Riding in Cars with Kids: 4 Road Trip Essentials

 

We seem to have reached that milestone age group where our little guy, who used to fall asleep easily in the car.... no longer does. We started to notice it when we turned him forward facing, and it's only progressed with time. The soft white noise and swaying of the car no longer lulls him right to sleep, only to be woken when we arrive at our destination. Now he watches the world go by with his big, blue, eyes, and often demands to be entertained. 

We take quite a few car trips, both long and short, and we always try to be well prepared with ways to keep him a happy kid. Car trips can be stressful even with the most agreeable child, but throw a whiny one into the mix and it's a nightmare. I find that taking ten minutes to pack a few extra things helps me feel more prepared and less frazzled. Here's what we bring when we hit the road!

1. Snacks and more Snacks. The fastest way to make our guy fussy is to let him get even the slightest bit hungry. I like to pack a gallon ziploc full of snacks so that he has plenty of choices. Fresh fruit, cheese, crackers, yogurt pouches, and Happy Kid Fruit and Oat bars are some of our go to choices. Happy Kid Fruit and Oat bars are made with no added sugar, colors, or preservatives and are gluten free. By keeping our snacks on the healthier side we avoid a sugar rush that is inevitably followed by an epic meltdown. Don't forget a water bottle too, preferably a leak-proof one!

2. Lovey or Blanket. Just in case he does end up tired enough to fall asleep, having his blankie on hand makes him more comfortable and more likely to doze off. 

3. Fresh Tunes. We like to listen to spotify or make a cd before we leave with songs that the whole family will enjoy. Movie soundtracks are often a favorite. 

4. Games. We make sure our Ipad mini is charged up before we leave so that Jacob has a smorgasboard of games to choose from. But we also keep a list of fun games in the car that don't require electronics. Some of our favorites are: I-spy, I'm going on a picnic, and searching for letters or numbers. 

What are your go-to items for keeping Happy Kids in the car? We get our Happy Kid Fruit and Oat bars at Babies'r'Us, but you can also find them at Buy Buy Baby, Amazon.com, Walmart.com, Sprouts, and Shoprite. For a $1 off coupon, click HERE!