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8 Smart Ways To Entertain Your Toddler In The Car

8 Smart Ways To Entertain Your Toddler In The Car

Going on a road trip is one of the best things you can do with your family. A long drive with your loved ones is truly a magical experience. But mommies, I’m sure you will agree that traveling long distances with little children in tow is not a joke. During the long journey, your child will be strapped to a car seat with minimal space for movement. As a result, your sweet little baby will start feeling cranky and throw tantrums. It takes a lot of patience and some meticulous planning to make sure that your child’s, as well as your own car journey, goes well. So the big question is…

How to keep your child entertained in the car on road trips?

Here are some tips.

family road trip
image credit: pexels.com

1. Pack the snacks!

Nothing can keep your child calm and relaxed if he is hungry. Plan out the snacks that you will carry with you beforehand, and pack them for your journey. Don’t forget to bring along lots of water and some milk in sippy cups. Although healthy snacks are preferred, you can add in a few of your child’s favorite snacks to keep him happy during the ride.

2. Sing songs

A family road trip is incomplete without some music! Little children react to music in an unbelievable way. Take pictures and videos of your toddler bobbing his head to the beat or your older kid singing along to the lyrics. You can even play some of his favorite nursery rhymes and keep him entertained.

3. Bring your iPad along

If you have an iPad or a tablet, bring it along on your road trip. Download an app, such as KidloLand, which is an all-in-one companion for your preschooler. Loaded with a ton of educational and fun content, your child will surely never get bored of playing and learning.

 entertain car road trip toddler tips
image credit: Pezibear/pixabay

4. Bring some toys!

Your child might have some favorite toys or soft toys at home that she loves to play with, so why not bring them along too? Your children can cuddle with soft and fuzzy toys, making it much easier for them to fall asleep. Avoid bringing toys which make noises for your own sanity.

5. White board and dry-erase markers

A clear white board is a blank canvas, all it needs is your child’s imagination! During a long road trip, your child can feel bored of sitting in one place for long hours. How about giving her a white board with some dry-erase markers? She can doodle, scribble, draw, write and keep herself engaged for quite some time.

6. Finger puppets

Finger puppets are a great way to keep things interesting on your road trip. Encourage your little one to make up his own story with the finger puppets and keep adding new twists and turns to it. This will not only keep him entertained but it will also make him think! Colorful finger puppets are great ‘friends’ for your child to talk to, and it also promotes creative thinking and imaginative play.

entertaining car activities for toddlers
image credit: publicdomainpictures

7. Books

You can bring along some story books with colorful illustrations to keep your little one engrossed. Read the stories to him or let him read them all by himself. When you read a story to him, add voice modifications for different characters and make it fascinating. Your child is guaranteed to love every bit of it!

traveling with children in car
image credit: publicdomainpictures

8. Lullabies

Naps are extremely essential during road trips! You can play some of the lullabies for babies within the KidloLand app on your iPad/tablet and soon, your little munchkin will be drifting off to sleep. Remember to bring some soft pillows for your child so that she can comfortably fall asleep. Once your child has fallen asleep, take a power nap yourself because you deserve it! After all, mommy needs some sleep too.

Summing Up

It’s best to make a checklist and pack all the essentials for your road trip beforehand. Some strategic planning can ensure that your child has a relaxing and exciting journey in the car. Happy journey!

The Best A-Z Guide For Your Baby’s Day Out This Thanksgiving

The Best A-Z Guide For Your Baby’s Day Out This Thanksgiving

Traveling with little kids is stressful, but it gets worse during the Thanksgiving season. People throng to airports and cause traffic jams on the roads in huge numbers in order to visit their families for the holiday. Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times of the year and the long wait at airports or traffic jams can be incredibly frustrating for your little one. No matter how you’re traveling, by flight or by car, you absolutely need a checklist to make sure you have everything. Your travel bag should consist of all the essentials – a first-aid box, food and medicine, electronics, toiletries for your baby and more. Here’s an A to Z guide that can come in handy when you travel for the Thanksgiving holiday!

A

  • Anti-bacterial wipes – These can be useful to wipe your hands after a diaper change in the car.
  • Allergy medication – If your baby is prone to allergies, make sure you carry the necessary allergy medicines.

B

  • Baby food – This is essential because your child will get hungry during the long car ride or flight.
  • Bib – Carry a plastic-coated bib to catch any spit, drool and to make it easier to clean up after feeding time.
  • Bowls – Bowls or small plates are important to carry so that your toddler can eat from it easily.
  • Band-aids – Necessary to cover your child’s cuts and scraped knees.
  • Blankets – If you’re traveling to a colder region, this is a must!
  • Bathing suit – Carry a bathing suit if you’re traveling to a warmer town.
  • Baby creams – Carry travel-sized lotion and moisturizer which will keep your baby’s skin soft and free of rashes.

toddler-roadtrip-checklist

C

  • Comfortable clothing – Long rides can be boring; comfortable clothing for kids can help them doze off faster.
  • Car charger – If you plan to use some electronic devices for your child to play with during the journey, pack a car charger with you as well.
  • Car seat – A car seat is mandatory for your child’s safety. Healthychildren.org has great guidelines for infants, toddlers, preschoolers & older kids.

D

E

  • Eatables – These can include some of the snacks that your child loves to eat. It’s okay if it has a few unhealthy options as long as it keeps your child happy during the journey.

F

  • First-aid kit – This can come in handy for any unexpected problems that may arise.
  • Formula – Formula, breast milk and juice for infants or toddlers are permitted through the security checkpoint at airports. For more information, you can read the TSA’s rules.

thanskgiving flight checklist

G

  • Gloves – This is another essential for travel to colder towns.

H

  • Hand sanitizer – Hand sanitizer can be very helpful to keep your hands clean during long rides.
  • Hair supplies – Hair ties, combs, etc. are some important additions to the checklist.

 

I

  • iPad – You can carry any electronic device where your toddler can play with apps. KidloLand is one such educational app where children can have fun with learning.

long flights toddler

J

  • Jackets – Jackets or sweaters are a must-have to keep your baby warm.

K

  • Kleenex – Tissues can be very convenient to keep your hands clean.

L

  • Lollipop – You can give lollipops to your children to ease the pressure on their ears during take-off or landing.
  • Lullabies – Apps which have good lullabies and bedtime songs can be really helpful when your child is having trouble sleeping.

M

  • Medicines – For unexpected sicknesses.

N

  • Napkins – An essential in every travel bag!

O

  • Baby Oil –  Pack travel-sized baby oil to moisturize your baby’s skin.

P

  • Pillows – Make sleeping comfortable for your little one by taking some small pillows with you.
  • Pacifier – Use of a pacifier during naps or bedtime can significantly lower the risk of SIDS.
  • Portable Potty – A travel potty can help your child relieve himself in times of emergencies.

road trip essentials for baby

Q

  • Quilt – Cozy bedding can enable your child to have a pleasant journey.

R

  • Reading material – You can either carry story books or get an app which has stories and fables to entertain your child.

S

  • Sunscreen – Pack a travel-sized bottle of sunscreen to protect your child’s skin.
  • Socks – A pair of socks are perfect to keep those little feet warm.
  • Stroller – If you’re on a car journey to your hometown, make sure you bring a stroller along with you.
  • Shampoo – Travel-sized shampoo can come in handy while you’re on a long-haul flight.
  • Sippy cups – Sippy cups can keep a child engaged on flights and also help him during take-off and landing.
  • Stuffed animal – Your child’s favorite stuffed animal can be the perfect companion for your baby if he gets scared or worried.

toddler packing guide

T

  • Toothbrush – An essential part of your toiletries packing list.
  • Toothpaste – Pack a small toothpaste tube.
  • Toys – When your child gets bored, he’ll need some toys to play with. Make sure you don’t pack the squeaky toys.
  • Thermometer – For any unexpected illnesses.
  • Towel – To clean up easily.
  • Trash bag – You can use a trash bag to collect your child’s soiled diapers for disposal.

U

  • Underwear – Always keep an extra pair of your child’s underwear with you.
  • Umbrella – For any unexpected rain.

V

  • Veggies – Cook your child’s favorite vegetables and bring them with you for a healthy snack.

packing baby's travel bag

W

  • Wipes – An essential for a child’s packing checklist.
  • Water Bottle – Your child will get thirsty often, make sure you have enough water with you.

Z

  • Ziploc bag – You can pack individual outfits of your child or pack snacks in Ziploc bags.happy thanksgiving 2016