Going on a long-distance drive can be a taxing experience even without toddlers in tow. But with little ones on board, it can take stressful experiences up a whole nother level. However, these are ways that you can lessen the pain. Here are five of our top tips to make that long drive easier:
- Check your vehicle
Parents must plan for any long drive with tots like a military expedition. First off, check your vehicle’s good to go.
Fill up with gas beforehand to keep your journey time down to a minimum. Make sure there’s enough oil and water, and your tires are all at the correct pressure before you go. You may want to check you have a spare tire in the trunk and you have a jack and flashlight on board too.
We recommend fitting window shades if traveling by night (one of the best times for driving with toddlers) as these will stop tots from being woken up by dazzling car headlights.
2. Pack smart
Pack enough supplies to last you in case you break down or get caught in a traffic jam from hell. Bring plenty of drinks and snacks, pull-ups, changes of clothes (easy to hand, not in the suitcase in the trunk), wet wipes, sanitizer, paper towels to mop up any spills, plus any medication. Not to mention a few toys, books and games.
This may sound like overkill, but any parent traveling with toddlers who were hit by unexpected delays will testify these extra supplies were a godsend. Bring along a few disposable bags that you can use for garbage or as sick bags. If your child is prone to car sickness, a small bucket will be worth its weight in the gold.
Anticipate what you may need en-route and keep it all close to hand. You don’t want to have to stop the vehicle to rummage through the trunk if your toddler starts whining that they want their favorite book or toy or are hungry.
You also don’t want to have to keep turning around to hand them things, especially if you’re driving. A backseat organizer can keep your hands on the wheel and your toddler happy, as they then can just take things out as and when they please.
3. Have Comfortable Car Seats
It’s important to think about comfort throughout the whole journey. Car seats are a basic part of that comfort. You want car seats to be safe and you also want them to be comfortable. Make sure you have comfortable well-fitted car seats that meet the latest regulations.
One of the reasons toddlers get grizzly on a long drive is because they get rudely awakened. They’ve been happy having a nice nap, and then their head has bobbed forward waking them up.
Proper car seat safety head support can prevent your child’s head from falling forwards or sideways. They will guarantee you a safer and happier ride, especially if you’re traveling at night, as they will keep your child well-rested and comfortable.
4. Make the Journey Fun
Try to make the journey as fun as possible. Play I-Spy games, sing songs and nursery rhymes, there’s plenty of road games that won’t cost you a dime.
Toddlers will enjoy it if an adult is in the backseat playing with them or even is just there to comfort them. If you’re traveling with someone else who can drive, switch up who is driving and take shifts in the backseat to help break the journey up and make the trip more fun for your tot.
You’ll likely make regular rest stops en-route, so when you do, try to stop somewhere with a play area where the kids can run around and burn off excess energy. They may well nap when you get back in the car as a result of the fresh air and exercise.
It’s a great idea to bring new (as in unfamiliar) toys and books and ration them out during the journey. Sticker books will amuse tots for hours, and books like megasketchers are the perfect size for little hands. While the novelty of these new things will likely amuse your child longer than their ‘old’ things, you’ll always want that favorite toy nearby.
Music and movies are probably the best diversions of all. Be sure to charge up any handheld tablets or other devices you’re going to bring with you before you go. If any devices need batteries, make sure you have a supply on board. There’s nothing worse than running out of power mid-movie.
5. Timing is everything
Our top tip is to travel when toddlers are sleeping. Plan to leave really early in the morning or late in the evening. Dress your child in their PJs, so they associate they should now be asleep, and then watch as the car’s movement soon sends them into dreamland and leaves them there through most of the night.
The great thing is, because of their body clock, you won’t have all the food and drink and potty rest stops and traffic should be a lot lighter at this time too.
