8 Tips For Road Trip Survival With Toddlers
Fora dreamy roadtrip with toddlers, stop here.
Summertime means road trips. That’s right.
The open road.
The wind in my hair.
An awesome mix on shuffle.
Two toddlers screaming in the back seat.
Sound romantic?
In two weeks, we’re going to take a six hour car trip with two boys under four. One is potty-trained, one is still in diapers. Even with the DVD player, we still have hours of entertainment to fill. A lot of strategic planning is going to be necessary to keep everyone occupied.
Plus, there are factors to consider. Sometimes one will be asleep and the other will be awake. Sometimes both will be asleep for a while (oh please, oh please, I hope this happens for at least two hours). However, I have to prepare for the most difficult scenario:
2 boys. Awake. Strapped in car seats. 6 hours.
How can I make this into my ideal road trip? The kind I had when I was in college and totally care-free?
Oh, I can’t? Right, then.
Then, how can I make this into the closest toddler version of my ideal road trip? Yes, I recognize that it might be miles away from the dreamy past, but I’ll take what I can get.
Here’s what I’m packing and planning for this journey. Let me know if you have anything to add.
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My own music
If you can, groom your child to like music that you like, too, or at least music you can tolerate.
Photo Credit: Flickr -
Doodle Pro or 2
These are fun for the kids, and I use them to play 'guess the picture or word.'
Buy on Amazon $10.99 -
9 X 12 Cookie Sheets
How's about this for brilliant ideas: A cookie sheet can be used both as a magnet board and as a platform for cars and even blocks, if you dare to bring Legos on vacay.
Buy on Amazon $11.08 -
A mountain of snacks
How many times can a 3-year-old say "I'm Hungry!" in 6 hours? Well, I better have that many snacks.
Photo Credit: Flickr -
A ball
Hopefully we'll find a rest stop that has a picnic area where we can kick the ball for a bit to get some of the kinks out of our legs.
Buy on Amazon $10.82-$22.99 -
Two of everything.
If I have a toy car for one kid, I better have a toy car for the other kid, too, or it's gonna be a rough six hours.
Photo Credit: Flickr -
Ziplock bags and paper towels
Yes, you're welcome.
Buy A Pack Of 3 for $29.99 -
Pants. Lots of Extra Pants
Shirts, and underpants, too.
Buy on Gap.com $20.96
More by Naomi
The Story Of A 3 Year Old With An Elephant Brain
Toddler Beach Safety Tips
12 Toddler Fears From The Ordinary To The Outlandish
Read more of my posts on Toddler Times.
Check out my personal blog. I Am Still Awake.
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Photo via Flickr
You COULD try driving at bedtime. It’s risky, and a little tiring (night driving) but when it works it’s beautiful and pretty hassle free. Otherwise, plan lots of breaks for running around. At least it’s spring/summer!
This is what we did with our 18month old during a 5+ hour trip we took recently. We had everything packed from the night before and started super early (5-6am). The plan was for her to fall asleep in her seat and for us not to stop until she woke up on her own. It worked like a charm! She slept for 4 hours straight. We took a nice long break and then we only had to entertain her for the last two hours.
Good luck!
I am about to embark on a 4 hour cross country flight (add in drive time to LAX, getting there early, and getting the rental car once we arrive, and…..let’s just hope the flight is not delayed). Anyway, I am nervous to do this with my 18 month old. I am hoping against hope that she will sleep on the plane, otherwise we will be nappless when we arrive! Oh the horror.
Good luck to you!
Traveling with a toddler? Argh. Doesn’t sound fun. Vacations just become work!
Here are five OTHER things NOT to do with your kids this weekend: http://goo.gl/6FwVy
http://www.dadandburied.com
I have GOT to get one of those doodle things. We’re taking a 10 hour trip this summer with our 2-year old, and I think I may be crying more than she does. I HATE traveling with her, especially in a car seat. I’d actually prefer flying across the country with her solo (which I did recently), to taking the same amount of time stuck in a car; I wouldn’t want to be strapped into something that long, so I can’t blame her.
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But her cousins have some of those doodle toys, and she loves them.
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http://raisedbymydaughter.blogspot.com/
The cookie sheet is a BRILLIANT idea! (I’m going to try painting one side of it with chalkboard paint too.) And ziplocs are indispensable for us (we have a 18 month old and a 3 year old, and family scattered across the country.) We use them for everything when travelling. We rely on technology (probably a little too much, but whatever) – the 3 year old gets to play with the iPad when his younger brother is sleeping. On a side note – neither of my kids likes sleeping in the car, so the travelling at night or leaving at 5am has never worked for us. Hopefully you have better luck, and sleepier kids!
I, like others posted, did a drive all night type thing when we took a 10-12 hr trip. We left as soon as hubby got home from work (1 am-ish) and I drove until about 6 or 7, stopped for gas, breakfast (packed) and potty break/diaper change. Then we drove onwards and it wasn’t so bad.