| Many parents cannot imagine a scarier
| |
| | cookies but we also bring some special
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| thought than going on a long road trip
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| | (unhealthy) treats to get doled out once
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| with their 2 or 3-year-olds. Even a
| |
| | or twice a day like button candy. Make
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| short trip seems overly daunting for many
| |
| | every effort to have a large supply of
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| of the parents we have met. At a recent
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| | food they like on hand
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| meeting of the Albuquerque Twins Club, we
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| | - Drinks. A sippie of water is good
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| spoke with a father who was frightened to
| |
| | because as long as it does not get dirty,
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| take his twins on a mere four-hour drive
| |
| | you can use it for a couple of days. If
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| to see their grandparents!Since when did
| |
| | your kids will not drink water, bring
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| parents become scared of their own
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| | along a case of 100% juice boxes. Milk
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| children? This is America after all, the
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| | boxes also travel well. Sometimes just
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| country founded by settlers who bore
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| | having a special bottle they like will
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| their children in wagons across wild
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| | help them stay hydrated. For example,
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| lands that had never been graced by a
| |
| | our girls love their child-size water
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| McDonald's Play Place.When Jesus was a
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| | bottles with the sport tops just like the
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| little one, an angel of the Lord told
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| | ones mommy and daddy use.4. Books
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| Joseph to take his family to Egypt
| |
| | - Books can keep kids occupied for a
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| because King Herod would come to kill the
| |
| | good while. We always put away some of
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| child if they stayed in Bethlehem. If
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| | their favorite books a couple weeks
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| this had taken place in 2006, I wonder if
| |
| | before a trip so that they are excited to
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| Joseph might have replied, "travel to
| |
| | see them again when we bring them out in
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| Egypt with my kid? I'll take my chances
| |
| | the car. If they have a new obsession,
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| with Herod!"But I say to you, Fear Not!
| |
| | you can also get some inexpensive books
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| Traveling with the Terrible Two's is
| |
| | relating to that for the drive.5. Taby
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| certainly different, but it doesn't have
| |
| | Tray or other Lap Desk
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| to be hard, and certainly should not be
| |
| | - If you take a trip over 3 hours in
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| scary. Two weeks ago, my wife Alison and
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| | length, this is something you will not
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| I made the 12-hour drive from Albuquerque
| |
| | regret investing in. It gives the kids a
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| to Wichita with our 2-year-old twins, and
| |
| | surface to play on so that they can keep
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| the same 12-hour drive back three days
| |
| | themselves occupied while you try to
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| later. You know what? It went pretty
| |
| | drive.6. Children's Music CDs7. Cleanup
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| smoothly. And now I'm going to share our
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| | Supplies
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| secrets with you:WHEN TO LEAVEFor a short
| |
| | - plastic bags for dirty diapers or
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| trip, 4 hours or less, consider heading
| |
| | clothes
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| out around your child's bedtime. After a
| |
| | - baby wipes and Purell for cleaning
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| long hard day of playing, the car will
| |
| | hands and faces after playing outside or
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| put them to sleep in no time. When you
| |
| | eating
|
| arrive at your destination, just carry
| |
| | - paper towels for accidents8. A Camera
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| your little sleeper to their bed, and
| |
| | - Even if you don't think you will be
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| voila.For a moderate-sized trip of 4 to 8
| |
| | going anywhere photo-worthy, take this
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| hours, you can buy yourself a little time
| |
| | just in case. You never know when your
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| by heading out around naptime. Some
| |
| | little ones are going to experience
|
| children, but not all, will take a nice
| |
| | something you wish you had captured on
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| long nap in a moving vehicle with a
| |
| | film.HOW TO HANDLE SLEEPTake all the
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| stomach full from lunch.For a long trip
| |
| | items you normally use for the nap &
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| of 8 hours or more (like our trip to
| |
| | bedtime routines such as cds, pajamas,
|
| Wichita), it is important to get an early
| |
| | special blankets, special small toys,
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| start on the day. Get yourselves ready
| |
| | books to read, etc. Try to keep the
|
| before the break of dawn, and quietly
| |
| | routines as close as possible to how they
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| transport your sleeping child to their
| |
| | are at home, even though you're on the
|
| car seat, pajamas and all. The darkness
| |
| | road. This is very important for helping
|
| outside will help them stay or go back to
| |
| | your child realize that it really is time
|
| sleep, and provides a nice way for them
| |
| | to sleep.Also important is to put up a
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| to ease into the excitement of being in
| |
| | sheet between the passenger and driver
|
| the car.HOW LONG IT WILL TAKEAs a general
| |
| | seats so that your kids cannot see you.
|
| rule, add an extra 1/2 hour to every 2-3
| |
| | If they can see you, that is often enough
|
| hours of expected driving time to account
| |
| | by itself to keep them from falling
|
| for the run & play breaks your child will
| |
| | asleep. For some strange reason, they
|
| need to fight off the boredom and
| |
| | find us entertaining.HOW TO DRIVEDole out
|
| captivity of being in the car seat for
| |
| | the toys very slowly with other
|
| extended periods of time.WHAT TO TAKE1.
| |
| | activities mixed in like cds, singing,
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| Inexpensive new toys that the kids have
| |
| | rest stops, or dvds. You should not be
|
| never seen before
| |
| | out of toys when you are only a few hours
|
| - Little men or dinosaurs in tubes that
| |
| | into the drive.Pull over every 2-3 hours
|
| they can play with or just take in and
| |
| | to allow the kids to run. A rest stop is
|
| out
| |
| | good for this, or you can combine the
|
| - Crayons and new coloring book or lined
| |
| | break with a meal by searching out a
|
| notebook
| |
| | McDonald's or Burger King with a Play
|
| - Small magnadoodle is always a favorite
| |
| | Place (you will never find us at one of
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| - Hot Wheels, My Little Pony, action
| |
| | those establishments at home, but they
|
| figures
| |
| | are a blessing out on the road). Feed
|
| - Put some small toys from home in a
| |
| | yourself while the kids play and then
|
| little backpack or resealable bag so that
| |
| | feed them in the car on their taby trays
|
| they can take them in and out again and
| |
| | to buy yourself peaceful time on the
|
| again2. DVD Player or Laptop
| |
| | road.And finally, expect to spend some
|
| - Probably not needed for a trip less
| |
| | small part of the trip sitting in the
|
| than 3 hours long, but it can still gain
| |
| | back seat with the kiddos. If you prefer
|
| you some quiet time on those short trips.
| |
| | to sit in the front, do not give in to
|
| We all want our kids to enjoy the
| |
| | going back there too easily or else your
|
| scenery and learn about the areas we are
| |
| | children will learn to expect it. They
|
| driving through, but that is not very
| |
| | are old enough to entertain themselves
|
| realistic for a toddler. Some kids will
| |
| | for reasonable stretches of time with
|
| sit happily for hours but most need
| |
| | only minimal help from you, but you
|
| something to keep their mind off the fact
| |
| | should still go back if you feel they
|
| that they are strapped in their seat and
| |
| | have finally had more than they can
|
| have no idea when they will be able to
| |
| | handle and need some comforting to get
|
| escape.
| |
| | them back on track.CONCLUSIONParents of
|
| - Favorite movies for our girls include:
| |
| | small children should not feel as though
|
| Signing Time videos, Muzzy, My Baby Can
| |
| | they have been inextricably chained to
|
| Read, and many of the animal-based Disney
| |
| | their house. Traveling with small
|
| movies.3. Snacks
| |
| | children is complicated, but it doesn't
|
| - This is very important. Do not worry
| |
| | have to be difficult. And the earlier
|
| too much about nutrition but do try to
| |
| | you get them used to the road, the easier
|
| get some healthy food in them. It is not
| |
| | it will be as they progress to the older
|
| a myth that some children will get sick
| |
| | stages of childhood. Enjoy your travels,
|
| if they eat a lot of junk food and, even
| |
| | and BE NOT
|
| though they will probably only throw up
| |
| | AFRAID!-------------------------------Cop
|
| once, it is not something you want to
| |
| | yright, Paul Martin, Noss Galen Baby LLC
|
| deal with. I have always found traveling
| |
| | 2006Paul and Alison Martin are the owners
|
| to be hunger inducing and in my
| |
| | of Noss Galen Baby LLC, a small online
|
| experience traveling with kids, it has
| |
| | business dedicated to offering
|
| the same effect on them. We bring along
| |
| | innovative, hard-to-find products for
|
| their favorites like organic cereal bars,
| |
| | babies and toddlers at affordable prices.
|
| Gerber fruit snacks, oranges, and letter
| |
| |
|
