Evening star., 1949-04-04
TRAVEL WITH BABY
from Mrs. J. X. r.. Rfrerddi,

ter on q trip. ana / nope our ex-
periences will be of help TO you.
You asked particularly about
diapers and formulas. We were
lucky because our route passed
through many fairly large cities,
and in many We found self-service
laundromats. We saved the dia-
pers In a regular diaper can. and
when we stopped at night took
them to the laundromat and had
them washed and dried. Before
We stopped and settled, We made
sure such service was available
II not. We drove on until We found
a laundromat. This was an in
expensive and easy-on-me way
around the problem. However.
II you are visiting q private
home at the other end Of your
trip, or a resort where you expect
to spend some time. perhaps it
would be easier to save them. You
didn't give that information. 20
didn't know exactly the best
way to answer. II you are planning
to spend some time Ct your des-
tination, you might like TO invest
in a small portable washer. I did
that on another trip to Cape May.
used 1t for our vacation, and sold
it on our return. 1t was also q
fine solution.
Our baby was on an evaporated
milk formula at the time Of our
trip. Our doctor assured me that
the changes of water in her for
mula wouldn't matter. 50 I Just
packed a quart measuring cup that
could be heated. measuring spoons,
etc. and made fresh for
mula nightly. I took a one-burner
hot plate for that purpose. also
bought an enamel, non electric
sterilizer with a rack for seven
bottles and nipples. After steriliz-
ing and filling the bottles,
stored them In 1t and packed ice
around them. Wrapped in news
paper, the can would keep very
cold on the hottest day.
To heat the bottles I had a bot
tie warmer that plugged into the
cars cigarette lighter. This elm
mated many extra stops.
We put the baby in her basket
on the back seat of our car. She
slept most Of the time, but when
she got restless I'd prop her UP a
little with pillows and had plenty
of bells and rattles handy.
We found q baby carriage an
asset. too. It's nice to be able to
go for a walk in the evening in
stead Of staying cooped up in a
strange room in a strange town.
One more hint-when you start
out pack your car carefully. Keep
plenty of diapers. powder. oil, cot
tons. cleaning tissues. an extra
sweater and a shirt, ETC.. handy. !
kept a carton of such supplies.
as we'll as the diaper can. and bot
ties on the back seat. Then I didn t
have to 60. rumnfaging through
the car trunk every time the baby
needed something.
from Mrs. r. X. H., Washington. }
Last May we travelled with our
7-week- old baby to Chicago, over
TOO miles. We had no trouble
Whatsoever, and I'll be glad to tell
you how we managed.
The first thing we decided was to
travel all night, so the baby would
take fewer diapers, feelings. etc.
After his 10 o'clock bottle we knew
he'd sleep till 6 am. That. to me,
was our brightest idea" We fed
the baby his solids. cereal and
fruit about 5 pm. Had the car
parked and ready to go when he
finished. I gave him his bottle en-
route and he slept till 10. when he
had another bottle and then slept
till 6 am.
I mixed IL bottles Of sugar and
water In the right amount, had
the type bottle that sealed. and
took IL cans Of evaporated milk.
small size. I sterilized the can
tops and wrapped them in wax
paper separately. I sterilized the
can opener and kept 1t wrapped.
When feeding time came ! opened
a can of milk. added 1t to the bot
tie of sugar and water and heated
1t In a car bottle-warmer which we
purchased for $2.95 and which is
a lifesaver. Any all-night truck
stop" will gladly warm your bottle
for you If you prefer to stop.
My baby was on cereal and
mashed banana. took his spoon
and bought a package Of paper
cups in the dime store. I mashed
the banana first then added the
cereal and warm formula. 1t
worked fine. Then I threw away
the cup. That meant nothing but
a spoon to wash. which I did in
restrooms along with his bib
(plastic) and washcloth.
I packed his clothes and diapers
In an overnight bag. Packed
bottles, milk. ETC., in a shopping
bag.
We had the baby in a car bed
for the whole trip. It was like
being in his own crib. He didn't
fuss at all. Had the bags, ETC., on
the back seat.
I started out with q bunch of
disposable diapers, but after using
two I realized they were no good.
They tore up as soon as wet. So
I unpacked by regular diapers and
used them.
I got a big heavy paper bag and
put the wet ones in it. This may
seem extravagant, but I threw
away the soiled ones. I had only
had two and didn't feel too badly
about that waste, because it saved
us a lot of time. We were on the
road 40 hours, IL of which the
baby slept constantly and the
other eight he mapped q lot. CYou
can see the advantage of night
driving)