Going further than the grocery store with small children in the vehicle can be a challenge. They need a lot of attention and if you’re driving alone, this can make a road trip even more difficult. Here are four tips from Clearwater area Acura for single travelers with children in the car:
1: Plan Your Trip in Advance and Know Where the Rest Stops Are
Before traveling with small children, you probably just took the shortest route or whichever way you decided to travel when you were driving. With kids, you need to plan the route more carefully and know where the rest stops are. It’s almost impossible to make a quick rest stop on the side of the road, and it certainly isn’t safe to have kids on the side of the road. Map your route according to rest stops so you can take frequent breaks, change diapers or use potties along the way.
2: Car Seat Safety Check
Before taking a long trip, give your car seat a careful safety check. Are you using the right type of seat for your child’s height and weight? Is the seat installed correctly? You may want to go to a local car safety checkpoint (some police departments do this, too!) to ensure the seat is safely installed. If you are renting a car, make sure the car seat fits properly in the rented car, as not all seats work well with all cars.
3: Prepare and Pack Strategically
If your children are still in diapers, keep a separate bag with your diaper supplies – diapers, wipes, change of clothes for when you wait too long in between diaper changes! This is the bag you will grab when you go into each rest room to make things easier, so you won’t have to dig through the car for the supplies you need.
Create an entertainment bag for each child with crayons, toys, books, and anything that might help keep the kids occupied while you’re driving. Many parents decide this is a good time for a portable dvd player – if you can pop in a two hour movie that captures their attention, you can cover a good stretch of highway stress free during that time.
Pack a cooler or bag with snacks and drinks. Try to limit the amount of sugar your kids are eating in the confined space of the vehicle, but a few healthy snacks can help.
4: Play Kid Tunes
If your kids want to sing “The Wheels on the Bus” or “Jingle Bells” for an hour straight, deal with it. If they’re happy, they’re letting you drive, and you’ll get wherever you’re going a little faster and with less stress. Sing alongs can make a car ride fun, and the more relaxed and carefree you are, the more your kids will pick up on your lead and enjoy the trip, too.
Connect with us
