Roadtripping with Toddlers
Hurray! It’s officially road-tripping season. The roads are clear, the days are longer, the campgrounds are open and the lakes have thawed… Well, at least most of them have!
In previous years, I would have hopped in the car and drove all day long - On a whim! Now with a toddler in tow, it requires a little strategizing on my behalf.
Whether it’s a day trip to a warmer lake (let’s face it: these glacier-fed waters aren’t the most inviting per se!) or a multi-day trip to visit family in another province, here are some tips to have you and your toddler ready to hit the pavement.
Timing
If it’s a long travel day, make sure your kid is up early in order to play, run and release some energy before getting strapped into their car seat. If it’s a shorter travel day, plan to leave just before their usual nap time. The car motion will have them doze off in minutes, hopefully giving you a long, uninterrupted period of time to put on some mileage in peace. Don’t forget to use the bathroom, gas up, and grab that drive-thru coffee before they nap, as slowing down and/or completely stopping your vehicle can lead to an unwanted wake-up - As I’m sure you’ve experienced a time or two.
Last month, I drove nine hours to our family cabin with both my son and my dad. On the way there, my 2-year-old napped and was happy/excited the entire drive; On the way back, he seemed fidgety and more upset. The key difference was that we left extra early on the drive home, and didn’t give him enough time to get out his wiggles beforehand. So do yourself (and your sanity!) a favour, and time your departure accordingly.
Comfort
Attempt to create that coziest of environments to help your little one find their zen.
Dress them in comfortable clothing. Pajama onesies are my go-to, no matter what onlookers may think!
Pack a blanket and/or stuffed animal.
Install a sun shade on their window. It’ll keep the rays from beaming into their eyes and create a darker environment conducive to sleep.
Play some tunes. I tend to play my music, and thankfully Oaklyn seems to like it. However, I suggest downloading nursery songs and/or intro songs to their favourite cartoon show(s) to keep them content.
Incentives
When we road trip as a family, all “food rules” go out the window. Snacks are the easiest distraction! Of course, you should feed your child at your own discretion. Avoid common choking hazards and keep an eye on them for safety.
We will pack a variety of our son's favourite foods up front with us and keep passing them back to him for as long as he keeps requesting more. There eventually comes a time when his belly is full, and he begins throwing said snacks on the car floor. At this point, we pivot!
Entertainment
Bring new toys/books for the trip. And by new, I mean new-to-them!… No need to break the bank! You can get some for close-to-nothing at your local thrift store, or borrow some from a friend. The point is: novel toys/books can keep them entertained for way longer. If you’re lucky, perhaps it’ll get them excited to get back in the car seat after a break.
We haven’t used an iPad/tablet yet (mostly due to the fact that we don’t own one!), but I hear they can be a good tool as well.
Breaks
Be prepared for the trip to take longer than it normally would. In fact, plan for that! Find spots along your journey where you can take a break to eat a meal, to stretch out the limbs, to see an attraction, or to play at a playground/bike park/splash pad… And enjoy it! Just make sure to communicate to your toddler that it’s only a break, and not the final destination. In addition, give them a 5-minute heads-up before returning to the car to keep driving.
By all means: If they’re content or sleeping by the time you reach your intended break stop, blow it off and keep driving to one ahead.
Ultimately this is your road trip and you have to do what makes the most sense to you! Just be safe. When I’m in a position where I must keep driving, but Oaklyn’s getting upset, I make sure to acknowledge his feelings. “I hear what you’re saying, but we can’t do that right now” can go a long ways! When it doesn’t though, I turn up the music and drown out the background noise, so that I can better focus on getting us all there safely.
