Road trips can be difficult. Add the complexity of taking a journey with your toddler in tow, and you’re in for an even more difficult time. There are ways to make your impending road trip safer and less stressful, however, as we’ll be taking a look at today.
Prioritize Safety
More than anything else, you want to make sure that you and your toddler get to your destination in one piece. This means you’ll want to ensure that there’s nothing wrong with your vehicle and that it can make the trip. Faulty vehicles can sometimes be hard for consumers to notice at first glance, so be sure you have your ride checked by a professional to mitigate potential issues. Moreover, drinking and driving with a toddler with you is a huge no-no since you are exposing them to danger which can affect your reputation as a parent or guardian, and you risk getting caught and charged with a DUI.
Keep Some Snacks On Hand
Toddlers and their appetites can be fairly unpredictable. That’s why it will benefit you to stay prepared for any eventuality with some healthy snacks that can sate their hunger should it arise. Some examples of easy to bring snack items include:
- Sliced fruit
- Cheese sticks
- Snack crackers
- Granola bars
Snacks will be doubly useful to satisfy your own hunger, and help keep your focus sharp on particularly long journeys.
Give Yourself Time
Trips are no fun when you’re in a constant rush. You’ll have a much more enjoyable time if you give yourself plenty of time to get where you’re going and settle in. Map out your route well in advance of your journey, and make sure you allow time for things to slow you down. With a toddler riding along with you, you’ll probably be making a few stops to right the ship!
Pack Some Toys for the Road
It’s almost inevitable that your toddler will, at some point along the way, get bored of sitting around. It’s for this reason that you’ll want to bring along something to keep them entertained and prevent them from getting upset because they have nothing to do. For example:
- Toy cars
- Magnetic alphabet pieces
- Plastic keys
- Books
- A pretend steering wheel
See? You don’t even need to bring along anything fancy, and you can acquire most of these things from your basic convenience store. If push comes to shove, though, you might want to break out the “big guns” in the form of portable electronics. If nothing else will keep your toddler entertained, a few movies on your tablet should do the trick!
