Travelling with a Newborn: Our First Road Trip with a Baby

Introduction

Travelling with a newborn sounds like one of those ideas that feels exciting in theory and slightly terrifying in practice. When Milo was around three months old, we decided to stop overthinking it and just go. One road trip, one car, and a loose route through France.

This journey took us from Annecy to Provence and the lavender fields, then down to Occitanie. No flights, no tight schedule, no pressure to “do it all.” Just a slow road trip, built around naps, feeds, heat waves, and figuring things out as we went.

This article is not a guide on how to travel perfectly with a newborn. It’s simply what happened on our very first road trip as parents.

Our France tips in your Google Maps?

Start saving time! All our favorite spots—restaurants, hikes, must-do’s, hidden gems, & more—are saved in one handy Google Map.

Shop all our maps

Why We Chose a Road Trip with a Newborn

When you start thinking about travel with a newborn, flexibility quickly becomes the most important factor. That’s why a road trip with a newborn felt like the safest and most realistic option for us.

Travelling by car meant no airports, no boarding times, and no being stuck somewhere if things didn’t go as planned. A long car trip with a newborn also allows you to stop whenever your baby needs to eat, cry, stretch, or simply reset. That freedom was essential for our peace of mind.

For us, travelling with a newborn wasn’t about distance or adventure. It was about seeing if vacations for newborns could still feel like travel, not just logistics and stress.

Tip: Now, that we travel with baby Milo, we always bring this Babybjorn baby carrier with us.

Part 1: Hitting the Road – Annecy as Our First Stop

Annecy was the first stop of our road trip with a newborn, and it couldn’t have been a better place to start. This was our first long drive as parents, our first night away from home with Milo, and our first real test of travelling with a newborn.

We timed our departure around Milo’s nap and made sure he was fully fed before leaving. That one detail made all the difference. The drive went surprisingly well, with Milo sleeping through most of it and waking up only when we stopped for lunch.

Once in Annecy, we slowed right down, met our friends, and took it easy. We walked by the city center and the lake. We tested the stroller, the baby carrier and learned quickly that some days nothing works the way you expect.

We also did our first hike with Milo; it was a small one that lasted a few hours, but much shorter compared to the thru-hikes we did in the past. And to be honest, we wouldn’t have had the condition to do a multi-day trek.

Nights were harder than at home, with more frequent wake-ups, but we accepted it as part of the experience. Annecy set the tone for the rest of the trip: slow mornings, flexible days, and adjusting expectations in real time.

Tip: This is the stroller we recommend for traveling — it’s super lightweight and compact enough to fit in airplane cabins.

Part 2: Provence and the Lavender Fields – Learning on the Road

From Annecy, we continued south towards Provence, turning this into a true long car trip with a newborn. We based ourselves in Manosque, which made travelling with a newborn infinitely easier. One base, no constant packing, and the freedom to stay in if Milo wasn’t having a good day.

From Manosque, we explored the lavender fields and nearby villages, including Valensole Plateau, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Banon, and Sault. This part of the road trip is where we really started learning on the go.

Our France tips in your Google Maps?

Start saving time! All our favorite spots—restaurants, hikes, must-do’s, hidden gems, & more—are saved in one handy Google Map.

Shop all our maps

We made mistakes. On one driving day, we forgot to feed Milo properly before leaving. Five minutes into the drive, we were already stopping. That moment became a permanent rule for the rest of the trip: baby first, road second. Travelling with a newborn leaves very little room for shortcuts.

Heat was another challenge. Provence in summer is beautiful, but vacations for newborns require extra attention. We planned outings early in the morning or late in the afternoon, searched constantly for shade, and accepted that some villages were better admired from the outside than explored with a stroller in 37°C.

Tip: Now, that we travel with baby Milo, we always bring this Babybjorn baby carrier with us.

Part 3: Occitanie – Adjusting Expectations Until the End

The final part of our road trip with a newborn took us to Occitanie, where we visited places like Camargue, Arles, and Nîmes. By this point, we were more confident but also more realistic.

Camargue was interesting, but crowded and extremely hot. Milo wasn’t comfortable, and neither were we. Instead of pushing through, we cut the visit short, went back to our accommodation, and took a break. Travelling with a newborn often means knowing when to stop, not when to push further.

Arles felt much more adapted to travel with a newborn. Walkable streets, shade, and quieter corners made it easier to explore. Nîmes was similar. Some days were active, others slow, and both felt right.

Tip: Now, that we travel with baby Milo, we always bring this Babybjorn baby carrier with us.

Travelling Slowly: How a Road Trip with a Newborn Changes Everything

At some point, we stopped trying to see everything. A road trip with a newborn naturally forces you to slow down, whether you want to or not.

Some of our favourite moments weren’t the destinations themselves but the drives in between. Milo sleeping in the back, lavender fields passing by, quiet music, no rush. If something felt easy, we stopped. If it felt complicated, we moved on.

Travelling with a newborn changes your relationship with time. Once we accepted that, the trip became calmer, lighter, and far more enjoyable.

Tip: We use the DJI Action 4 to film our vlogs — compact, durable, and perfect for capturing every adventure.

Sleeping, Feeding, and Car Naps During a Long Car Trip with a Newborn

Car naps were one of the biggest surprises of this trip. During our long car trip with a newborn, Milo often slept better in the car than in unfamiliar beds. Those naps made longer drives possible and gave us more flexibility.

Nights were less predictable. New places meant more wake-ups and more frequent feeding. We stopped expecting good nights and focused instead on resting whenever we could.

Feeding during travel with a newborn required anticipation more than routine. Feeding before drives, choosing shaded stops, and accepting that schedules would shift slightly made everything easier.

Tip: Now, that we travel with baby Milo, we always bring this Babybjorn baby carrier with us.

What We Packed (and What Actually Helped)

When it comes to travelling with a newborn, packing can quickly get out of hand. We tried to keep things simple and focus on what would actually make a road trip with a newborn easier day to day.

The real essentials for us were a stroller, a baby carrier, and a travel cot. Having both a stroller and a carrier gave us flexibility depending on where we were. The stroller was perfect for flat walks by lakes or in cities, while the baby carrier quickly became our go-to in villages, cobblestone streets, or anywhere with stairs.

The travel cot turned out to be a great decision. It allowed us to stay flexible with accommodations and made bedtime much easier for Milo, especially after long days on the road. We also found that staying in apartments rather than hotels made a big difference. It’s simply easier to manage bedtime routines, and once the baby is asleep, you can either cook dinner quietly or eat first and put the baby down later, depending on how the evening unfolds.

We brought a milk pump with us but didn’t end up using it much during the trip. Besides that, we packed the basics: baby diapers, wet wipes, and a reasonable amount of clothing. We didn’t overpack clothes and instead did laundry twice over the course of the two weeks, which worked perfectly fine.

For us, travelling with a newborn wasn’t about having everything with us at all times. It was about having the right things and accepting that you can always wash clothes, buy supplies, and adapt along the way.

Tip: This is the stroller we recommend for traveling — it’s super lightweight and compact enough to fit in airplane cabins.

What We’d Do Differently Next Time

If we were to do another road trip with a newborn, we’d pack less. One of the unexpected sources of stress wasn’t the baby itself, but managing everything around it. Packing, loading the car, unloading it again, and repeating the process every few days adds up quickly.

We’d bring fewer clothes for ourselves, choose a smaller and lighter stroller, and be more intentional with what actually needs to come along. Most things can be washed or bought on the road, and we realised we don’t need as much as we think.

We’d also simplify the route even more. Fewer accommodations, fewer places to visit, and more time in one single location. Focusing on one base and taking things even slower would make the whole experience lighter, calmer, and more enjoyable for everyone.

Travelling with a newborn already slows you down in the best way. Next time, we’d lean into that even more.

Don’t forget to book your accommodations in advance – the best places always fill up quickly.

Is Travelling with a Newborn Worth It?

Travelling with a newborn is not easy, and it’s definitely not relaxing in the classic sense. Days are slower, plans change constantly, and your energy level is never quite where you want it to be. A road trip with a newborn comes with moments of doubt, tired evenings, and the feeling that everything takes more effort than before.

That said, this trip showed us that travelling with a newborn is absolutely possible. It doesn’t look like travel used to, and it shouldn’t. You move at a different pace, you notice different things, and you learn to let go of expectations very quickly.

For us, this road trip wasn’t about ticking places off a list. It was about spending time together, building confidence as parents, and realising that travel doesn’t have to stop because life has changed. Vacations for newborns are less about destinations and more about the experience of being on the road together.

Would we recommend a long car trip with a newborn to everyone? Not necessarily. But if you’re willing to slow down, simplify your plans, and stay flexible, it can be a really meaningful way to ease into travelling as a family.

Our France tips in your Google Maps?

Start saving time! All our favorite spots—restaurants, hikes, must-do’s, hidden gems, & more—are saved in one handy Google Map.

Shop all our maps

Tip: Don’t forget to bring a good camera, such as the SONY A7 — it makes all the difference for capturing those unforgettable moments.