Traveling with Kids: Making Your Travels Stress Free

I recently took a 1,000 mile trip with my daughter, which I have to add was a complete success. So, I've decided that I should share some of the tricks I have up my sleeve with you. Here are some great tips to making your travels with kids stress free.

The Day Before the Trip
Always pack the car the day before your trip. This will allow you plenty of times to double check to make sure you haven't forgotten anything. It will also result in a stress free take off.

Things to Pack
My daughter always carries her travel bag with us when we go on long trips. Mind you, it's nothing more than a school backpack. Included in this bag are several things to keep her occupied, refreshed and comfortable. The following is a list of items that should be included…

*Wet wipes - so she can wash her face, neck and hands
*Hand sanitizer - for before snack time or meals
*Activity Book - preferably educational
*Another Activity Book - for games
*Coloring Book
*Washable markers - most anything else can leave the parent unhappy
*A travel desk - for all of the writing activities
*Hair Brush - no child with longer hair can sit in a vehicle for long periods of time and not need this
*One to three toys - portable dvd player, disc man, laptop, handheld video games or mp3 players are excellent choices with headphones. You may want to try the age old teddy bear, doll or toy car. There are DC to AC converters that you can plug into you cigarette lighter to provide power to the electronic devices; which also cuts down on battery costs.
*Snacks - pop off lids on sports drinks and non-crumbling or sticky food are always good choices
*Band-aids with antibiotic ointment - just in case
*Frisbee or Ball - for exercise when taking breaks from driving at rest areas
*Identification - ID's are always a must have, for you and your child. The child should carry an ID in his or her bag and you should have a copy of it as well.