Road Tripping with Toddlers. 

Everyone loves traveling, it’s true! We love seeing new sights, meeting up with friends and family or destination vacations, but when a toddler or small child is in tow, a little extra care is needed. So we would like to give you some traveling tips that will help you and your family enjoy every minute. 

The first thing to do when planning a road trip is make a plan. It sounds simple, but making a checklist of the items you will need (for each child) will make packing and prep much faster.

This will prevent the chaos of driving home 3 times for forgotten supplies.

1. Location, location, location.

   Map out your trip with navigation ahead of time, and have a back-up plan in case your phone does not receive a signal. The last thing you want to do is be in the car for an extra extended period of time, with a tired or fussy toddler during a stressful situation. 

2. Tell your child about the trip before you leave.

   Build it up and make it exciting. You can even play-act it out with them so they know what to expect. But don’t tell them too far in advance, or excitement may turn into frustration waiting on the trip date.

3. Make sure to take all needed medicines and first aid supplies.

   This also includes making sure you have up-to-date insurance information with you. If your child is due to be immunized, make sure that you do not schedule that right before your trip.  Immunizing your child just before your travel date is a bad idea, and it can lead to fevers and rashes during your journey. It’s advisable to immunize as early as possible, leaving at least a month between the doctor’s appointment and your travel date.

4. Try to stick to your child’s daily routine.

   You may be able to plan driving time around their naps, but make sure to keep mealtime, sleep, and playtime as close to normal as possible.

5. Prepare for snack attacks with healthy snacks.

   You don’t want to be serving sugary snacks when little ones can’t run off the extra energy. Pack whatever is age-appropriate and easy to eat. Some easy ideas are cheese, cucumber sticks, fruit, yogurt, applesauce packets, and cooked diced sweet potatoes. Cut in size and shape that will not cause choking, and make sure your toddler is being monitored while eating. Pack snacks in easy to open storage containers with multiple compartments and be sure to have plenty of hand wipes on hand. For more snack ideas visit: 40+ Easy Toddler Snacks Every Kid (and Parent) Will Love.

6. Plan car activities for your car seat-bound little one.

   This can be anything from picture board books, videos (if your car is equipped), doodle boards, magnetic puzzles, coloring books, a learning, a dress-up doll with buckles and zippers, or any other toys that are made for busy little hands and imaginations.

7. Pack extra outfits.

   Accidents happen to the cutest of outfits, so be prepared for a quick change if needed. You might want to bring a few extra ones for the adults as well! (Just in case) Also, dress your child in layers. You can peel those away as needed.

8. Keep an easy-going attitude.

   Children can mirror our emotions. Laughing, singing, and giving one on one attention will go a long way. If you become stressed, remember little eyes are watching you. Try to keep the mood light and focus on being a problem solver. 

9. Comfort items are important.

   Whether it’s a pacifier, stuffed animal, blanket or pillow, take something that your toddler considers comforting. It will give them a sense of home and security while on the go.

10. Capture the moments.

    Take lots of photos to remember your excursions by, and put them in a memory book for you and your child. These trips, although sometimes a little chaotic, will be remembered fondly for years to come.