T.C.
Hi M.,
Congratulations on you hubby coming home safely!
My husband and I are balloonists, and have been doing road-trips with our first son since he was 3 weeks old; now we have two, and just got back from a balloon rally this weekend.
It is very possible, you just need to be a little organized and plan some things ahead.
Plan for your drive to take about 50% longer, (or more if you are breastfeeding. You can use a breastpump plugged into the cigarette-lighter, but then someone else needs to be driving.) It'll work best if your baby is on a schedule, because you'll know better when you'll be stopping along your route (and can plan for a "nicer" rest-stop), and baby will mostly sleep or play quietly in their carseat as you drive (hopefully).
From what I understand, as long as your carseat was built with a seatbelt adapter (most are) you should be okay.
If baby's on solid food, buy jars of baby food. I make home-made foods, but for traveling, the pre-made stuff is tidy, quick, convenient, and healthy enough. They also sell containers at wal-mart that hold pre-measured amounts of cereal or formula powder, to make mixing faster.
In your bags, carry a bottle washer and small bottle of dishwashing liquid to do dishes in the motel room at night.
Don't plan on driving more than 6 to 8 hours a day. You won't get as far, but you and baby don't need to be stuck in a moving van for longer than that: the stress will get to you both, and your baby will be more prone to diaper rash.
Speaking of diaper rash: have a diaper-changing plan. On-the-road bathrooms can be surprisingly disgusting, and the gas station may not have a changing table or countertop to change a diaper on. I set up a changing-station in our truck, and put diapers, wipes, cream, change of clothes, etc in a box; and a nice folded towel or blanket so they're comfy and don't roll around too much while I'm standing in a parking lot in the-middle-of-nowhere, or on the side of a highway.
If she *does* get diaper rash: the fact that you get to a hotel early enough will give you time to give her a bath and take proper care of her skin.
Instead of dressing her in layers for cool mornings, use blanket layers. Then, if she starts to get warm, you can easily peel blanket-layers off with out having to stop.
Pack things you *may* need, conveniently in the moving van (near the door). Portable crib; stroller; etc. You may not think you'll need them, then you suddenly get somewhere and... (p.s. motels often have portable cribs you can borrow)
Most of all: think safety. Always park in well-lit areas, and get motel employees to help you get settled (if nothing else, ask them to call your room by a certain time to make sure you got settled okay). Try to get to your destinations before dark, and carry extra food so you don't *have* to go to a restaurant in an unfamiliar town where the people may be creepy.
Thank you for supporting your husband as he defends our country!
Good luck!
T
