Tips for driving with small children onboard
Car travel with small children and infants can be a challenge, you have to consider their safety as being paramount, but their comfort is also important, a back seat full of fussy, crying children can be a major distraction and is a situation that should be avoided!
When your children are comfortable and happy in the car, they are much less likely to distract you while you’re driving, making it easier for you to keep everyone safe. The following are some tips for making sure your little ones are at ease and enjoying the ride.
Mobile snack time
It’s hard to cry and complain if your mouth is full of a delicious snack! Babies can enjoy a nice bottle and toddlers can munch on easy-to-eat snacks like veggie spears, sandwiches, or cookies, then wash it down with some healthy juice.
Be sure to install a baby seat protector to help keep the mess to a minimum! The best part of this plan is that a full belly is quite often the ticket to dreamland, and your precious darlings will drift off to sleep while you enjoy some quiet time while you drive.
Story time and sing-a-long
This is a great way to entertain your little ones and yourself, too! Even if the baby can’t talk yet, they love the sound of your voice and will happily gabble along. Toddlers love to listen to a good tale told, and will joyfully join in for a round of their favourite songs.
If the road requires your full attention just plug in a recording and let it do the work for you while you drive. Stories and songs will make the time pass by more quickly, and you will be there before you know it.
Break time and leg stretch
If your journey requires you to be out on the road for long hours at a time, be sure to stop for a break once in a while so everyone can get out of the car and stretch their legs. Baby gets a break from the car seat, too, they can happily roll around on a blanket on the ground.
It’s important to choose a rest area that’s safe and well off the road, just stopping and exiting the vehicle at a wide spot is much too risky. Once you have found your stop, it’s everyone out of the car seats even if they are asleep, it’s better that they get some fresh air and move around.
Cool things down
Loading the kids into a hot car is sure to get things off to a bad start, the complaining will start right away and the sultry temperatures will surely lead to sullen moods. Not only that, but there are some health risks involved like heat exhaustion and dehydration.
If you are forced to park your car out in the sun during the trip, cool down the car as much as possible before loading in the kids, first open the doors and roll down the windows to let out the trapped heat, then turn on the air conditioning if your car has it. A cool child is a happy, quiet child.
Have a wonderful trip!
