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