Traveling with a Toddler - Croton,OH

We took our son to visit grandma when he was a year and a half old.
It was a 12 hr drive.
Poor kid got car sick - we had to take breaks along the way.

My family all lives away so our kids all did road trips from infant on. 5 hours was a regular trip for us.

We traveled on a few really long road trips (over 12 hours) a few times.

Funny story - we bought a DVD player for the van and one of the kids broke it within the first 1/2 hour of our trip. They didn't let on, so our kids all drove that distance without any electronics. We found out once we arrived at our destination. So it is possible.

I always found it pretty good. We just did frequent stops. I would suggest some way to show movies if you can - just in case toddler gets restless. I packed a few toys and snacks.

We did it all the time with our now 22 year old. She was flying by 6-8 months and still flies a lot.

We did numerous short flights and several long ones 9+ hours.

None of us are big on road trips so we avoided road trips. If it was more than a 2-3 hour drive we either flew or didn't go.

I would typically go to Target after we arrived at our destination to purchase diapers, etc and a cheap umbrella stroller. We'd leave the cheap stroller and anything another family might use at the concierge at check out for someone else.

We did both, feeling it was important to expose our child to new experiences. We took him on a 4 hour car trip at 2.5 months (really challenging!), a 2 hour trip at 5 months, and a 3 hour plane trip at 9 months. We took many car trips after that, and did the auto train at age 7 and additional plane trips around then and getting into older ages. We also did 2 7-10 day RV trips at 8 and 9.

I think the tricks are:
- stay flexible about taking breaks when you need to, not just at the 2 and 4 hour marks (or whatever you have planned). Be willing to stop at interesting things along the way, deal with breaks in the weather, and so on.
- have a healthy mix of "familiar stuff" and "new stuff." Take the special blanket and teddy bear, but resist the urge to turn the back seat into a rolling media room with DVD player and every other gadget. Do have a special "travel box" of new (small and replaceable) toys that will hold a child's interest, and have a supply of family sing-along CDs that are for everyone to enjoy as a group (not just kid-only entertainment in the back seat). We always had a "restaurant and waiting room" box in the car anyway - toys that ONLY came out when we were outside the home and in a place where waiting was required. Those small wooden toys that offer different games using golf tees as "men" were great because they were so versatile.
- Make a road trip a road trip! We had travel bingo or a travel checklist (find the motorcycle, the police car, the bridge, the cow, a tow truck....) and you can download plenty of these from the internet. Take plain sheets to the quick printer and have them laminated so they last, and use either removable stickers (garage sale ones work well), velcro dots, or write on/wipe off markers of some sort if you can protect the car interior. Focus on the road and the surroundings rather than try to provide enough distraction that the child doesn't notice! We invested in a decent "snack table" sort of contraption that served as a tray table for eating as well as a writing table for simple activities.
- invest in a seat-back divided organizer or even a clear shoe bag thing that lets you put drink bottles (get the non-spill types), a snack container, toys and craft type supplies that are manageable in a car. Get plastic links or lengths of coated chain and something like carabiners to attach toys and bottles to the car seat so a child can "reel in" what he drops and you aren't pulling over every 2 minutes because there's a tantrum over something he let go of.
- use your public library for a great list of travel games (check out those 1960s books and everything families used before electronics!) and free-rental CDs (with a lyrics sheet) for American classics in the car. This is far superior to kids doing something in isolation in the back seat while parents talk about something else up front. Make the trip the adventure and the activity - not just something to endure while going from Point A to Point B.
- I agree about the travel neck pillow. Try to keep your child's bedtime similar to what you use at home.
- For longer trips, pack a simple plastic milk crate or other bin (or 2) with the types of snacks/meal fixings you will need in a hotel. We had crackers, bread, peanut butter, clementines, and so on in ours, and a small cooler for things like chess and yogurt and oranges. We also took oatmeal and things that could be easily made in a hotel microwave. We stacked them in the car, and then stacked them on their side (with the open end facing out) in the hotel - instant shelves! Slice apples in a tic-tac-toe pattern looking down from above so the core is in the middle "square" - reassemble the apple and fasten with a rubber band or a piece of plastic wrap. The apple doesn't brown, but it easily separates for easy eating. (You can also put peanut butter in the middle space in lieu of the core.) Take a small bottle of dish detergent and a sponge/dishrag with you, and ask the hotel for a couple of extra hand towels to use as dish towels or a dish draining pad.
-take some soft toys usable in a hotel - nerf toys, a soft frisbee, etc.

Set reasonable expectations, but don't stop traveling just because one trip has a few glitches!

Our kid is grown now, but he is still a great traveler and super adventurous, with a strong ability to talk to pretty much anyone, after all those years of making friends wherever he went.

We've traveled a lot. One thing we learned when our kids were little was not to keep a schedule that was too strict and rigid. It's ok when it's adults to say "we'll drive 8 hours today" or "we'll get to St. Louis by 7 pm". But when you have a little kid, flexibility is helpful. They get car sick, or spill something that requires clean clothes and cleaning the car seat, or, well, any one of a number of interruptions can happen. Don't hold yourself hostage to inflexible deadlines when taking a fun road trip. It's nearly impossible to say that you'll stick to a time limit. They might have to pee 15 minutes after the last stop, or they might get engrossed in a movie and be okay for a couple of hours.

Neck pillows (those little bendy things that go around the neck) that are specifically safe for toddlers are helpful when they doze off in the car seat.

If at all possible, try to keep to the regular day/night schedule. Nothing is more frustrating than driving for a long time during the day, when the child sleeps, and arriving at the hotel or campsite at evening time. The parents are exhausted and the kid is well rested ready for fun at the pool or just bouncing on the bed. Structure the drive so that everyone is awake during the day so that everyone can rest at night. Make frequent stops, enjoy little attractions, throw a beach ball around at a picnic rest stop, and keep the day time for awake time. It's really tempting to drive like crazy when the kid is quietly sleeping, but it just makes bedtime extra exhausting for the parents. If your child takes a nap at a regular time, like 1 pm, try to stick to that and wake the child up for a fun activity at what would be the time he or she usually wakes up.

And it's not necessary to go to every expensive attraction. Part of the fun of a road trip can be eating at a picnic bench without the usual "sit at the kitchen table and use your manners". Or throw a frisbee at a grassy field by the road. Or relax the rules about dessert. Or get the whole family to do something silly and fun and spontaneous. That's the joy of a road trip without deadlines. Some families go from major tourist attraction to major theme park without ever just finding a little trail to walk on, or enjoying a sandwich while listening to the birds at a picnic bench.

Yes we traveled a lot with both our kids from day one! They had many trips as toddlers...long airplane trips as well as road trips. We tried to drive 5 hours or less in a day and the key is to be ready to keep your kid entertained...as well as timing driving for nap-time! Also be flexible and sometimes you have to stop for an outing even if you weren't ready to stop. We always looked at it as fun and we would find a park to play at or a nature area to walk around at. When our kids were first being potty trained and we did a road trip, we would take the little potty with us and we would stop for potty breaks. It all worked out fine and we always had fun. Sometimes kids would get cranky or sick or would not be able to go to sleep...but that happens at home too.

We have traveled quite a bit with my grandbaby, who is 3.5 right now. She has flown to Texas and Georgia, and taken road trips from 2 hrs all the way up to 20 hrs, and from 1 day of stay to 10 days. She does a great job and the younger you start them getting used to traveling, the better off you will be in the long run.

We pack a flat tackle box with treats for plane rides (don't put anything with nuts in it in case you end up on a nut-free flight). The little sections are perfect for different cereals, snacks, raisins, etc. We pack a couple of "extra special" treats in our pockets - we are not above bribing a screaming child on a plane with chocolate :)

We don't limit screen time while traveling. This is the one time she can watch pretty much what she wants when she wants. Once we arrive at our destination, her screen time is limited again, but while in transit, she gets as much as she wants.

Bag of toys - we call it "the pink bag" and in it are toys she only gets to play with while traveling. A lot of excitement comes from playing with "special toys only for travel." We have color/color books, small people to play with, finger games/puppets, etc.

We also do a lot of interactive things like "I spy" or counting things we pass. We sing and clap to the radio.

Timing of traveling. If you are flying, choose a less busy time to fly. We flew in the middle of the day with her, which wasn't busy and wasn't packed with business travelers (who tend to be less forgiving of toddler issues in my experience), and happened to be her nap time. We planned drives around naps if they were shorter trips, and during the night if possible for longer trips. If you are potty training, plan on ALOT of extra stops :) We stop for meals at a place she can also do some running around. We also look for rest stops that have playgrounds (many do) on the way for extra burning energy time.

Good luck!

Our daughter's first road trip was an hour when she was just a month old. Her first plane trip was from Minnesota to Florida when she was just 4 months old. We have taken at least two long trips a year every year since (she will be 10 this summer). Travel is just a part of life when my family lives at least 1000 miles away. We went to Hawaii with 2 little kids. I think driving is easier because you don't have as much limit on what you can take and you have more control over start and stop and break times. But, flying is possible.

On road trips we always planned to stop and get out to walk around about every 60-90 minutes. We tried to find parks or rest areas where the kids could run.

Our destinations were always kid friendly places-- cities with zoos, kids' museums, museums with hands on exhibits. Please don't attempt to go to things that are not intended for kids. Some friends of mine went to a Broadway play (not a kid friendly show) and a good part of it was not enjoyable because a couple behind them had a squirmy, noisy 2 year old. It isn't enjoyable for you either. Keep to laid back attractions where your toddler can be a toddler.

I think all of my other suggestions have been covered by others. It can be stressful if you let it be. I wouldn't undo any of our trips!

When my kids were toddlers/pre-schoolers we usually kept trips to 3 hours or less driving/flying time. Most of our travelling was to go camping. We brought toys, books and a portable dvd player. We also brought a playpen to set up in the tent when they were small, and a wagon we could use to take the kids and our picnic down to the beach, or also to pick up firewood. And lots of wet wipes.

Here's how you do it. My bff and I had 4 kids together under 2nd grade with 1 toddler and 2 preschool agers.

You get them fed dinner. Then you get them in the car, car seats and all. It's evening and they're excited so don't worry if they don't pass out right away. A couple of hours later you stop where they can run amok and play to their hearts content. You feed them a good snack too. Now it's bathroom time, potty time, change into jammie time. Everything ready for them to go to bed, but they're in their carseats.

Put on quiet music if you don't have a DVD player in your vehicle. If you do then put in something like Land Before Time, something they'll enjoy and get caught up in. They should be asleep within a half hour to hour.

You can stop for the night at a hotel but take your time and drive as far as you can. I often take over driving after midnight when my friend and I travel. That way we can get a good distance.

In the morning you get up, if you stopped in a hotel, and let the kids run crazy somewhere. We usually try to stay in a hotel with a pool and a play area for the kids. They need to move because their bodies are stiff and almost bruised from sitting so long in one position.

Eat a good breakfast. Then back on the road again. You should plan on stopping every 2 hours and let the kiddo run and play. This will use their muscles and it will help them settle down into their carseat better.

So eat, travel, break with snack and play, travel, eat...play, travel, snack and play, travel, eat and play, etc....

When my son was 3 we flew from Florida to new york. We brought toys, books, special snacks, and an ipad for him. Hes very active and didn't sit well at all. I had 1 flight attendant telling me to walk him in the aisle, another flight attendant telling me to sit. My son went through 4 outfits on a 3 hour flight. Finally my son noticed a man reading a fishing magazine. The guy flipped through the magazine with my son for 45 minutes. He saved the day and was great with him.

I think the biggest problem was the time of the flight. If we had found a better time geared towards his regular schedule, i think it would have been a lot better.

My son is 5 now. In June we are driving from Florida to Connecticut. I already started a bucket for him. I have coloring books, over 1000 different stickers, books, crayons, cards, and games. The biggest leg of driving (13 hours) will be at night while hes sleeping. I was thinking about getting a portable dvd player.

Good luck with your trip.

We always traveled, from the time they were born, by car and plane, subways and taxis around the city. Short trips are easier in general though some our best vacations were in Hawaii which was a 5 to 6 hour flight.
For a toddler snacks are key, and frequent opportunities to get up and move around. A small bag of "new" toys to explore helps too.

Last summer we drove to Legoland, which is a 2+ hour drive. We timed it so that we would be on the road during the kids' nap time. By the time they woke up from their naps, we were nearly there so it was pretty easy in terms of travel. My daughter was 4 and my son was 18 months old.

Traveled with mine since infancy. More by vehicle but now we fly a lot as well. It's a lot of fun if you're not rigid. Having a bag of toys/treats is great. Having a nature treasure hunt is fun or taking pictures of different birds, bugs, butterflies etc.

To us anything under 300 miles is an easy day. We don't make it an endurance test. My chiropractor told me that nobody should drive longer than 1.5 hours without a break for circulation and keeping your mind on what you're doing.

Have fun and the kids will. They will follow your lead. If you see something that peaks your interest on the trip stop and check it out. Make it an adventure 😊

It will be as difficult as YOU make it.

You know your child. You know what your child can handle. We don't.

When I traveled with toddlers? I had a small bag for them with their toys (all ONE PIECE and not something like LEGOs). I made sure they had a clear understanding of my expectations of them on the plane, train or car.

I didn't stress. As kids pick up on stress and react to it, which adds MORE stress.

Make sure you have a bag/backpack for your child/ren that has their stuff.
Make sure you have told them what is going on.
Tell them what to expect in terms they can understand. Keep it simple.

As far as a road trip? Make sure they have things to do and NOT just a DVD. Play games on the road helping them with their alphabet and numbers. Let them LOOK OUT THE WINDOW!!

Have fun!

We did week long camping trips with my children when they were toddlers every year where we would camp and then drive/sightsee most of the day before camping in a new location. We brought snacks and toys, but the boys were always very good during these trips. We also traveled from overseas to US every other year when they were little (all this was before iPhones) and we just made sure they had some toys to play with in their seats. It helps if you bring something new so it will be exciting, we used to bring new hotwheels cars.