We just got back from a family trip to LA a couple of days ago and that was the first time we drove that far with our 1-year old son. The drive from San Jose to LA takes about 6 hours give or take depending on traffic and I knew I had to be prepared for those 6 hours on the road since my son isn’t used to being strapped into the carseat that long. So here are 5 things that we have to bring when traveling with my son to keep him from crying or throwing tantrums.
1. iPad or laptop or PSP or basically any gadget that would allow your kid to watch videos or play games while in the car! I knew that one of the things I can’t forget to bring are my husband’s iPad, my Kindle Fire and the laptop because my son loves watching the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Phineas and Ferb. So I know that one way I can get him to calm down or take his mind off the fact that he’s been in the car seat or quite a while is to show him those videos. And it was very effective! He fell asleep a couple of times while watching.
2. Comfort pillow or toy. Is your kid having a hard time sleeping unless he’s holding his favorite toy or pillow? Then don’t forget to to bring whatever makes your kid comfortable! In our case, we needed to bring our Spongebob nightlight and his Mickey Mouse pillow just so he can feel like he’s just at home. This is me and my son at the Spongebob section of a store in Universal Studios. He loves Spongebob!
3. Snacks! Nothing makes my child throw tantrums more than an empty stomach! So make sure you pack a couple of snacks — not just one or two. Bring a variety of snacks so that you can offer him a different one every time. My son sometimes gets easily bored with one type of snack so I make sure we have a couple of different ones in the bag. Here’s my son “snacking” on a pair of 3D glasses while on the Universal Studios Tour!
4. Cooler with milk, juice and water. And make sure it’s within your reach! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to reach for the cooler at the back just to get my son something more to drink. Yes we had a sippy cup beside us but I didn’t realize that 1 sippy cup of water and 8 ounces of milk isn’t enough for a 6-hour drive. Again, there should be variety in the drinks you bring for your child. Sometimes, he just wants some water but other times he’d request for milk or juice so be ready for that. Here’s my son drinking some fruit juice when we arrived in LA.
5. Culturelle. When traveling with kids (or even without), there’s always a possibility of some stomach problems. Culturelle Kids probiotics help reduce upset tummies and can be a solution for digestive discomfort. I brought the Culturelle Kids packets which would be easier for my son to intake. If your kid is older though, I think the chewables would be more convenient.
How about you? What do you usually bring when traveling with kids?
*I was given a sample of Culturelle and was compensated for this post. Regardless, all opinions expressed are my own.
My child is the same way with snacks! He eats at random times so I must always have them on hand.
ashleigh walls recently posted..Rubbermaid LunchBlox Sandwich Kit Tested!
Must be a kid thing!
I always recommend bringing a few ‘new’ toys along – something inexpensive from the dollar store or wherever but that will get their attention for a little while and help take their mind off a tantrum or boredom!
Heather ~ Acting Balanced Mom recently posted..Save with Back to Romance with EdenFantasys
That’s true too! We bought my son a new talking Mickey Mouse toy at Target when we got there!
Never seen something like this for kids…what a great idea. We always take extra bandages and motrin on trips with the kids.
julieann r recently posted..CVS Shopping – Finally a Great Deal
Great idea! Didn’t think of that so it’s a good thing my son didn’t need them. I’ll have to remember to bring those next time!
This is a great list, in fact probiotics for me too are good when traveling!
Karissa recently posted..My Birthday Weekend Getaway Captured on Film
True! It’s gonna be so uncomfortable having an upset stomach on the road!
Looks like a fun trip! I remember road trips when my son was young, and you definitely have it covered! My son used to have a stuffed he took everywhere with him! We couldn’t leave home without it!
It was! And yes, little ones usually have something they want to take with them everywhere. 🙂
We used to do a LOT of long car trips and having entertainment and food was an absolute must for us. Only, we had ‘old technology’ at the time… a VCR in a bag!
Laura O in AK recently posted..Results from My Beachbody Program
OMG! I’m so glad there are tablets now so it’s not too bulky!
Great ideas! I totally agree. Each of my kids has their own mini pillow pet that they bring along on every trip for a stuffed animal and pillow in one. We also make sure to stock up on Culturelle so we don’t have any issues with local cuisine their tummies aren’t used to.
Danielle recently posted..Preparing for Halloween Fun with BuyCostumes
That’s true! Kids usually aren’t too tolerant of local food that they’re not used to.
I have to agree with your list 100%! Haven’t hears of culturelle, but it sounds like a great product
Malia recently posted..Peanut Butter & Honey Sandwich with Bananas
My family would always bring some extra toys and books 🙂
Susan Bewley recently posted..Citradish Dishwasher Detergent Review
Great ideas here! And the Culturelle, I didn’t know about it. I’m going to get some today, in fact, cause we are driving for 10 hours tonight! Thanks!
jody cowan recently posted..Blogs To Riches Club VIP Membership Giveaway Event Registration
We did this too x2! Same goes for when flying on a plane for long hours!
Cheryl G. recently posted..{US/CAN} Starbucks: Changes to My Starbucks Rewards effective 10/16!
Great post! Thank you for sharing.
UGG no kids on vacation.
These are such great suggestions. Thank you for sharing