Traveling with toddlers by car is a little less hectic than traveling with toddlers by air. When traveling with toddlers by car, you have more space to bring things with you. If you forgot something, you can always stop somewhere and get what you need. There are no irritated passengers near you and your comfort does not depend on a flight attendant. However, traveling with toddlers by car presents its own set of challenges.
Spacious vehicle
When traveling with your toddler by car, try to get a spacious vehicle. A mini-van would be a good choice, as it will allow you to bring everything you need while also leaving space to move around if you need to change clothes or seats. If your toddler is not used to traveling by car, you may want to sit in the back with them for part of the trip.
Pack snacks and foods
When you are planning on traveling with your toddler by car, pack more snacks than you would ever need. Make sure to include your toddler's favorite snacks, not just yours! You will need to bring a cooler and sacks filled with juices, fruit, peanut butter sandwiches, cheese, graham crackers, and carrot sticks.
Entertaining activities
One common problem that parents encounter when traveling with toddlers by car is how to keep toddlers amused and entertained during long car trips. Pack a lot of activities, washable crayons and markers, audio tapes and DVDs, if your vehicle is equipped with a DVD player. You can also bring photo albums and travel books with beautiful scenery and architecture. Entertain your toddler with interesting conversation. Prepare a few topics in advance and lead your toddler into asking questions so that you can tell an interesting story. Play a tape/CD and sing together. Your toddler needs to release their energy vocally, so this will give them an opportunity to do just that.
Travel schedule
When you are traveling with toddlers by car, do not plan on getting anywhere on record time. In fact, do not plan on getting anywhere on time at all. If someone is waiting for you at your destination point, tell them that you will get there when you get there and add a few extra hours to your projected arrival time.
Multiple stops
If you are traveling with your toddler by car and the ride is long, make multiple stops. Check the scenery, have snacks at a picnic area, get ice cream at gas stations, eat at restaurants. When you do stop, play active games with your toddlers. Make them run around! If you are driving for more than 5 hours, plan on stopping every 2 hours.
Eating at restaurants
If there is enough space in your car, pack a booster seat with you, so that you don't have to limit your options of restaurants. Your toddler would want to stop at every fast food restaurant you encounter on the way. We all know that fast food is bad for our health, so instead of stopping at a fast food restaurant, ask your toddler to pick a regular restaurant and promise them something they like.
Order a larger breakfast; this will be both better for your health and your wallet, as lunches and dinners are more expensive. You can have sandwiches for lunch at a picnic table somewhere a rest area. Pick up pizza for dinner or make a fruit salad to eat in the car. If you plan on eating out with your toddler at a restaurant, try to go early to avoid crowds and long waits. Think of incentives for your toddler to behave well at a restaurant table. Promise them a nice story or something they like if they eat well at a restaurant. If the menu has nice pictures, let your toddler select what to eat. Explain to them that it will take some time for food to get cooked. Ask the waiter/waitress for some crackers to keep them busy till the food arrives (or bring in a few of your own). While waiting, ask your child to count something if they are old enough to do that. Bring crayons with you and draw funny faces on a napkin. Using the back of placemats or napkins, play Hangman with everyone sitting at the table. When eating at a restaurant with your toddler, have regard for people around you. If your toddler starts to cry, take them outside to calm them peacefully.
Traveling with more than one toddler
If you are planning on traveling with more than one toddler alone, you are very brave :>). For those who are not so brave, we recommend inviting another adult to come along with you for the trip. Have lots of snacks and plan fun activities for the road. Get your toddlers to do some role playing, but let them decide what scenarios to pick for role playing.
Let them take turns on what to do at the next stop and what restaurant to try. Set the rules so that they can go to any restaurant they want, except fast food restaurants. Blame it on the friend traveling with you; say that they are allergic to fast food. If you don't want to make things up, find out some incentives and lure them away from fast food restaurants.
Enjoy your time in a car
Wherever your travels take you, remember to relax and take advantage of time spent together. These are the memories that will likely stay with your toddler for a lifetime.
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