Travelling with Kids

My children were 6 mos and 2 1/2 last year when we took on a 22 hour drive (each way). We could have never made it with out our sing along tapes, especially BARNEY! We stopped every 2 1/2 hours for juice, milk etc. Then we would get into water fights and play tag, daddy usually won. We did most of our traveling at night and all-in-all it was as joyful as it could have been.
-- sw

For plane travel:
A Sony walkman for each child.
A baggie of chiclets for each child.
-- Deb

A couple of tips--our children are 5 months and 3 years old, so we still travel at night for the 12 hour trip to Grandma's. We leave late afternoon and I bring a new car-friendly toy or two for my 3yr old. Lauri, Inc makes great crepe rubber puzzles, building blocks and lacing toys that he loves. I also bring along a box of usually forbidden "goodies" like small boxes of Froot Loops or other cereal to snack on.

Both kids love it when I sit in back with them and read books. That usually buys us an hour of happy time!

We also plan a McDonalds stop where there is an indoor play area. It's best to hit it either a bit earlier or later than usual supper hour. This lets them run off some steam before we "settle down" in the car for the night. We do the usual bedtime ritual of reading, praying and singing a song to keep everything as routine as possible.
-- Linda

My daughter (20 months) and I travel for long distances by car and plane. When traveling on the road I make sure to build in time to stop at several rest stops. Some of the rest stops have swings, look out points and picnic areas. I stop so my daughter can run around and I can get from behind the wheel of the car. I also place a book of nursury rhymes on the passenger seat of the car to remind me of the songs I can sing to her while I am driving.
-- Radious

two words: duct tape
-- mike

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