Top 14 tips to prepare for a road trip with kids

Are you thinking about going on a road trip with your family? It will be a fabulous adventure!

There are so many places to explore.

Going on a long car ride with children can be daunting. Preparation is key for a ride as smooth as possible.

Here is a list of how to prepare for a road trip with kids.

I highly recommend keeping items from 4 to 9 handy in a separate bag that you would keep on the floor of the passenger’s seat to make it easier for you and be able to address quickly your little one(s) needs.

Get your car checked (and fixed) before you leave
Check your child’s car seat
Dress your child comfortably for the ride
Have the favorite blanket or toy
Bring books
Take car friendly toys
Pack different snacks and plenty of water
Pack extra clothes and shoes
Bring wipes
Plan stops where the kids can have fun
Play games
Have music they like
A little boredom is okay
Be flexible

Get your car checked (and fixed) before you leave – It is always a good idea to have your car checked before going on a road trip to make sure the car is ready for it. The shop will run a check on your brakes, tires and the overall car. You will drive a lot so it is important you are confident your car is in the best shape possible for a smooth trip.
Check your child’s car seat – According to a U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study, 59% of child restraint system (CRS, aka car seats and booster seats) was misused. It is important to make sure your children’s car seats are properly attached and their seat belt fit. If you realize it was not, take advantage to completely remove the car seat and do a little cleaning underneath. You will be amazed by all you can find! Then reinstall the car seat properly.
Dress your child comfortably for the ride – When we go on long drive, we dress our little one in very comfortable clothes that are large enough, button less and pants that are a not tight around your child’s waist. Our favorite: pajamas. We also take his shoes off.
Have the favorite blanket or toy – Bring during your trip your child’s comforting blanket or toy. You can give it to your child at the beginning or save it for later when you child is getting a bit tired or impatient. It would likely have a soothing effect.
Bring books – If you child does not suffer from sickness motion, books are fantastic to entertain your little one when on a long trip. Ten books are a minimum, feel free to bring more. We must have 50 books and counting! Think of your child’s favorites stories or bring new books to discover.
Take car friendly toys – Children get tired of toys fast. Keep them handy. Little figurines (farm or safari animals, dinosaurs, etc.) work wonders. Same for cars and dolls. There are now many car friendly toys available: Water WOW activity pads or cards with refillable water pen, travel doodle boards, travel size board games for bigger kids. You can also bring screens (games/films) in the car. Be sure to provide rules about the time spent in front of the screen before giving these away.
Pack different snacks and plenty of water – When on the road, nibbles are more often. Bringing plenty of diversified snacks that make minimum crumbs will help for a smoother ride (gold fishes, veggie straws, veggie sticks, etc.). Avoid snacks that melt or anything covered with chocolate in the car. Also have the kids’ cup filled with water only. Sugary drinks could get spilled. Keep these and chocolate cookies for pit stops.
Pack extra clothes and shoes – Children can get car sick or have a potty accident. It is best to have a few extra outfits and shoes so that you have change them without having to go through the luggage packed in the trunk of the car.
Bring wipes – For the same reasons above and even if your child is potty trained, wipes are always useful to clean a sick child or a blowout. Large bibs and plastic bags are also good to have on hand just in case your child is not feeling well.
Plan stops where the kids can have fun – You will make many stops so children can go to the restroom or to get a bite. Make these stops more enjoyable by looking ahead of time if there are playgrounds with splash pad or a children’s museum on your way. These will make the long hours in the car worth the wait to fun activities.
Play games – Playing games not only help passing time, most of them are actually educational. It could be as simple as playing I spy, tic tac toe or the license place game. There are a lot more games you can play depending on your children’s age.
Have music they like – This one is mostly for the children too young to have earphones. Listening to some of their favorite songs in the car from time to time may help swinging your child’s mood. Make a selection ahead of time of the songs that you consider appropriate and that will not drive you crazy if you have to listen to them a second (or a third) time.
A little boredom is okay – If your destination is really far away, boredom will appear eventually. Boredom is healthy. According to Dr Teresa Belton, a researcher and visiting fellow at the University of East Anglia, boredom boosts creativity and reflection. Let you child day dream.
Be flexible – Last but not least, it is important to remain flexible so the car ride is enjoyed by all. Little ones might need to go potty often, particularly during the first year once they have started potty training. If you children are quiet when you were planning to stop, keep driving a little longer (unless there is a fun activity to do in that specific place). If they are screaming their head off, stop for a break to stretch their legs. You may also get lucky and find a hidden gem full of fun activities on the way.