How to travel with 6 week old squirrel?

[Covel3]

It looks like my grandmother is about to pass away, so I need to go see her. Its about a 12 hour trip and I can't leave my baby at home, so I'm wondering if any of you have traveled with a squirrel and how to keep her warm, best way to store formula etc. I was thinking a rice bag for warmth, thermos of hot water to heat the formula and a cooler to keep it from spoiling? I would appreciate any input!

[HRT4SQRLS]

Hi covel1, sorry to hear about your grandmother. An ice chest will be fine for the formula. A rice buddy might work but it would need to be reheated along the way.
I'm not familiar with them, as I live in FL but there are some hand warmers called Hot Hands or something like that. You could probably get them in a sporting goods store.
You activate them and a chemical reaction heats them up. This could be used. If you have a good Thermos you could carry very hot water for both warming the formula and filling a water or Coke bottle with the hot water. I worry about water bottles because they are SO thin. They might melt. I have a wax core heating pad that works great for long trips but I realize you don't have time to get anything like that.

Whatever you use, wrap it in fleece or other cloth and be careful that your little one doesn't get burned.

Have a safe trip.

[island rehabber]

It looks like my grandmother is about to pass away, so I need to go see her. Its about a 12 hour trip and I can't leave my baby at home, so I'm wondering if any of you have traveled with a squirrel and how to keep her warm, best way to store formula etc. I was thinking a rice bag for warmth, thermos of hot water to heat the formula and a cooler to keep it from spoiling? I would appreciate any input!

I haven't done a long trip with squirrels in awhile, but every day I pack up my 7-week olds to go to work with me. I make formula beforehand, but also have some still in powdered form in a ziploc, in my cooler. This is just in case the pre-made spills or something, at least I can make more if I can get some hot water! The pre-made goes into a thermos. I have a microwaveable disc to keep them warm but, to be honest, at 6 weeks you don't have to worry too much about your baby so long as the heat works in the car. A rice buddy is fine, although they don't stay warm very long. I do like to have some pre-made hydration (honey water or Pedialyte) with me as well if I'm doing a trip that's longer than a couple of hours....squirrels seem to get very dehydrated on long car trips. Hope this helps!

[Covel3]

Hi covel1, sorry to hear about your grandmother. An ice chest will be fine for the formula. A rice buddy might work but it would need to be reheated along the way.
I'm not familiar with them, as I live in FL but there are some hand warmers called Hot Hands or something like that. You could probably get them in a sporting goods store.
You activate them and a chemical reaction heats them up. This could be used. If you have a good Thermos you could carry very hot water for both warming the formula and filling a water or Coke bottle with the hot water. I worry about water bottles because they are SO thin. They might melt. I have a wax core heating pad that works great for long trips but I realize you don't have time to get anything like that.

Whatever you use, wrap it in fleece or other cloth and be careful that your little one doesn't get burned.

Have a safe trip.

Those Hot Hands sound like a great idea! And I think I have some laying around still! Thanks!

[Covel3]

I haven't done a long trip with squirrels in awhile, but every day I pack up my 7-week olds to go to work with me. I make formula beforehand, but also have some still in powdered form in a ziploc, in my cooler. This is just in case the pre-made spills or something, at least I can make more if I can get some hot water! The pre-made goes into a thermos. I have a microwaveable disc to keep them warm but, to be honest, at 6 weeks you don't have to worry too much about your baby so long as the heat works in the car. A rice buddy is fine, although they don't stay warm very long. I do like to have some pre-made hydration (honey water or Pedialyte) with me as well if I'm doing a trip that's longer than a couple of hours....squirrels seem to get very dehydrated on long car trips. Hope this helps!

Thanks you! That is helpful. I will make sure to bring powdered formula and pedialyte. I would not have thought of the pedialyte!

[Jennefer]

Hi Covel3...sorry to hear about your grandmother. I know you posted this a week ago, some assuming you are already to your destination. But for future reference...there is a handy device that plugs into the round AC plug in your car (the one upfront or sometimes SUV's have them in the back near the rear door)...it's called a power inverter (if you google it, they will come up so you can see what I am referring to). It has a round plug on one end and looks like a square block on the other end. You can plug anything electrical in it. I used to use it on long car trips for a breast pump, and also for my daughter's nebulizer. I've used it to plug in heating pads on long trips with my squees as well. Its super handy. Some of the newer ones also have USB ports on them as well. Usually run around $20.

Jenn