Planning a road trip with a baby or toddler can seem like a daunting task. How will you keep your little one entertained on the road? What if your child cries the whole time? How can you ensure that the whole family arrives safe and sound? Don’t worry, fellow parents! These seven helpful tips for a road trip with a baby or toddler will make your journey smooth and enjoyable for everyone.
1. Don’t overdo it
Keep in mind that babies and toddlers don’t have the patience for long road trips that you might. Traci Suppa, author of the Go Big or Go Home blog, advises, “In our experience, the best road trips with really young children are short ones. As kids grow, so do their attention spans, allowing them to sit in a car for long stretches and remain immersed in their activities. If you have to travel a distance, try scheduling a daytime drive during their regular nap time.” If you need to drive a long distance, try to break up the journey into manageable segments with stops for playing, eating, and sleeping.
2. Get in the backseat for playtime
If you’re traveling with another adult, it helps if one of the grown-ups can ride in the backseat for at least part of the trip. Use this time to bond with your baby. Bring along some familiar books and toys, as well as some surprise treats. Check out our toys for babies and toddlers.
3. Distract with snacks and meals
Bottles for babies or finger foods for toddlers make great distractions during a road trip. You can also join your baby in the backseat to spoon-feed pureed baby foods or rice cereal on the go. Just be sure to keep your little one safely buckled in their car seat, so if you’re still breastfeeding, you’ll need to schedule stops for feeding.
For toddlers, pack some healthy travel snacks like whole grain cereals, fruit cut into bite-sized pieces, and cheese cubes. Store snacks in separate containers and give them one at a time to avoid overwhelming little ones. I always recommend bringing along a “forbidden treat” or two as well. (M&M’s Minis are my go-to choice.) If you’re like me and have a child who’s prone to choking, I’d suggest waiting to offer snacks and meals at a rest stop, park, or restaurant.
4. Keep all family members safe during your road trip
Of course, your top priority during a road trip with a baby or toddler is to arrive safely. Before setting out, make sure your vehicle is up-to-date on any oil changes or scheduled maintenance. You should also keep an emergency roadside kit in your car, filled with bandages, medicines, a flashlight, and other useful items. These often come with the vehicle, or you can purchase a pre-filled kit.
It’s also important to protect your family from flying objects in case of a sudden stop or car accident. Anything that isn’t secured in your vehicle will fly through the air until it hits a window, dashboard, barrier, or person. These projectiles can cause serious injury or even death. A “Baby on Board” sign might not do much to protect your little one in an accident, but a Travall guard will. Keep any loose items, such as suitcases, camping gear, and travel cribs, secured in the trunk or behind a Travall guard.
5. Listen to music during the journey
Music is one of the best tools for keeping everyone content and entertained during a family road trip. Music also provides a wonderful way to expose babies and toddlers to the sounds of another language. Listening to music in a foreign language is an easy and fun way to introduce little ones to the sounds of another tongue.
6. Bring a bucket
I learned this one the hard way. Plan to bring a bucket along on your road trip and keep it within arm’s reach. If your child gets motion sickness or an upset stomach, you’ll be glad you did. A simple plastic beach pail works well.
7. Watch movies on the road
Even if you don’t allow your kids to watch TV or movies at home, you might want to consider breaking the rules for a road trip with a baby or toddler. Worried that your kids will expect a movie every time they’re in the car? Do what my friend and former neighbor, Sara, did with her children: tell them that movies only work when you’re far from home.
If your vehicle comes equipped with a DVD player, you might as well bring a few movies to pop in during a long delay on the road or in case of a major meltdown.
Traveling with a baby is not a challenge but an opportunity to spend time together and create family memories. Rent everything you need — from car seats to strollers and toys — and enjoy a stress-free trip. Visit our site — we have everything you need for a comfortable family vacation in Cyprus!