How to plan the first road trip with your newborn or baby

For road trips, no need to think. It will be Malaysia. If you are thinking of just going Johor Bahru, this is not call road trip. This is just a staycation.

Here is a rough estimate of driving duration.

• Singapore to LegoLand - 45 mins
• Singapore to Desaru - 1 Hour 30 mins
• Singapore to Malacca - 2 Hours 50 mins
• Singapore to Port Dickson - 3 Hours 30 mins
• Singapore to Kuala Lumpur - 3 Hours 45 mins
• Singapore to Genting - 5 Hours

I don’t think you want to go anywhere further than Genting. Just imagine with a baby and so many hours in the car.

If they don’t get cranky, you consider lucky liao.

Traffic at the Check Points

You also need to buffer some time (30 mins to 2 hours) at the customs. Use this app to check out the traffic situation at the custom.

Touch n Go Card

In Malaysia, they use the Touch n Go card for their toll stations. Before you begin your journey, please ensure you have a Touch n Go card.

If you do not have the card, you can purchase just between the Tuas checkpoint and the JB one.

If you are going by Woodlands, then you can only beg, steal, borrow liao. See your friends can lend you anot.

If not, you can get 1 from Carousell.

Toll Fees

After getting your card, it is the toll fees that you will be paying using the card. First, please ensure there is always at least RM50 in your card.

From Tuas to Kuala Lumpur, the Toll Fee is approximate RM50+. So when your Touch n Go card value drops to RM20, it is time to top up again.

But to be on the safe side, just top up RM150 for the entire trip + some buffer when your next trip.

And when you top up at the petrol kiosk there is a 50cents admin charge.

Rest Stops

Then you need to factor in rest stops. Best is every 70mins to 100mins. So if you are going to Malacca, you will just need 1 rest stop. 

So after your jam at the customs, head to some RNR first to rest.

So where is good for rest stops?

By Tuas 1st RnR 

10 mins away from the Custom. This is the place to top up the petrol, go toilet pee, buy some snacks from the shops or petrol Kiosk.

By Woodlands 

There is a lot petrol kisoks along the way. Just go anyone you like. Grab some snacks, pump petrol and go.

Yong Peng 

70 mins from Custom. The usual rest stops for travelling up north. And Yong Peng is 90 mins away from Singapore. 70 mins from the custom. So if you are travelling to Malacca, Muar or further this is the best rest stop.

Ayer Keroh R&R 

60 mins away from Yong Peng. The 2nd stop is this Ayer Keroh. The famous A&W is also situated here. No need think already. Just go and hoot the A&W, and their root beer float.

• From Ayer Keroh to Port Dickson is another 1 Hour Drive
• From Ayer Keroh to Kuala Lumpur is another 90mins Drive

Kuala Lumpur Toll Mcdonad’s 

70 mins from Ayer Keroh. If you are heading up Genting or you very hungry before reaching your Kuala Lumpur destination. You can stop here eat Mcdonald’s.

The land mark is the Petronas station. You can also pump petrol here before going up Genting.

Pump Petrol

There are restrictions of pumping RON95 petrol near the borders. So just pump whatever is higher than RON95. If you like the premium grade one also can. Because the V Power is also RM3++ / litre. 

Convert to SGD is $1++. Very worth it.

In general, a car can go 500 - 700km per full tank. So to go Genting which is around 400km, you can first pump petrol at the first RNR, then pump again when you are resting near the KL Toll Mcdonalds. 

GPS

Gone were the days we had to buy GPS for our road trip. Now with Google map or Waze you can navigate easier. 

We are a big fan of Waze, as they have user contributions of where the traffic camera and traffic police are. 

Sometimes we accidentally stepped heavier àbit. 

Google maps are good for city driving. Because they indicate the lanes that you should take. 

Car Stuffs for Baby

Baby Car Seat 

This one no need think. Always put your baby in the car seat when driving. This is to ensure safety. So get a car seat which is comfortable for your baby.

And it should not be the first time your baby is using the car seat for the road trip. If not, your baby may be screaming through out the trip.

Baby Car Mirror 

A mirror to kiap, so that you can see your baby from the mirror if they are still on rear facing direction.

Portable Fan 

Because your baby is rear facing and they also do not know how to say, Up the Aircon please. so a portable fan will come in handy. You can kiap the fan at the mirror. Use a power bank to power up the fan.

Kids Music 

Spotify or any downloaded kids song to sing along for the trip. Somehow the music will calm them down.

Baby Stuffs

Similar to going out, you need a diaper bag. And depending on how many days are you going. Always prepare 30% more quantity. 

You never know if you need extras. And since you are driving, everything can just throw at the boot.

Diapers 

If you are heading to Port Dickson or Kuala Lumpur. Actually the drive is like 4 hours. Please buffer more hours for changing diaper. 

Most of the areas do not have a diaper changing room. 

So you can try practising changing diapers in the car.

So a 4 hours road trip to Port Dickson. You should be packing at least 3 diapers. 1 diaper = 3 hours. 

But to be kiasu, just pack a full day’s diaper in.

6 diapers.

Wet Wipes

Ensure you have abundance of wet wipes with you. Just buffer 1 packs of wipes per day. It is quite messy if you run out of wet wipes and the baby just had a poonami.

This one gaolat.

Baby Bathing Stuffs

Bathtub 

If you are staying in hotels or Airbnb, it is a confirm chop that they do not have baby bathtub. Even if they have, you dare to use anot? So best is bring your own. 

You can buy them online. Inflatable bathtub or collapsable ones.

Bathing Shampoo/Gel 

Bring enough of them, so you can shower your baby. You do not want to use adult shampoo right?

Towel 

Bring at least 2 towels. One to put on the bed or bench, to act as a changing station.

Bathing Toys

If your baby needs that to be distracted.

Baby Clothes 

Prepare two sets of baby clothes a day. Can always Keep spares in the car. 

And also one set of sleeping clothes. 

Stroller 

This one no need say la. You want to carry them all the way meh. Just use your usual stroller. And also one that can fit in your car boot. 

Feeding Stuffs 

Milk Bottles 

Bring at least 4 for the road trip. 4 bottles means 12 hours feeding supply. Because feeding is every 3 hours. You need to buffer 6 to 8 hours (2 to 3 bottles) depending on your destination.

And once you reach your accommodation, you may not have time to wash and sterilize.

Best is bring more. 

Formula Milk + Container

If baby is not being breastfed or on a mixed diet. You can store them in a separate container. 

Travel Steriliser 

If your baby is still young like below 1 years old. It is recommended to bring along a bottle steriliser equipment. 

Because baby still young, their stomach may not be able to take in those bacteria and stuffs. 

Steriliser tablets 

I always hear of this tablets but I never use before. But apparently it also works as intended.

Baby Washing liquid + Bottle Brush 

Bring along washing liquid and brush to scrub your milk bottle clean clean. 

Mummy Breast feeding Essentials

If you are a breast feeding mummy, the trip should roughly be at 3rd month. Because 1st Month confinement. 2nd month you dying to get out of the house.

So just nice around the 3rd month can go for the road trip.

At the 3rd month, most breastfeeding mummies should have experience bringing the baby out.

So the breastfeeding essentials you already know. 

Portable Breast Pump

If you are going on a road trip, it is best to bring along a portable breast pump. Pumps like Spectra or Bubee Breast Pump.

Bubee Breast Pump can use power bank to power the breast pump.

Spectra is a rechargeable breast pump, which you can charge full full first before you begin your road trip. But if halfway low batt, then you siao liao lor.

Milk Storage Bottles/Bags

Standard if you are pumping, you have to use the bottles to store it then transfer to the bag. Bring extras just in case.

Ice cooler Bag

This is a must have. Just treat this like a portable fridge. And put the ice pack inside. A good ice cooler bag can last you around 6 hours.

So that is also the maximum that you can be outside. In the case your road trip is more than 6 hours. You can also go some restaurants or supermarket to get some ice. 

What I realise is the petrol kiosk I visit during my trip; They do not have ice available. So we have time constraints.

Like maximum is 6 hours on the road.

My Say

I hope that I have cover most of the essentials items to bring along for your first trip with baby. This is also to trial out what you may have missed out before you plan for a air travel to somewhere further.

Having a road trip, you can bring as many things as you like. As long the boot can fit in.

And you will also begin to realise what you actually need and what you actually do not need. So your next trip will be better.