Traveling with Kids

At some point every family has taken a road trip with the kids. Whether heading out on a short trip to the Grandparents or a long drive across the country, taking your kids on a road trip calls for extra attention to safety. No matter how old your kids, these tips will help not only keep them safe, but also keep them comfortable on the road. 

Check the Car 

Before heading out on the road, be sure you always do an once-over of your car. Check your tires, your fluids, the belts and hoses, and your spare. All of this can help prevent side-of-the-road breakdowns, which will add unwanted stress and hours to your trip. 

Proper Car Seat Installation 

Car seat safety is not something to take lightly. A day or two before heading out, have your car seats inspected. Some vehicles can make car seat installation quite the challenge! Having yours inspected will ensure it is correctly installed. Did you know, according to SeatCheck.org, that a properly installed car seat can reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers? Don't take any chances. 

Stay Hydrated

It may seem to make sense to limit the amount of fluids your child drinks while on the road in order to limit the amount of stops. However, limiting fluids can lead to worse problems that frequent potty breaks. When kids don't get enough water, they can get dehydrated quickly. Although your child is not likely to get dangerously dehydrated on a day long road trip, they still can get mildly dehydrated. This in itself can cause problems such as crankiness - and we all know how this can make the trip less enjoyable! Keep a leak-proof water bottle handy for each of your kids so they stay well hydrated. 

Plan Regular Breaks 

If you are traveling with a child it is inevitable that you are going to have to stop, most likely more often than you'd like. Go ahead and be prepared for this. You do not want to make them wait because of accidents and because you can create bladder problems. Look at it this way: not only will regular stops allow you and your kids to use the facilities, but it gives you all a chance to stretch your legs, and to wake up if you are getting sleepy. In addition, it gives the kids a chance to expend some of that bottled up energy! Just be sure you always keep careful watch on your children each and every time you stop/ 

Keep the Kids Entertained 

Keeping the kids entertained not only keeps their sanity, it can help you keep yours too! It also keeps everyone safe. Whining, crying, noisy children can distract the driver which in turn puts everyone at risk. This is a risk not worth taking. When packing for your trip, make sure you pack a children's activity travel bag. Include books, crayons and games. If your child gets car sick reading a book, invest in a few Audio Books. Let them pick one or two of their favorite toys to bring along. You can also download free apps and let them play on your phone or tablet. Another idea is to look online for family activities in the car. You will be surprised with some of the unique games people have invented! If you are not the driver, consider playing games such as 'I Spy' or Car Tag BINGO. Get creative! I fall else fails, consider purchasing a portable DVD player and a couple of new movies. Not only will keeping the kids entertained keep the peace, it will also keep you entertained as well. 

Taking a road trip with your kids is an excellent opportunity to spend valuable time with your little ones. Don't take this time for granted. Do what you can to eliminate or at least minimize potential problems, make sure you take into consideration your children's health and safety along the way, and just grit your teeth through the "Are we there yet" questions. After all, they will only be little for a short time, so sit back and enjoy the ride! 

Author Note: Alaina is the owner and author of Bullock's Buzz - //bullocksbuzz.com, where you will find a mix of informative product reviews, great recipes, giveaways, crafts, and DIY! Visit her on Facebook!