On the road
Buckle up and enjoy the ride with these ideas for stress-free car trips
- Record yourself reading your child’s favourite books or nursery rhymes and play them back while in the car.
- Try to plan your trip around parks, fruit farms, playgrounds etc so you can stop and re-charge every few hours. Take an inflatable ball to kick around at a park.
- Roadside cafe's can be dirty and junk food-ladden. Instead try to make meal times an occasion for a picnic. Bring plenty of snacks and drinks for an impromptu picnic at a rest stop. The fresh air will be a valuable pick-up for everyone.
- Pack the car in two stages: items you may need during the trip in the car and those you will not need in the boot.
- Magnet and sticker books are great for cars because they are less likely to slide off onto the floor.
- Carry a torch if travelling at night. There's nothing worse than feeling around a bag for a tiny item...or turning car lights on if baby is sleeping!
Travel treasures
Checklist for next time you travel.
- If you have your mobile phone with you, take a photo of your child at the start of the day. If they get lost during the day you have a visual reminder what they were wearing and you can show others who may be helping you look.
- Take a mix of favourite toys plus a few new ones so the novelty expands playtime. Try wrapping the toys in colourful paper to add to the novelty.
- Take items which can be given as rewards for good behaviour such as stickers, temporary tattoos and lollipops.
- If you are visiting family, take photos of your relatives to show your child. It can help pass the time as you tell them stories about their unfamiliar family members and babies love looking at faces.