With family out of state, my sister’s wedding, a funeral, etc… (All this year!!!) We sure have done our fair share of traveling. And while I love to travel it seems that tagging along four kids can have its challenges, ha! So I’ve put together a list of five things you need to help you survive a road trip with children.
Keep in mind that I am so not a professional, but I would not mind if you called me the Dr. Oz of children’s road trips. 😉
1. Travel at night. Seriously, I swear by this strategy. This helps the time pas quicker because the children will sleep. Maybe even allow you and hubby to have an adult conversation or two. 😉 Traveling during the day lends yourself to the never ending “Are we there yet???”. . . Your sanity will thank me later!
2. Pack a car caddy for each child. This really took me a long time to master. I would always bring the diaper bags, snacks and toys but once we were on the road, I could NEVERseem to find them. This was SOstressful. Now I pack a little bag that sits beside or in front of each child with all the essentials for them. This includes: a few toys/books, an iPhone/iPod (our old ones), couple diapers/wipes, and sippy cups/snacks. The older kids can get their own items out, and when I need something for the younger ones I easily know exactly where to get it.
3. Entertainment. Do not improvise this. Your children will smell/sense your lack of preparation & then it’s all over my friend. You will have a revolt on your hands, ha! As I said before, we take old iPhones and iPods with movies on them for the kids. We also pack some toys and books. I suggest bring two sets and switching them among the kids from the ride to your destination and your ride back. Keeps things fresh! As you know, kids can get board easily, so maybe even think of some car games you can play, like: The alphabet game, License plate game, I spy, etc. These games will be fun for the whole family and will sure keep them distracted.
4. Snacks. Snacks. Snacks. This one is so important. It is just like the snickers commercials with the crabby hungry people. Keep your children fed and they will be good to you, ha! No only does packing your own snacks allow your kids to each (healthily) on the road, but it saves you from getting the overprices gas station grub.
5. Pack a “health” bag. This bag contains all the medicinal essentials, like: Tylenol, diaper rash cream, aloe vera, etc. One thing that frankly I didn’t know about until recently was Culturelle for kids. These babies come in chewable tablets or dissolvable drink mixes. It helps reduce the occasional digestive upset, and with the change in eating habits, environment, etc. your child is bound to have one. I love that it helps your kid’s natural defense system! It’s pediatrician and this mama approved!
There you have it!
Five things to survive thrive on a road trip with children. Sounds pretty easy, huh?! Ha!
What are your 5 essentials?
*I was compensated for this post, but all opinions expressed were my own*
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Oh my gosh…this post cracks me up. A few things — I totally agree with the whole “drive at night” thing. I only have one child — a three-year-old — but my husband and I have always driven at night when we had the chance.
I literally laughed out loud on the part where you said “your children will smell/sense your preparation” …IT’s SO TRUE!
Good idea about the car caddy! All our extra toys/snacks/etc always get thrown around the vehicle.
Great tips! We keep trying to drive at night but having trouble making it. I think we’re getting too old! ha
Such good tips, thanks! I only have the one 6 month old but even traveling with her gets me all frazzled. I don’t know how you do it with 4!!
hilarious!!!! those are pretty much all of the things we did on our trek cross country with 2 little kids… how did you do 4?!!! oh my.