what is a convertible car seat

This is stating the obvious, but for a baby on a road trip, sleeping in the car is a great way to easily pass the time. And more snacks! In addition to the safety of your child, planned stops along the way are especially useful for keeping mobile babies happy on a road trip. While driving, portable snacks are great road trip snacks for babies as they work as both nourishment and distraction. You have to make sure you are very well rested before you start so that you dont risk falling asleep while driving. Tips for a Successful Road Trip with a Toddler, Have some awesome toddler road trip activities prepared, Make the drive as comfortable as possible, How to handle potty situations on the road. If youve had one long driving day, make the next day a rest day if you can, or a much shorter leg. Remove your kids shoes and winter or summer gear (sun hat, jacket, etc) and put them in a designated spot so you wont have to search out where theyve been tossed at each stop. Our favorite snack to give our babies on road trips were Gerber Puffs, which we loved due to their slow dissolving properties. Just use a piece of duct tape to attach it to the back of a headrest and theyre ready to go., More than anything else, kids crave their parents undivided attention, and being stuck in a car or plane for several hours is a good opportunity to give them a little bit of it, says Gunn. Despite our challenges, we always made it through intact, and you will too youve got this! Wet wipes- Extremely useful for wiping hands and faces after eating, Paper towels- Wipe up messes from food or any other accident that might happen, Road trip food Pack some awesome snacks and meals to keep your kiddo full and entertained. Every baby is unique and hopefully youll have a good idea of what conditions make your baby sleep in the car. Traveling during your child's usual nap time can make your journey smoother, although you should take plenty of breaks for fresh air and stretching when he's awake. To help you have the best road trip with your baby, weve shared the six most important things we learned about taking road trips with a baby. Each and every road trip, my kids always look forward to seeing what is in their surprise box. The boxes are just lunchboxes I found at a garage sale. *(This post contains affiliate links. 1997-2023 BabyCenter, LLC, a Ziff Davis company. Its not a race. My kids also love to eat them frozen, so its a win-win either way! Id love to pretend we have NEVER used electronics in the car, but we have. For the car, get organizers in place for easy-to-grab items like tissues, and wet wipes and consider investing in a car seat travel tray that fits over your toddlers car seat. Frequent breaks are a great way to preempt meltdowns and whininess. Audible offers new members one free audiobook (sometimes more), so at a minimum, sign up for Audible and get a free audiobook for your road trip. Wipes and large Ziplock bags make for easier cleanup on the road. essential items we discussed above: Also be sure to download a copy of our complete Baby Travel Packing List. We like this road trip hack! Make sure you have a roadside emergency kit stocked with extra food, water, and blankets, especially during winter travel. on Frozen Wonders And Wildlife: Reasons To Take Your Kids On An Antarctic Expedition, on Unlocking the Best Ways to Book Your Train Ticket: Tips and Tricks for a Hassle-Free Journey, You can see our complete guide to toddler travel pillows here, games you can try in the car with young kids, 20 Epic Road Trips you need to take with your kids, Inspiring road trip quotes to encourage you to hit the road with your kids, our top potty training while travelling tips, Toddler Flying Mistakes weve made (and I bet you have too! 22 hours to get there, 20 hours on the way back (we were coming from my parents house in a different town initially). What do Dads want from a Family Vacation? This is a compilation of all of the best road trip tips and tricks weve learned to help you survive your next road trip with your toddler or baby. Its such a great thing to occupy a childs mind without the need for a toy or a screen. Potty training definitely makes things a little trickier when it comes to long car trips with toddlers. But not as an automatic. Sleeping children meant my husband and I actually had uninterrupted conversations, which in our busy life is rare, and was much appreciated, says fellow night owl Corinne McDermott, a travel agent and founder of Have Baby Will Travel. A picnic at a playground would work equally as well, just try to avoid If your kids sleep well in the car, you might want to plan for part of the drive to be while they are asleep. For longer road trips (10-plus hours), its often easiest to leave in the middle of the night. Weve made the 8-hour road trip with our kids to see their grandparents more times than we can count. First of all, youll want frequent breaks for your child to go to the bathroom. And not just any snacks, for your own sanity, I promise you youll want healthy snacks. Counting Games. How To Keep Your Baby Happy In The Car Seat. And its totally possible to do it with little kids! Some even come with a handy tablet holder too. Give each child a roll of quarters prior to the trip. Schedule the right drive times. Often I will reserve this treat for my older child once the younger ones are asleep this is a good reason for them to be quiet until the little one drifts off! We like to pack all of our snacks to avoid pricey and junkie gas station food, as well as the food for many of the meals well need for the trip to avoid the allure of multiple fast-food stops. Road Trip Essentials: Things to Pack for your Ultimate Road Trip. Turn off any shows or movies on the tablet and put on quiet music or a podcast up front. Sometimes fire stations can also check car seats. Driving Through Southwest USA is Simply Transcendental Southwest America is one of the best destinations for road-tripping. Breaks are also necessary for your child to have a chance to run around and get some energy out. One recommendation that has worked for us for potty training while traveling is to use a plastic cup for potty training on the go. Knowing where most things are in your car and having the most important things within reach will help you keep your sanity while on the road with a baby or toddler! Yeah, keep them hydrated, but limit it. Make sure you have a good hand held vacuum for the car. Theres a ton of bedtime storybooks for kids on. Knowing how to read a map is a valuable life skill, so it makes me happy that hes learning, and hes happier that he has a job to do.. For overnight or early morning drives, have them stay in (or change into) PJs to get comfy. In addition to family road trips to see the grandparents, weve taken our kids on some great road trips. Always have toilet paper on hand, especially if youre traveling with girls while potty training and need to make a roadside stop. 12 Road Trip Hacks Every Family Needs. WebTraveling during your child's usual nap time can make your journey smoother, although you should take plenty of breaks for fresh air and stretching when he's awake. Having gone on many long road trips with young kids, I can say from experience that a road trip with a toddler is more challenging than a road trip with a Distract babies and As always, thanks for reading! 7am. You never know if they might have an accident, get covered in food, fall in a mud puddle at a rest stop, etc. What I will say is, make their sleeping position as comfortable as possible in the car. Older toddlers may be ready for some more advanced activities like scavenger hunts, bingo and car counting. Travel toys within an adults reach (but out of any younger childs sight - in order to extend focus and play time with whatever theyre currently occupied by). If we stop for a meal, we eat while our daughter plays. Depending on the age, weight, and height of your toddler, you may have her forward facing in a convertible car seat but still be able to safely turn her rear facing and slightly reclined for sleep. It should go without saying the most important thing you need for a great road trip with toddlers is the right car seat. 1. Even with all your preparedness for your road trip with a baby or toddler, there will probably still be some inconsolable crying. If you get going early in the morning, make sure you have an energy snack and a coffee for you, too, as well as plenty of water for hydration. Keep an empty trash bag or large ziplock bag in the car for trash. Plus, theyre easy to store and pack for your next road trip adventure. (NB most of these tips will work pretty effectively with your older kids too!). Dont pack sugary snacks. If you cant leave super-early in the morning, try leaving when your baby has a full tummy right before nap time. But think carefully before booking a red-eye: While cheap fares and available seats may be tempting, you risk arriving at your destination exhausted. Car window shade This can be very helpful in getting your child to nap (and stay napping) while in the car. If you have a sensitive sleeper, below are some tips to get your toddler to sleep in the car. These hold all your toddlers essentials, like coloring, snacks, and water bottle. Related:6 Best Travel Car Seats for Babies and Toddlers. One day may go 1000% better than you planned and the next day starts low and plummets from there. Read on for ideas to help! But clocking in over 50,000 on the road in the last few years with our 5 young kids has taught us some tips to road trip with a toddler. And the only thing worse than a hangry toddler is one that youre stuck in the car with. If you feel the driving days are simply too long (and your accommodation can be flexed) can you reduce your driving days down once youre underway and slow the journey down? Were going to share with you here all our favourite tips that have gotten us through many, many days of road tripping with toddlers, so you can start making your family memories on the road too. You have enough details to keep in mind, let Slow it down. advance. If your itinerary will allow it, no more than a few hours a day in a car. These car seat trays are great for toddlers on a road trip because you can use the pockets to have activities accessible whenever they want them. Remind yourself they are but tears. With a little preparation, a road trip with a toddler can be a great experience for the whole family. Where possible, maintain elements of their normal sleep routine. Dont miss our tips on traveling with a newly potty training toddler. If we stay the night at a hotel, well get there early to use the pool. If youre kinda dreading an upcoming family road trip with your baby or toddler, we hear ya. Dont leave your rest stops to chance. You can see all our family car hire money-saving tips here. In this grab bag, you want easy-to-locate items such as: You can never have enough wipes, tissues and cleaning equipment on a road trip with toddlers! Disclaimer: Toddling Traveler participates in Amazon Affiliates and other affiliate programs. In the end, you have to decide what makes the most sense for your family and your trip. It can be tempting to reduce the amount of liquids your toddler is drinking to prevent frequent potty breaks, but this is not a good idea and can lead to dehydration. Weve tried a variety of road trip with toddler activities over several car rides. Keep napkins on hand as well as wipes for cleaning hands and messes. I let them buy one or two toys that they have been wanting for a long time, and I also let them pick a special snack. Strategies we used to get our babies to sleep in the car on a road trip were: How do you entertain a baby on a long car ride? I like to bring a small spray bottle of stain and odor remover just in case there is a potty or vomit incident. If you are looking for a more of the best American road trips, Lonely Planet also publishes a book called USAs Best Trips 51 Amazing Road Trips. Weve had road trips go amazingly well and others resulting in crying and whining 50% of the way. If not in the same bag, somewhere easy to grab in the car, you should keep some instant picnic supplies too a picnic mat, sunscreen, sun hats, maybe a ball and a few outdoor tools make sure these items dont strategically disappear in the depths of the trunk! When youre in the early stages of potty training, however, it will take a bit of practice. We usually keep them under the drivers seat so we know right where to find them when we need them. Its easy for your car to quickly become a mess on a road trip. The biggest difference is, of course, youll be less concerned about how much noise your child is making in the car (to reasonable limits of course!). Plan extra time and stops with the babies and toddlers along. Often being in the car will lull kids to sleep, but there are also some steps you can take to help them out. So how do you do it? Thanks for joining us! Filling a thermos of coffee can be a time and money saver. I almost dread to think how many miles we have travelled with our car full of kids! Ideally, we like to stick to under 5 hours. Join us to learn tips and tricks to making travel with kids a rewarding and enjoyable experience for the whole family! Web1) Start Small to Road Trip With a Toddler. Examples could be: cheerio necklaces, or trail mix poured into a divided container (like ice cube tray or bead box) to be sorted while getting snacked on. There are a few things we never start a road trip without! My son usually does better driving into the night like that than leaving crazy early. Do a little research on your route and find local eateries, great roadside attractions, and other spots for a good pit stop. As mentioned above, listening to audiobooks is also a good baby road trip sleep strategy. We typically try to pack a variety of healthy road trip snacks for kids and adults. Are you going to mostly eat out or bring your meals? Even though it packs down small it is plenty big (and warm) when you open it up! That depends on whether your child has a "best" or "worst" time of day. Youre going to be spending a long time in it, so whats the best set-up? Try to help your child keep to their regular sleep schedule to prevent a toddler meltdown on the road. 7am. To avoid permanent stains on your car floor, its better to get durable waterproof car mats to protect your vehicles interior. My kids are now 9 and 11 and we just drove from FL to NY. You can also cover their seat with a car seat liner just to be safe. Packing isnt just about the suitcases in the trunk! If you do decide to drive at night, make sure you are well rested before you start, have something interesting to listen to to keep you awake, and if possible take turns trading off with another driver. I boil eggs, slice apples, bake bread and make honey-rosemary roasted pecans the night before a long trip, says Sarah Sloboda, a frequent traveler. Its a great way to get several hours into your trip without too much fuss. But let me assure you, you really can have a successful road trip with a toddler. (This soft cooler is great for the car and folds up between use.). Activities using food for toddlers! 4 Nappies, wipes & first aid kit. Much easier to clean up! We are a family of five that loves traveling the world together. Everything you need to enjoy a road trip with your baby or toddler - from when to drive and what to eat, to efficient packing, car organization, managing sleep and I wish I had this post available when my kids where toddlers! These are all great tips. If theres going to be a troublemaker in the back, its almost certainly your toddler. If they are blissfully sleeping in the back, it may be your opportunity to keep on driving through to the next opportunity. Toddlers really do have short attention spans. my kids were always hit or miss with car sleeping, so hard to plan around that. After looking into flights, as well as Amtrak, we decided the best way to get to Colorado was to take a good old fashioned road trip. If your budget permits, always give yourself that extra row of seats when travelling with siblings. But still lots of snacks. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I would put them in the car then. Plan Frequent Breaks You might be able to go six hours without using the bathroom or needing to eat, but the baby likely can't. We recommend reading this post as there are a lot of similarities between entertaining a baby on a road trip and a flight. They tend to have their favourite list of toddlers greatest hits that theyll happily listen to again and again. After over three years of many road trips with a toddler, weve learned quite a few things along the way. Its wise to include an easy-to-collapse, Even a recently trained toddler can continue to have accidents. the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information. Weve been there. A late-night flight, on the other hand, may find your child either sleeping peacefully or overly tired, just as he might be at home. Some food ideas for a road trip with babies are snacks that are good for distraction. Its worthwhile to do some research and plan these stops in Other of our favorite road trip snacks for babies include Cheerios travel cups, Gerber Yogurt Melts or pureed baby food pouches. If this isnt for you, heres what wed recommend: Line the car seat with a potty pad in case an accident does happen. Sitting at a restaurant after sitting in the car for hours doesnt always cut it! One of the big keys to successful travel with a toddler is snacks. How are you going to store your food? Some more games you can try in the car with young kids include: Another beauty of an activity that I cant believe took us so long to discover was listening to audiobooks in the car. Set them up with a cozy little spot in their car seat with a blanket in case they get cold. Every time they ask how much longer itll be until you arrive at your destination, take one quarter away. All rights reserved. Another option is to put a post-it note over the automated flusher so it doesnt catch your toddler off guard.). As much as we love to drive through when things seem to be going well, dont forget regular pee stops for you all, and all of the family will benefit from regularly stretching their legs. Well get the lions share of the days driving done if we can before lunch, allow a good long break somewhere at this time of day, then leave ourselves a shorter leg to complete in the afternoon. Of course, being able to split shifts with another grown-up is always best. Sick bag If you happen to have a carsick toddler, youll be grateful you thought to bring some of these compact sick bags. WebYou've packed your bags. Prepare Your Car. Also make sure your child is staying hydrated by bringing them their own spill-proof bottle and offering them drinks frequently. Unless theres an important event you are driving to attend, travelling with children is not a race, especially with toddlers. In addition, some of our readers were kind enough to write about their road trips with a baby as well! Have a potty station in the vehicle. ultimate list of toddler travel essentials, this list of tried and tested toddler road trip activities. Having realistic expectations of yourself, your spouse, your kids, and the amount of time everything takes can make for a much more relaxed and enjoyable road trip with your baby or toddler. Leave in the evening after an early dinner and take a quick break before bed time. The surprise box! Pro Tip: We usually use Instacart or Target Drive-Up to save time on shopping for snacks, drinks and road trip activities before a big family vacation. If you are taking a long road trip with an infant or baby, you will be making one or more planned stops for the safety of your child. Road tripping with toddlers definitely has its challenges but still worth it! Adding a bunch of sugar to that will create a whiny toddler who is really difficult to be around! We recommend you start with our Best Toddler Travel Advice homepage, then move on to: We also have a great range of toddler gear reviews to help you on your journey including: You can find all of our family travel product reviews here. Variables to consider for your family road trip are your: After considering these factors, the best departure time for your long road trip with a baby usually becomes clear. You've even picked out the music that will act as the soundtrack to your adventure on the road. But, like anything else, road trips with babies and toddlers get easier the more you take them - and weve taken A LOT. Travel blanket A blanket is a great item to bring to help your toddler get cozy for sleep in the car or to warm them up if its chilly. You dont want to wake your toddler and start getting demands for food at 4am. Flying or driving in the evening can have advantages, too. We used to do this when our kids were the 2-and-under set, and it made for a more peaceful experience. Rear facing can be more comfortable and can help the toddler disengage from any activity up front, resulting in more sleep! window clings are mess-free and wont leave any residue or damage on the car windows. In that spirit, I like to bring a bottle of stain and odor removing spray for any accidents or vomit that could (but hopefully wont) happen. Check out these 10 insanely fun road trip activities for toddlers! Stain and Odor Remover- I always like to plan for the worst and hope for the best. One of our most popular blog posts of all time is the Best Airplane Activities for Babies. Remember to clean out your vehicle of all unnecessary things before loading up! The poor kid is stuck in a car seat. Plan for success! Check back regularly for family friendly travel inspiration, travel tips and tricks and fun things to do with kids in Pittsburgh. While youre stopped, do some sort of game that gets the kids moving, like seeing how fast they can run to a nearby tree or moving like animals (hop like a bunny, fly like a bird, pounce like a lion). Clean up kit- plastic tote with a snapping lid full of Clorox wipes, baby wipes, paper towels, toilet paper, a change of clothes per kid (especially bottoms if newly potty trained), bottle of water for clean-up purposes, empty Walmart sacks, extra car sick bags, hand sanitizer. Being trapped in a car with a toddler for an extended period of time might sound like some cruel form of torture. Persevere, itll be okay! Those countless hours of your own childhood playing Tetris were not wasted! When is the best time to leave for a road trip with a baby? I would also recommend bringing a snack catcher so that your toddler can feed themselves snacks without accidentally dumping snacks everywhere. On Baby Can Travel, youll find advice and gear recommendations from REAL PARENTS!I've traveled with babies and toddlers in every way possible, this includes traveling with a newborn, with a baby and a toddler, and with toddlers. We have a family list and a softer soundtrack for when we want some quiet time (though not too soft and full of lullabies, it sends the drive to sleep!). I swear by origami paper folding kits (weve filled the back seats with paper cranes and cats), but any kind of crafts from paper and crayons to beading and pipe cleaner sculptures will work. We have more on dealing with fussy toddlers in the car here. Oh, this is tough. 3. We just got back from a road trip that was 11 hours each way (oof!) The best time to leave for a road trip with a baby will vary for each family. They dont quite nap for as long as a baby; they definitely want more entertaining, and they definitely DONT wish to be strapped in their seat for hours and hours on end. When my daughter has absolutely nothing to do in the car, its amazing the way her imagination kicks in and she spins all kinds of imaginary scenarios for herself. Baby Road Trip Tip: Keep the cumulative length of these breastfeeding stops in mind as you plan your trip, as the time can really add up and you may arrive at your destination much later than you might think. If youll have access to a kitchen during your road trip or vacation, check out this post about ways to save money and time on meals. If possible, get new car mats fitted in before leaving on your road trip. If you have started a bedtime routine with your baby, keep it going, even on the trip. We did this a lot when taking a 1/2 day off from work. Car seat liner- If you have a newly potty trained toddler, a car seat liner can be a total trip saver. A lot of people say that its better to wait for road trips and other experiences until kids are old enough to remember things, but we disagree. ), The best toddler carriers and toddler hiking backpacks, Toddler sleep devices for overnight flights, 7 Unmissable Attractions on a Family Holiday in Vietnam, Frozen Wonders And Wildlife: Reasons To Take Your Kids On An Antarctic Expedition, Toyota Highlander: A Family-Friendly Road Trip Vehicle, Unlocking the Best Ways to Book Your Train Ticket: Tips and Tricks for a Hassle-Free Journey, 5 Incredible Ideas for 18th Birthday Celebration Travel, 5 Incredible Destinations for Luxury Family Vacations, I-spy colours (or phonics depending on how advanced their language skills), Counting games this can be trucks, cows in the field, Toys (or they can take these in their own small, Suitable roadside stops can be few and far between. Some families are against night driving for safety reasons, and for some families it works great. Second, check to see that your childs car seat is properly installed before you head out as well. Separate kids if you can! Weve got everything you need for an epic road trip- from how to prepare ahead of time, to the gear you need to have a fun road trip. You could also try much shorter podcasts for the car. Counting Games. What should I bring for a baby on a road trip? No matter what happens on your first road trip with your infant, youll make it through fully intact with more parental confidence and a brand-new set of family memories. Use that time to help keep your toddler entertained. How many hours a day you spend on the road and how you break up those hours by time of day will make a huge difference to your road trip success with a toddler. If theyve gotta go, theyve gotta go, but many kids are fearful of peeing without the comfort of a proper seat. And sanitiser, of course; if there are no taps nearby after a good play, do get the kids hands cleaned down before returning to your car. Below are some of our favorite toys and mess free activities for a road trip with toddlers. The Best Time to Leave for a Long Road Trip with a Baby, 2. The Best Portable Toddler Beds for Travel! That means we could earn a commission for qualifying purchases, at no extra charge to you. Have you got a van where kids can sit in separate rows? I would even pull over and sleep for 10 minutes, giving me just the boost of energy I needed.. I want to help you travel with your baby or toddler.I created Baby Can Travel as a way to not only inspire parents to travel with babies and toddlers, but to help them be less stressed about it. Plan for stops every one to three If we have time for it, we also like to plan a trip with fun stops along the way. Celine also writes about family travel on the site FamilyCanTravel.com, which she co-owns with her husband. WebI have been asking around for any and every tip for traveling with toddlers and here are 20 of my favorites, hopefully they come in handy for your summer trips. For larger families, a bag per type of item (all swimsuits together since youd likely use a hotel pool at the same time; all jammies together if you plan to conk out about the same time; all bulky hiking shoes together if youre stopping along the way at a trail; one dirty clothes bag to share, etc).