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