Taking a road trip with a toddler in tow can be fun and a lot less expensive than air travel. Follow these tips to stay safe, make the most of your time on the road and keep your sanity intact. Don’t wait until a downpour to find out that your windshield wipers need replacing or until you’re stranded on the side of the road with an overheated engine refilling your coolant. If you don’t feel like your car is capable of handling a long road trip, consider getting a rental. Make sure your plan covers the worst road trip nightmares, like a tow to a service station, a fix for a flat, or an unlock if you leave your keys in the car. Any number of circumstances can lead a parent to be tempted to briefly leave their child in the car, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. It only takes a moment for someone to break in and take your child while you’re taking an emergency bathroom break, and it only takes a little warmth to quickly heat your car to dangerous temperatures. You might also want to put your child in the front seat so you can reach them and give them toys or snacks more easily. As tempting as it might be, don’t do it. There are a variety of backseat organizers, but we especially like those that fit right in right next to your toddler’s car seat. An over-the-seat organizer can work too, but if your toddler is properly strapped in they might not be able to reach it. If you have a portable DVD player, put it to use and pick up something appropriate, fun, and educational, like That Baby DVD. Learn some new games and play those along the way, too. Keep binkies, blankies, and other comforting objects close at hand, and bring extras since your sanitation options are probably going to be limited. Remember that even though your child is crying, they are safe in their seat and no harm will come from waiting a few minutes until you can pull off the road and take a break. Try singing songs, playing soothing music on the radio, calling attention to things outside, or offering a drink or snack to distract. Choose cities on your route that have lodging and things to do during the day. Better yet, lodge in one city, wake up and travel for a few hours, then plan a stop along the way in a city with things to do, even if it’s just a museum and lunch. Each break you take leads to a more peaceful time on the road. Take plenty of them. Consider, too, that you’ll be completely worthless the next day without enough sleep while your well-rested toddler will be raring to go, and that’s no way to start a great vacation. This is true not just for road trips, but on errand runs that don’t require you to get out of the car or trips to a relative’s house not too far away. Be sure you’ve got the potty situation under control to minimize possible awakening. Equip your toddler with a fresh diaper, or if potty trained, make sure they’ve gone to the bathroom. Good picks include soft fruit, cereal, and crackers. Avoid giving too much juice and opt for water instead to avoid sticky spills and too much sugar. Carrying a small cooler on board will extend your snack options to items like yogurt and cheese.
