You may or may not be traveling across the globe this summer, but even local road trips can be challenging if you have young preschoolers in tow.
If you’re scrambling for a few traveling “survival” tips, we’ve got you covered! Check out this list before you hit the road:
- Pack it up!
For younger preschoolers, a good rule is to pack two outfits per day—but max at four days’ worth. If you’re on a vacation lasting a full week or longer, remember you can find local laundromats to wash/dry one big quick load all at once to have everyone cleaned up and ready for more fun. Simply wash and wear as needed. And remember, your child may need one nicer set of clothing for special events you may be attending, such as a wedding or graduation party.
- Snacks
Kids and snacks go hand-in-hand, so be prepared! Purchase bulk snack items as much as possible and then baggie them up for the trip. A must-have for young preschoolers is the catch-all type cups that eliminate or reduce, the number of spills in car seats. For older preschoolers (or their older siblings), nix anything that could become a melty mess of gunk on warm car seats or flooring (such as chocolate or peanut butter). Instead, use snack items that provide good taste and ease such as crackers, fruit/veggie pouches, child-friendly meat sticks, crunchy dry cereal, and soft granola fruit bars.
- Blankies
Young children love their soft blanket snuggies! Be sure to take them along to keep toddlers less tearful, since these special comfort items provide familiarity, security, and warmth when the air conditioning gets too cool in cars, planes, or hotel rooms. Also, regular-sized fleece blankets used by adults in the car may later be used as the perfect covering—or extra padding for a floor pallet—when your toddler needs to nap at your destination spot.
- Toys
Keep young hands and minds occupied for your trip with items of interest to your toddler. My niece, Sara—who has several preschoolers—uses a fun idea for travel time with her kids. She often takes along a small metal cookie sheet with magnetized doll shapes and other playable characters that use dress-up pieces and props. Her preschoolers are absorbed for long stints of time creating new options for the characters. Other magnetic items such as numbers and letters are fun for older preschoolers to play with in the same way. Brilliant!
- Sound (sleep) machine
I always used a [white] “noisemaker” machine for my son when he was young as he napped or slept at night. But it’s not always possible to lug those kinds of machines around when traveling. So, try this easy fix! I used a phone app for white noise, turned up the volume that mimicked what my son was used to with the noisemaker at home. And then simply keep your phone plugged in through the sleeping time to save your battery while the white noise helps everyone get a sound sleep—vital for vacation time!
- Bandages and “bumpies” medicine
Along with toddlers come bumps of all types. It might be a knot on the forehead or the kind that covers his body as welts! Either way, be ready by taking along a box of bandages for ouchies, and a container of allergy relief medicine. You never know when your toddler might show signs of an allergic reaction to a new food product or items in nature when you’re away from home. Over-the-counter allergy meds often come in chewables or liquid for young children. These work great to help slow down potentially dangerous reactions until you can get your child to a doctor.
Traveling over the summer brings about a change in location and routine for everyone—but also memories that last a lifetime. Keep travel plans simple (to save your sanity) and then make the most of your summer with fun times spent with family and friends!