Surviving Car Travel with Young Children

So you're making a road trip with the family? Are you a little worried about driving for days with small children strapped in back? What's the worst that can happen? They could scream, fight, get carsick...and that's just a couple hours down the road! OK, I'm not here to increase your stress. I actually want to help you by giving you some ideas that will make your trip go more smoothly. These ideas come from my recent experience of driving cross-country for two days in a very crowded Chevy Impala with my two daughters, ages 3 and 6. This trip was fairly pleasant and my rambunctious kids handled it very well. I like to think it was, in part, due to my planning ahead.

Step One: Be Prepared

That's the ol' Scout motto for a reason. You can handle just about anything, if you are prepared in advance. My husband says I'm a pessimist and a worry-wart, but I figure if I think about and prepare for anything that could go wrong, then I'll be ready if it does. It doesn't hurt to overpack a little, if it makes you feel more relaxed about your trip.

Here are some common occurrences that are very easy to prepare for in advance:

Cuts, Scrapes, etc.--Keep a first aid kit accessible in the trunk (don't bury it under luggage). Also be sure to have fingernail clippers handy. Kids who are bored may begin to pick or bite their nails, often resulting in hangnails. These cause major trauma in our family, so fingernail clippers are a must.