This summer we put over 7,000 miles on our car.
That's a whole lot of wheels on the bus, goldfish, potty breaks, I Spy, surprise bags, giving in to suckers, family chats, and rummaging in the snack bag.
We've learned quite a bit about how to road trip with a toddler and preschooler.
Here's some hard-earned wisdom:
Pack extras: plenty of wipes and diapers are obvious, but I also pack two changes of clothes and a set of PJs. I almost always use at least one of the extra sets.
Make your own playlists. We use three. A mix of kid friendly songs and grown-up music is what we start with, then when things get hairy, we switch to kid-only songs. When all is quiet in the backseat, we balance it out with grown-ups only music.
Don't forget paper towels, plastic bags, hand sanitizer and wipes, antibacterial cleanser wipes, and tissues. Spills and messes will happen. So be prepared.
Surprise bags are my favorite trick. Before leaving, I pick out a few new toys and pack each of our two travelers a special bag. I like to buy one nice toy, a few new books, stickers, a coloring or activity book, and then some dollar store trinket toys like a little ball, a sticky hand thing, a mini magnet fishing set, and little horse dolls. I pack the toys and a few special treats in a gift bag and put them in front of each seat. These are some favorite car-friendly toys:
Technology is the last resort, but a good one. I don't believe in plugged in road trips where kids are glued to a screen the whole time just to keep them quiet, but I do know that kid's apps and shows can be life savers, so I carefully choose when to say yes to "show please!" and when to re-direct. I never start the trip out with shows or games since that sets a bad precedent. I usually wait for the in-between trough: where the kids have had a snack or meal, have been playing or talking for some time, have slept or are really needing sleep, and are starting to slump into cabin fever. Then it's showtime. We got this headrest mount for one of our tablets and it created the best mock-rear entertainment center for the kids.
*we've also tried audio books and read-alongs with some success.
Plan for efficient stops. A nice clean rest stop where you can potty break, change diapers, and stretch legs can be a life saver. We found out that we don't need to take time stopping to eat since the kids eat fine (if not a bit messily) in the car, but we do need to time to shake the sillies out once or twice.
Food. For us, variety keeps the crew happy and I like to pack mostly fresh things. Fruit, berries, ready-to-eat veggies, yogurt and cheese (and sometimes deli meat ) are the bulk of our snack cooler. Then there's a cracker, popcorn, jerky, granola bar, nut, and treat choice. Every one has an appropriately sized sippy cup full of water, and then a back up juice or milk is waiting in the cooler. I pack a large dixie cup for each person to use for dolling out individual portions, and it really helps to keep the mess down and lets the kids feed themselves.
Organization helps keep mama happy, and when mama's happy, everyone's happy. I organize everything into bags: Sawyer's toys, Elouise's toys, tablets and cords and chargers, fresh foods, snack foods, rest stop bag, overnight bag. That way, not only is there space for everyone to be comfortable, but so I can quickly get to what we need. Road trips with a toddler and preschooler are not relaxing. They are fun, but it's a lot of work and knowing where my "tools" are keeps the stress level low and makes for a good trip.
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