SURVIVING ROAD TRIPS WITH KIDS (BABIES AND TODDLERS)

Surviving road trips with kids will be easy with these tips! Whether you have a baby, toddler, or even elementary aged child, these tips will help your whole family, including you momma!

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With Spring Break around the corner, you are probably starting to think about your family vacation.

If you are anything like me, traveling with kids sounds terrifying.

But I promise, it doesn’t have to be!

Having done only minimal amounts of traveling with kids, I asked some of my mom friends for their advice. I can hardly wait for our next family vacation!

TRAVELING WITH INFANTS (UNDER 1)

ENTERTAINMENT

MIRROR– Have a mirror that attaches to the headrest so you can see them and if they are old enough it will provide some entertainment for themselves too.

PACIFIER CLIP– Use a pacifier clip and attach to the carseat straps, so you don’t lose it and can easily find it. Be sure to keep a spare pacifier in the glove compartment just in case.

NEW TOYS-You don’t have to go and spend a lot of money on new toys and activities. A few weeks before your trip, grab a few toys and “hide them” so they will feel new and exciting on the car ride. You can also buy second hand toys at thrift shops, or borrow from a family friend!

CLIP TOYS TO CAR SEAT STRAP– Use a clip (like one you use for a paci) to attach toys to their carseat strap, so they always have something within grasp.

SCHEDULES AND TIMING

GIVE YOURSELF PLENTY OF TIME- Leave early so you have time to feed, nurse, change diapers, or just get out and snuggle with the baby so they can get out of the carseat, etc.

If you travel the same roads frequently, plan to take breaks at places you like. It helps knowing what the bathrooms are like, if there is a diaper changing station, if there is a gas pump, a place to grab some food, etc.

STICK TO A NORMAL SCHEDULE- As much as possible try to stick to a normal schedule for baby, including feedings and diaper changes. You don’t want a wet or dirty car seat.

SLEEPING BABIES ARE A GOOD THING- Leave around nap times or bed time, so kids will be tired and sleep for a portion of it. If driving through the night is an option, being tired might be worth the quiet hours. Consider a portable sound machine to help cover up some of the noises on the road.

BABY AND MOM

PRACTICAL TIPS & TRICKS

LEAVE THE SEAT NEXT TO THE BABY OPEN– Chances are the baby will cry at some point in your trip. Having an open seat for you to entertain, feed, etc. will be helpful instead of having to move things around.

STOCK THE DIAPER BAG– Keep the diaper bag (my favorite) or car caddy within reach and filled with wet wipes and diapers. You are already familiar with the random pockets of the diaper bag and it is easy to grab to take into rest stops, etc.

TRAVELING WITH TODDLERS & KIDS

Depending on age, consider letting the kids pack their own snack bags, water bottles, activities, toys, headphones, and books in a little book bag (this one is adorable!). They can keep these next to them in the car. I love how this builds independence!

Just to be on the safe side, you can monitor closely what they are packing and you can grab extra items just to be safe.

FOODS AND SNACKS

KEEP SNACKS/DRINKS NEAR KIDS- Fill up water bottles and have in the cupholders by each kid before you leave. Assign this job to kids if they are old enough.

PACK A COOLER WITH HEALTHY OPTIONS:

string cheese
apples
grapes
trail mix
granola bars
raisins
deli meat slice or sandwiches
squeeze applesauce pouches

FUN SNACKS. Have mom or dad spray fun designs on crackers with Cheese Whiz. I only recommend this if your kids are old enough though, otherwise that could be a REALLY big mess.

REWARDS BAG- Let the kids grab from a gift bag full of fun snacks they don’t normally get at home. When you find an appropriate time, or your kids do something worthy, pull it out! (You could also individually wrap each snack item, but that sounds like a lot of work to this practical momma. If that sounds fun to you and you have some extra time, I am sure your kids will love it!)

ENTERTAINMENT

GAMES– Play a game as a whole family! Here are some top choices

The License Plate game– Work together to find as many different state license plates.
Grocery Store game– One person picks an item they would find at the grocery store and everybody takes turns asking yes or no questions to discover the chosen item.
Alphabet game– Start with the letter A and look around outside of the car to find the letter A. When you found it, look for the letter B, etc. You can work together or compete. Add a twist by finding items that start with the letter, for example C could be car, D could be dog, etc.
I Spy– One player picks an item, states “I Spy with my little eye something that is _______ (color)” Look around and make guesses of what it could be!
20 questions– One player picks a person, place or thing. Tell the other players which of the 3 categories it falls under. They get 20 yes or no questions to figure it out!
Name That Tune or Name That Artist– Listen to the radio or a playlist. Whoever can guess the name of the song or artist first gets a point.

BOOKS- Go to the library and get some I Spy books, Where’s Waldo, and other fun books. If you kids are older, grab a chapter book to read aloud! Buy some sticker books, especially reusable stickers.

ARTISTIC THINGS– A portable lap tray is great for lots of activities and eating! I recommend buying one and all kids take turns using it.

Keep a tote or bag of colored pens, pencils, or crayons
Draw on blank paper
Coloring books
Coloring with water
Dry erase board

THINGS TO LISTEN TO– Have older kids or parents read books to other kids, listen to books on tape, download some kid podcasts or kids music before your trip.

SCREENS– Plan on using them some, but don’t start with them on. Once you start using screens, attitudes can get ugly fast. Use them as a reward or set specific times that the kids are allowed to use them.

If you can plan accordingly, have the show or movie finish right before a rest stop. It will be a natural break and they probably won’t complain as much when they have to turn it off.

WRAP PRESENTS– Wrap a new activity or toy in wrapping paper before your trip. At rest stops, at specific times, or just when they are getting bored, pull one out and let them unwrap it and play with it.

GRAB BAG– Have a “grab bag” with new toys or activities from the dollar store. Each kid randomly grabs one and set the timer. When the timer goes off, kids switch toys and play with the next item.

PHOTO FLIP BOOK– Create a photo flip book with printed pictures of your vacation, family members, or Christmas cards.

PRACTICAL TIPS & TRICKS

I know it sounds weird, but in the potty training days, or with toddlers who just aren’t great at “holding it”, a portable potty would come in handy!

HAVE A SCHEDULE with quiet time, screen time, snacks, meals, nap time, rest stops, mom & dad’s choice of music, kids music. If feasible, leave around nap time or bed time so kids will sleep.

Try to keep it as normal to their everyday schedule as possible.

For example,

12:00- lunch

1:00- nap/quiet time (MOM & DAD’S choice of radio)

3:00- snack

4:00- screen time

5:00- supper

HAVE A WELL STOCKED CADDY– Have wet wipes on hand and nearby, because there will be messes! Don’t forget to keep a trash bag handy too.

EASY SHOES– If the weather permits, flip flops or slides make getting in and out of the car faster and easier.

MAXIMIZE STOPS– Get as much done at stops as possible. If you kids are old enough, give them tasks to do.

fill up the car with gas
take little brother to the bathroom,
buy some sandwiches
collect trash in the car and throw away
wash the windshield

Allow a little time to play a quick and active game, stretch, walk laps, etc. at rest stops to burn off some energy. This is good for the kids and you too!