores hot water for warming bottles on the go…and since you’re PCSing…you’re legitimately on the go.
