by Judith Morais

Created on: April 25, 2010   Last Updated: April 26, 2010

When my kids were young, we limited all our holidays to nearby destinations and they were always road trips.  The convenience of being able to travel in our own car, and pack in as much or little as we needed; having the luxury of determining our own schedule and being able to modify those plans as and when we pleased, made these trips truly relaxing and enjoyable as a family experience.  Just bear in mind the following 10 handy tips. There are just a few crucial needs a young child would need and these aren't difficult to meet if you are well prepared.

1♦ Ensure you have a good supply of milk and food for your child packed in the car. A hungry child is an angry child and you don’t want to have to handle the stress of looking for a fresh supply when you are travelling in an unfamiliar area. Never assume anything; you may not find the stock of milk that your child is used to at the nearest supermarket just when you need it.

2♦Keep a couple of feeds in the car itself, not in the boot with the luggage.  You may be travelling at night or in bad weather and stopping to get the food out may not be convenient or safe.

3♦Keep hot water in the car. Again, never assume you can get the water along the route. Remember to stock up on hot water on your stops.

4♦Since you may be preparing the milk in a moving car at times, ensure you pack the hot water and other food items in a safe way to allow you to prepare the feed without messing up. Placing all the items in a sturdy plastic box may be a safe way to go.  It is a good idea to be equally prepared to clean up your child in the car itself if necessary, so keep a stock of wipes, disposable bags, nappies etc in the car with you.

5♦A child needs comfort and attention at times. Be prepared for someone to be able to entertain your baby or check on his or her comfort during the trip. Again, you may not want to have to stop the car every time the child cries so it is useful to place the child next to a responsible sibling or adult.

6♦Pack a few of the baby’s favourite toys and maybe a surprise one to use when the child is particularly fussy.  Don’t leave these toys all out for the child throughout the trip; it is likely they will just get bored eventually. Rotate them instead so that the child has a novelty every now and then.

7♦ If your baby is used to sleeping with a pillow or favourite blanket, make sure you have them in the car before you leave.

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