The good news is that babies love to sleep in the car. The bad news is that when they want something, they want it now! As long as baby is sleeping, it is recommended that you just keep driving and do not stop unless you absolutely have to. You would need to stop every two to three hours to feed and change a baby, so try to plan accordingly to make the stops fun for your child.

1. Have some bubbly fun

Keep some bubbles in a non-spill container in the car, and blow some bubbles for baby when someone else is doing the driving. This calms a baby right down, and your older children would think it is pretty fun too. Tiny bubble containers sold for party favours are fun for this purpose.

2. Have fun with picture books

Even very young babies will respond to a good book. You do not have to read the entire story word for word, but baby will enjoy hearing your voice as you point out objects in the pictures. The best books to hold their attention are books with photos of everyday objects, such as books with numbers, ABCs, and lots of colourful pictures.

3. Let your baby listen to classical music

Recent studies have indicated that classical music may help boost baby’s intelligence. That remains to be seen, but babies and grown-ups can both enjoy a little Beethoven or Mozart now and then. You can even find classical music like Baby Mozart just for babies.

4. Play Peek-a-Boo

An all-time classic baby game that is perfect for your baby when you have to make a stop during your travel. Hide behind a book or your head rest and pop out while squealing ‘Peek-a-boo’ and your baby would be delighted. Then, cover your baby’s eyes for a moment and let her pop out to see you!

5. Have a good toe-time

Since you are stuck in the car, you may as well get some good toe-time in with your baby. Just in case you do not remember this one, start with the big toe and say, “This little piggy went to market, then point to your baby’s next toe and say “This little piggy stayed home,” and continue with the rest of her toes by saying, “This little piggy had roast beef, this little piggy had none, and this little piggy toe cried wee wee wee all the way home” (run your fingers up your baby’s leg for a quick tickle).

6. Sing some nursery rhymes

If possible, sit next to baby and make eye contact. Even if your baby cannot sing along, she would really enjoy your tunes, and nothing beats those old classics such as Row your Boat, Rock a Bye Baby, or Itsy Bitsy Spider. Do not like to sing? Then try some lullaby tracks.

7. Attach the toys to the baby’s car seat

Fun toys keep your baby busy in the car. Attach your baby’s toys with a short string onto your baby’s car seat so that her toys would not fall and you do not have to pick them up from time to time. However, you have to make sure that the string is short to avoid your baby from accidentally strangling herself.

8. Learning body parts

An older baby could learn all the parts of the body. Ask your baby to show you where they are, starting with her nose. Then, help your baby find her head, mouth, cheek, ear, chin, hand, foot, tummy, shoulder, neck, teeth, by pointing to the specified part when you ask questions such as, “Where is your nose, where is your finger, or where is your tummy?” and so on.

9. Have fun with puppets

Have a puppet “talk” with your baby. Let the puppet nibble her toes, and hand her things. Babies love to hug puppets, too.