Traveling across the country with your little ones is never easy. Children like to have a routine and they can feel safe with a routine. Throw in a long car journey and they may not know what to expect. The good news is that it is possible for you to make long car journeys easier than you think. Here’s how:
Take Games and Toys With You
Like most children, your little ones probably have a few favorite games and toys. If you can, take these games and toys with you. When your little ones can play while you travel, they are much less likely to become bored.
Bored children can be noisy and disruptive, and that’s not what you need while you’re driving. Keep them occupied and the journey will be a much better one.
Start The Journey As Early As Possible
The early you start your journey, the sooner you will reach your destination. However, this isn’t the only benefit to starting your journey early. The earlier you get in your car and go, the more likely it is that your little ones will take a nap at some point.
Napping in the car can be more pleasant if you use sunshades and a NapUP. Your little ones could find it easier to sleep if their head doesn’t bob around and the sun isn’t in their eyes. Just make sure you stay quiet while you drive so your little one is more likely to stay asleep.
Frequently Stop For Rest Breaks
Stopping for rest breaks is a must. When you break up the journey your child or children will feel better for it. Get out of the car at least every few hours, and stretch your legs. Take a walk around and enjoy a meal somewhere. You don’t have to spend a long time out of the car, just make sure you’ve all had a good break.
When it’s time to go back to your car everyone is likely to feel better after having a rest break.
Stay Somewhere Overnight
If you’re going to be traveling a long distance consider staying somewhere overnight. Little ones can find it hard to sleep overnight in a car, as most adults do. Consider staying in a hotel or even a motel overnight, they can be quite cheap and an ideal place to break up a long journey.
If you can, you may also want to consider staying overnight in a friend’s or family member’s home. Chances are, they’ll be really pleased to see you and your family. You’ll also be able to spend some time with people you might not have seen for a while. Everyone wins.
Take Some Snacks
When they’re traveling somewhere, your little ones will appreciate a few snacks from time to time. Snacks such as fruit, chips, candy, and anything else that they like can keep them entertained. Being able to reach for a snack now and again will also help to prevent boredom. Just make sure that your little ones also have access to enough drinks.
Consider cutting up a few snacks such as grapes and putting them in a resealable tub. Preparing snacks beforehand can make eating them easier. What’s more, is that a resealable tub will help to keep the snacks fresher for longer.
Play Movies and TV Shows
These days, many cars come with DVD players or apps that allow you to play your kid’s favorite shows. Use these features to your advantage. You could have at least a few hours of relative peace when your little ones watch their favorite movies and TV shows. They don’t have to be playing all of the time, just let them be an option while you’re traveling.
Keep it Clean
Take wipes with you, some clean diapers, and at least one new set of clothes per child per day. Your journey will be much easier if your little ones can stay clean. Have some wipes to hand so that you can quickly clean up any mess and spills.
Keep some clean diapers nearby and a new set of clothes so you can change your children when you need to. Being able to keep everyone clean can make a huge difference when you’re on the road. Be prepared and you’ll all feel much better for it.
The prospect of facing a long car journey with little ones may seem daunting. However, there are a few things that you can do to make it more pleasant for everyone. Use the above tips so that your next long car journey is more of a pleasure than a chore.
Keep It Smelling Pleasant, Too
Obviously, we just talked about keeping your car clean and tidy, but you’ll have to ensure that it smells nice, too. Nobody wants to sit in the same place for hours knowing that it’s going to smell unpleasant. If you have ever been in a room or a car for an extended period, and the smell has not been nice, you’ll know just how frustrating it can be for everyone. Go over everything and give it the clean it deserves. Also, be sure to keep things ventilated and add Air fresheners when needed.
