Happy Wednesday Friends! This has been such a short week for me, it seems crazy! We are headed out for a fun trip with the girls, but I have to admit I always get a little anxiety before a long road trip. I feel like no matter how prepared I feel something can always go wrong. But, I have a few tried and true road trip tips for toddlers that always help ensure a smooth trip.
Road Trip Tips For Toddler
Dress in comfy clothes. This is extremely important. There is nothing worse than sitting for hours and hours in something that it itchy or hot. I like to dress the girls in layers, this gives them options for temperature. Also, we let them travel with no shoes on to add to their comfort level. Also, be sure to have extra clothes that are easily accessible in case of accidents and spills.
Have dedicated “car entertainment.” Before our road trip, I went to Target and hit up the dollar section. I got several of the sticker books, art packs and activity sets. We also have a portable DVD player that we use, so I picked up a couple of new movies. Other things you can pack are a couple of toys they use to love playing with, but haven’t pulled out in a while. These will feel brand new again and they’ll love them.
Snacks, snacks, and more snacks. Once they get tired of the toys, or feeling restless with the movies, it’s time to pull out the snacks! Snacks can give you up to an hour of entertainment. When packing snacks it’s all about having a variety of options, an pack them all like you would if the Apocalypse. Ensure you have a enough, because it’s inevitable, when one wants something…so does the other!
Make stops at key times. Timing for stops is everything. Depending when you leave and length of your trip, try and make a stop right before your kids fall asleep. This way you can get in bathroom breaks, diaper changes and get that last little bit of energy out. Often times if you wait until they’re already asleep, the stopped car will wake them earlier than you’d like and they need for a well rested nap. Lastly, make sure their tummies are full, so grab lunch or if traveling at night make any stops around dinner time so they full and ready for sleep.
When your desperate…distract, distract, distract. Music is a good one, and our girls are big Taylor Swift fans. Aria has created a playlist on Spotify that is about 2.5 hours long. We play a game with it by guessing the next song, have concerts and car dance parties. Another idea to to talk about what you see outside, what is going on outside, have them name everything they see that is a certain color.
Don’t stress over forgotten items. Luckily it’s just a road trip. If you forget something start a list and when you either make a stop or get to your destination plan on finding the nearest Wal-Mart or Target to grab the forgotten items. But, it’s key to keep a list, otherwise you’re likely to forget it again until you need it!
These are just a few of the basics tips and tricks I use when traveling long distances in the car, not only for the girls…but for me too!
If you’re looking for other tips on traveling with kids be sure to check out these posts: Tips For Flying Solo with Two Kids and Tips For Traveling with a Toddler and Infant
What other tips and tricks do you have for long road trips with toddlers?
Thank you so much for stopping by and hope your week is off to a great start! Now Get Out There and have a Gorgeous rest of your week!
This is such a great guide dear! As a mom of two, I could really understand the struggle of keeping kids entertained throughout the trip. And yes, dressing comfy is the way to go!
Jessica | notjessfashion.com