5 Strategic Tips for Road Tripping with a Baby
Road trips are a ton of fun. They’re a great way to spend time with your family or friends, clear your mind and explore new territory – all accompanied by the sweet sounds of the perfect driving playlist. But they also mean long hours spent in a confined space, which can be trying when you have a little one in tow.
Can you imagine what it is like for us with an 8 month old and a 2 year old? We have become experts in road trip baby entertainment. This usually involved Keira’s favourite CD being played on repeat. I’d rather hear A-tisket A-tasket a hundred times over than a crying baby combined with a whining toddler. Our first few trips together taught me this lesson well.
If you love road tripping, don’t despair! Disney Baby has some great advice for making your journey safe and fun for everyone!
5 Strategic Tips for Road Tripping with a Baby
- Map your journey and plan ahead
When you’re packing for a little one, there is a lot to think about – from clothes and diapers to playthings and pushchairs, there’s plenty that baby just can’t be without. Try making lists in advance to give yourself some breathing room and to be sure that you don’t forget anything important.
- Ensure safe seating
When you’ve got a baby on board, safety is key. Make sure that your car seat is the right size and that it’s properly installed. Also remember to tighten the seatbelt, UAS strap and harness to keep your little one firmly in place.
- Take baby-breaks
Plan some stops along the way, so your baby has a chance to get outside, and more importantly, out of the car seat. Try using these breaks as an opportunity for adventure! Identify weird landmarks, beautiful scenery, or must-try meals on your route to make the journey as exciting as the destination.
- Create a sun shield
Sunshades, like these Mickey and Minnie ones, help keep the car cool and darken the back seat, encouraging baby to nap. Not only are they functional, but they make adorable accessories for the family vehicle!
- Choose tot-friendly tunes
Get yourself some baby-friendly music, to soothe and entertain your little one during the ride. Disney Baby has a selection of song and story CDs, like this Peter Pan one, and great musical anthologies, like this Disney Pixar Greatest collection, that are perfect for a long car trip.
How do you keep your little one occupied on a long car journey?
He loves the DVD player and now that he is talking more, I try to have a conversation with him and have him repeat words and starting to count with him. I also play music that he loves.
movies with headphones, hand held videio games, colouring and toys. Sometimes, we sing silly songs.
games and snacks
Movies and games
We like to provide books and travelling art kits but if all else fails they use the IPad. Thanks.
Portable eve
My kids have Leappads that they use and I get some new toys from the dollar store and put things in each of their backpacks.
I sing to him. I also play soft music.
Singing usually helps
feed him before driving and then play the music
Singing!
We find playing counting games, or looking for airplanes, birds etc plus: Toys, books, & snacks
Lots of snacks, lots of stops, and lots of songs.
Toys, snacks, sensory bag and books
Lots of toys
Portable DVD players keeps kids occupied.
When my oldest was an only child,we frequently travelled with my sil and bil and their daughter.We took turns driving with the kids who were close enough in age to entertain each other!
Toys and mom’s singing work well to keep the baby amused and happy.
DVDs are a must for any roadtrip!
We would often sing songs and just chat for our road trips together!
Music / Singing / Books / Nitendo handheld gaming system too.. All this keeps the kids busy.
toys and food
We have special cds that we only listen to in the vehicle.
have someone sit in the back and play with them, the most I have taken my 8 months old is 40 min away
WE WATCH MOVIES AND SING SONGS
Movies, music & favorite toys 🙂
I bring snacks and soothing music 🙂 we also make frequent pit stops!
Put in a cd with soft soothing music
We ay a lot of word games, sight games, times tables, stuff like that.
Music mostly, but she falls asleep easy on the road.
to keep them occupied. we sing, point out colors and objects out the window. make silly faces and peek a boo. read her books, dance to the radio. a toddler & a newborn are always keeping me busy!
Music, books, food and “I spy”. We always point things out and have my little one look for them.
My kids always play a game where they have to find the letters of the alphabet in order on signs that we pass.
I play fun kids music
Music and toys are great for long road trips
i’m not gonna lie, the iPad is a blessing when there aren’t people in other cars around us to entertain her
Just a few toys and books, definitely no screen time in the car.
Books, dvd and car games (like I spy, etc).
toys and snacks usually help. oh and music!
Ipad!
Take a lot of breaks and some motor involving toys!
the dvd player
DVD player in the back
SINGING! Car singalongs are always the BEST!
I keep my kid occupied with the iPad mini.
Snacks are handy and toys are awesome!
I try to plan around nap time when I can
Snacks and toys!
lots of toys, snacks, music
DVDs and snacks
toys and books that are used only when travelling
Snacks and songs and a little bit of chair dancing!!!
I used to sing a lot or time travel to be during naps
music, toys, movies
Toys, movies, and plenty of snacks.
We just did a 40 day, 19 state roadtrip with a 10 month old. Lots of toys to rotate in and out, snacks, breaks and occasionally mom sitting in the back too during the extra long days.
Lots of snacks and music
Lots of songs and dvds
I would keep them occupied with snacks, toys and music for the ride!
I bring lots of things to read, toys to play with and we have a little drawing board. We also sing songs.
lots of toys and singing with them.
Soothing music and lots to drink
we bring along books, a couple toys, juice and pouches
With my phone.
The DVD player is my life line, movies with music is best
Music!!!
We have a dvd player and I bring snacks.
Music really helps as well as snacks.
I honestly havent figured that one out yet… I mostly just hope they fall asleep lol. If that doesnt work then stories, music and car games.
Definitely some fun music, board books and small toys.
Favourite snack, music, singing, toys and DVD’s
Snacks
New snacks, books and small toys from the $1 section at Target have helped us! Thanks for the opportunity.
Seasidesmitten@aol.com
Lots of books, colouring pages on a clip board with a crayon roll. We also have these magnetic play sets in tins that are amazing for road trips. We once drove from coast to coast across Canada so i’ve done a lot of car time! Also books on cd and such are great
Story books and crayons and paper also music.
Music and sing a longs really helps!
Books and toys (sticker books worked so great last trip)
I have a box of books and toys in the car and always Thomas the Train.
Music, singing, snacks!
The portable DVD player is what works best. Activity books are also good.
Sing alongs work great.
It depends on the age. As a toddler, lots of books, snacks, small toys, songs, chatting, and a parent in the back seat!
We always have our 2 favourite Music With Marnie cds in the car, lots of books (even our 1.5 year old loves to read in the car), and lots of chit chat.
I always make sure to have his drink, some snacks and books to keep him busy!
Toys, snacks and drinks usually keeps them happy for awhile.
Lots of books and singalong music.
I make sure I bring lots of toys and snacks to keep them occupied.
Talk to them. Bring toys and snacks.
Music, toys , and a little singing from mommy and dad.
Sing or play music!
Great music that we can sing a long with, audio books and kid friendly DVD’s
Lots of snacks and fun music can help!
We sing songs on the radio until he falls asleep (9 Months)
Lots of snacks, songs and technology
lots of snacks and toys
Good tunes, sing alongs, and she loves the puppy!
Music and books
music, singing, dvd’s and I keep my old cell phones, babies and small children just love playing with phones
Netflix
Music and singing is always a good bet to keep things going smoothly!
I do love your tips and we too always keep kid friendly tunes going and we would have nutritious snacks and juice at hand. And of course we would take a lot of breaks!! Thanks!! 🙂
DVD’s, music and toys. Bring a long a few things so you can switch around so they don’t get bored.
Music, chatting and toys
The backwards mirror so we can see each other!
We have a cd player and a mini television
DVDs / singing / stories / and games depending on age
Hate to admit it, but the iphone is great!
Music,portable game set, favourite toys.
Bringing their favourite toy and playing some music
Using a mirror on the headrest has been a life saver for us with our son ever since he was really little. Now at 2, he still loves making faces and checking in with us.
DVDs, music and lots of chatting!
Our DVD works good sometimes lol