Summer Vacation. Road Trip season is upon us. We look forward to these trips for months, and then the inevitable comes into realization. We are going to be spending many hours in a car with our three kids to get to our destination.
Our kids, ages 6, 4, and 1, have traveled quite a bit in their short lives. We live 10 hours away from our families, so we are on the road multiple times a year to visit them, or to take different family vacations. Driving is cheaper, you can pack more, you have more flexible with time... But, it's much longer in a confined space with kids than an airplane ride.
My husband and I feel like with have road trips down to an art. Of course, there are ALWAYS hiccups along the way. Something will most likely go wrong. But, if you are prepared enough those hiccups won't seem like earthquakes in the moment.
Here are our 7 ways we survive (And enjoy) road trips with our kids:
1. DVD PLAYER, TABLETS & LOTS OF MOVIES!!!!
I'm not going to pretend I'm the anti-screen mom. When you are in a car with kids for more than a couple hours, a DVD player, a tablet, or something of that sort with lots of movies to watch is a must. Yes, I limit my kids' screen time at home. But, whatever keeps them occupied and quiet and happy in the car for long hours, is a must. So, seriously... bring out the portable DVD player, if you car doesn't have one built in, get the DVD's in a case and charge those tablets. Our car doesn't have a built in DVD player. We found a really cool holder than sits in between the front seats' head rests, so everyone can see the movie.
Also, with movies, you figure a normal movie lasts 1 1/2 to 2 hours long. Don't tell your littles that you will be there in 4 hours. Tell them, "You need to watch 2 movies and then we will be there." They will understand that much easier. Our kids understand 5-6 movies and then we will be at grandma and grandpas house!
2. SNACKS, DRINKS, & TOY BAG!!!!
All our kids are still in booster/car seats. So, their legs are still pretty short. We take advantage of this. There is extra storage space under those feet for the essentials. We drive an SUV. So, under one kids feet, we have the toy bag. This bag is filled with small toys, color books and snack sized zip lock of crayons, that they get to choose that they are allowed to play with. We have the rule that it can't make noise. So, dolls, action figures, animals, etc. Nothing noisy. Under the middle seat (Usually where our oldest who can work the DVD player and who we trust with the snacks sits), is the snack bag. I put everything into snack sized zip-lock bags so if there is a spill, it's not a big one. We always bring cheese crackers, fruit snacks, bananas, mini muffins, and granola bars, Behind the middle seat (the oldest) we have a small, easy to open, cooler. This is filled with ice and drinks (Capri Suns, water bottles, a half gallon of milk, and drinks for mom and dad) This is also filled with perishable snack/meal food. Depending on how long we plan on driving for the day we may throw some sandwiches, cheese sticks, Lunchables, apple slices, or anything else to tide them over.
In the front seat with me (I usually ride passenger, while the hubby drives) I have multiple plastic grocery sacks in the car door holder. I fill this with all trash and whenever we stop, I toss it and pull out a new one. It keeps things clean and organized and the kids know just to pass the wrappers up to me when they are finished. Keeps everything running smooth.
I also carry in the center console or the glove box, GALLON SIZED ZIP LOCK BAGS! Essential! We sometimes have a kid that gets car sick. A gallon zip lock will most likely hold all the mess, and it zips shut and so nothing can get out and it keeps the smell down. I constantly carry 3-4 in the car no matter what, but I really stock up before a long road trip.
3. ORGANIZATION!!!!!
Some people like to "wing it" when it comes to road trips. When you have littles, winging it is the worst thing that you can do. We've done it, we failed, and now we over organize and our travels run much smoother. It's like night and day.
Be completely organized. No matter how you like to pack your bags, I personally put the boys clothes together, my daughter and I share a bag, and the hubby has his own bag (For clothing)... This is all because of the size of suit cases we own. Those always go into the back of the trunk, because we don't really need them until we arrive, and it conveniently props up the cooler.
We then have an "Overnight bag" "Essentials Bag" and "Toiletry Bag" that sits at the front where its easily accessible.
The overnight bag is filled with a change of clothing and pj's for each person. You never know if and when you will need to stop for the night. Plans may change. You may have a flat tire or car trouble and you have to stay the night somewhere. Nothing feels better than not having to pull out every suit case to stay overnight somewhere and you just grab the overnight bag. This has happened to us before, and we didn't have the bag and it was a mess. We've done it when we had the bag and it made life so much easier.
The "essentials bag" holds diapers, wipes, pull-ups, extra blankies, binkies, extra sippy cups.... The "essentials". Even though I have that stuff in my purse up front, I never know when I will need a quick swap.
The "Toiletry Bag" kind of goes hand in hand with the "overnight bag". Grab and go. All our toiletries in one spot, no searching, everything at our fingertips.
I love using fun canvas bags. They are reusable, sturdy, and can be washed.
4. HAVE A SET PLAN!!!!
Plans change, yes, but when you have a plan set, it makes things easier. Especially when you can tell your kids, "We have 2 more hours and then we are stopping for dinner! We are going to have pizza tonight at a fun restaurant called Mo's Pizza!" They know the plan, you know the plan, it's awesome. This is one reason I love having a smart phone. We can really know what time we will be in what town and then I can google restaurants in the area. I can even look up their menu's to see if it's what we like and read reviews. And, if all the kids are in a good mood we can semi choose a restaurant together.
We plan most things around meal time and sleep time. If we have to leave in the afternoon, we have a light lunch before heading out somewhere, we will most likely get a good 2-3 hours of napping kiddos and then it's a snack in the car and a couple movies before we stop for dinner.
If you kids are lousy road trippers, plan on leaving a couple hours before dinner time. Play a movie, stop for dinner, then they will fall asleep for the rest of the trip. We've done this before (Because of scheduling) and our kids slept most of our 8 hour trip. We got to our hotel at 12:30 AM, slipped them into bed (we had them in pj's before we left) and it went smooth.
Have realistic expectations for your kids. If you know they don't like the car, stop half way through the trip for the night. Don't get upset with them. Stay calm. You getting upset and yelling won't make the trip any better and everyone will be on edge, making the environment in the car uncomfortable.
Sometimes you just have to power through. You have 2 hours until you get to the hotel for the night, but the toddler is screaming? You gotta do what you gotta do. The driver drives and the co-pilot entertains. I've twisted my body in the strangest positions to hold my one year old's hand to keep her calm for an hour and a half. I was achy and my arm fell asleep, but I did what I needed to do to keep everyone comfortable and calm and keep the car environment peaceful.
5. POTTY TRAINING TOILET!!!!
You know the potty training toilets that sit on the floor? Invest in one and stick it in the back where you can grab it easily. We've had many side-of-the-road poops with the littles. They do their business, throw the business off to the side into the grass or bushes, rinse with bottled water, wipe with a baby wipe and use a gallon zip lock to hold the used wipe. This, obviously isn't for Interstate Freeway driving. You don't want to stop on the side of the freeway to do this. But, we've pulled off the off ramp, stopped on a county road, set them up in the back of the Explorer, let them do their business, clean them up and go. There is no searching for a gas station or rest stop, there is no uncomfortable going potty in a weird bathroom, there's no temptation of having to buy something at the place you stop. Seriously, we have used this potty so much. Some trips we don't use it at all, but when you need it, it's so worth it to have it right there and ready.
6. COMFORTS OF HOME
Our kids have neck pillows. These are AMAZING for road trips. They can nap without their heads turning down and causing them to be uncomfortable, they can sit them on their laps and use it as a table to color or eat on, they are great! We always bring a small lap blanket. Even if it sits at their feet the whole trip, it's still nice to have if they want to cuddle up with a blankie and take a nap. They always bring their fave stuffed animal also, Their "lovey's". A comfort to hold on to. If the kids are comfortable, you are comfortable, and the trip is easier.
7. DON'T ARGUE!!!
Last, but not least, don't argue. Know your jobs before the trip starts, have the GPS going, and keep conversations lighthearted. A long road trip isn't a time to get in a heated debate and argument over some stupid issue. Nothing makes a road trip worse than tension. I know my job and the hubby knows his. He drives and keeps track of time and where we are supposed to be and when. I keep track and entertain the kiddos. If he needs me to tell him where to turn, I do. No complaining or arguing. If I miss telling him where to turn, I apologize and help correct the error. If he messes up with something, he apologizes and we work together, calmly. Arguing will not make the trip quicker or smoother. Staying calm and knowing your job will. Suck up the pride, stay level headed and do what needs to be done.
We love to have deep conversations during trips. It's helps get through listening to Toy Story 3 again. But, if it gets heated or we disagree, we stop, pause, and move on to another subject. Our kids don't want to hear it, we don't want them to be uncomfortable listening to it, and we want to show our kids that mom and dad work together as a team and do things mature, calm, and level-headed.
There are so many other small things that we do to survive road trips, but I think those are the biggest ones. Road trips can be so much fun. Sight seeing, stopping to take a picture by a monument, finally arriving to the destination. The journey there doesn't have to be hell. It can go smooth. Just remember to stay SUPER organized, stay calm, and have a set plan!
Have any other tips!? I would love to hear them! Leave me a comment!!!
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