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vacation

Surviving A Road Trip With A Toddler

Surviving a road trip with a toddlerVacationing with a child can be difficult & stressful. Before our daughter was born, my husband & I were big travelers. We wanted our travels to continue as a family after her birth. We have traveled by air, by ship & we have traveled by road as well. Road trips with a small child can offer some challenges, but they are possible & can be an enjoyable way to take your journey.

Our most recent trip was to the Kentucky Derby. My husband has a goal of completing a marathon in all 50 states, so we worked the Derby marathon into a fun filled vacation with the Kentucky Derby as our final destination. This trip spanned 2000 miles round trip. With that much driving time, it is important to make sure that you keep your young ones happy. Here are some tips for the road.

Packing

One of the advantages of road tripping is the ability to pack more freely. You don’t have to worry about the restrictions that come with commercial travel.

Pack all of your essentials. Check out our vacation & packing tips.

While most of your luggage stows away in trunk, there are many things that you should leave accessible for your travels.

Have snacks & drinks within arm’s reach.

Have a trash bag, hand wipes & napkins on hand to clean up spills & messes.

Leave out a change of clothes & diapers if still needed.

Pack books, IPads, movies & your child’s favorite blanket or toys to snuggle up with.

Itinerary & Timing

As they say, timing is everything. This is true with most things & especially when traveling with a small child.

If you are driving great distances that might require a full day of travel, traveling before their bedtime might help alleviate any travel disasters. Getting an early start or leaving at nap time will also take some stress off your journey. We had a 15 hour drive ahead of us. We woke our daughter early & let her sleep in the car for a couple of hours while we began our first leg.

Plan to stop at great points of interest along the way to break up your drive. Add this into your vacation plans.

We made an overnight pit stop in Niagara Falls en route to Kentucky.

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Food & Drink

Stop for quick meals to stretch your legs & refuel. Eating on the run will work too if your child is content. Snacks will be your friend on a long trip. Just make sure to watch your child carefully when they are eating. Be sure to also have drinks on hand, but if possible try to limit their fluid intake while on the road to avoid frequent stops.

Our snack selection included:

Juice boxes

Bottled water

Fruit snacks

Granola bars

Doritos

Animal Crackers

Dry cereal (Fruit Loops & Cinnamon Toast Crunch)

Bananas

Hershey Kisses for emergencies & a little bribery

Boredom Busters

It is your job to keep your little ones entertained. You might have to get creative.

I amused my daughter for a half an hour just by blowing bubble gum bubbles. If you find something that works for you, go with it.

Our daughter is a music lover. It was actually quite funny to hear our 3 year old request Matchbox 20 as we drove.

Climb in the back seat & read your kid/kids a book.

Play a game. Depending on your child’s age there are many fun games to play on the road. We played eye spy with cell phone towers & silos.

Talk to your child. Now is a great time to teach them things. Are they learning to count or their ABC’s? Point out animals & buildings along the way. There are many lessons that they can learn from the car seat.

I know many parents are not too keen on their children using electronics, but there are many wonderful learning apps for small children that will teach & entertain. An IPad can be a lifesaver on a long car ride. We saved this as a last resort, but it was successful in keeping Mai engaged on our full day’s journey home. Our daughter used a coloring & drawing app that had her talking and smiling for hours on the way home.

Our road trip went off without a hitch. Our little girl did great. We enjoyed every minute of our family time together. I can’t wait for our next trip. What are some of your best tricks for the road?

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Surviving a road trip with a toddler

 

 

 

 

What Feels Like A Vacation When You’re A Mom

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If you were tuned into us a couple of days ago, you would have seen my thoughts on why God made our children so cute. Their sheer adorableness is their best defense. A few fluttered eyelashes & a couple of sweet smiles & you have almost forgotten why you were frustrated with them in the first place. There are days when even their cuteness can’t save you from cracking though. This week has been a good example of some of those days. Our daughter has been a bit more ornery than usual. When you have days & weeks like this, it makes you just want to run & hide.

When people are often stressed they say to themselves or aloud “I need a vacation.” For us mothers we know that going on a vacation is equally stressful, if not more so when you have children in tow. For us it really is the little things that feel like a vacation for us. Don’t get me wrong, I love spending time with my daughter, but sometimes this mommy just needs a little break.

You might ask “What are these little things you speak of?” I am glad you asked.

Going to the grocery store alone – There are two different kinds of trips to the supermarket. There is the one where you enter the store with screaming toddler who is angry because the last car shaped carriage is already taken. It continues as you pass the deli section, triggering yet another meltdown because they need a piece of cheese, but not before they ask to go potty…again.
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There is the one when you go shopping by yourself & for once are able to get everything on your shopping list without having to leave abruptly with a carriage full of groceries left in the middle of aisle. Aah! It is just like paradise.

Doing chores – Many couples argue about who is going to do the dishes, but when you have children, you are fighting to be the one who gets to do them. “Don’t worry honey. I will clean up. You can get the kids ready for bed.” Who knew a dirty kitchen could be so relaxing? 

Taking a shower – I cannot even begin to tell you the detour my hygiene took after I had our daughter. There are times that I have gone days without showering. What once was just a quick and efficient method of getting clean has turned into a luxury. I used to hold the record for the quickest showers ever, now every drop of water, every bubble in my soap is savored & enjoyed. If I am lucky enough to be able to sink into a hot & bubbly bath, that is like a day at the spa.

Driving – On my drive into work every day I call my best friend. I do this because in the car is the only time that I can give her or anyone else my attention. If I have to call the cable company, it is in my car. If I need to schedule doctor’s appointments, it is in my car. If I am not on the phone, I kick on the radio & listen to music that is not sung by a Disney princess. Sorry Elsa, there is no room for you in the car today.

Nap time – Nap time is fewer & far between these days, but when do we manage to get a nap out of our daughter, cue the angels. “Hallelujah! Hallelujah!” I have to take advantage of every last nap that we can get. What should I do? Should I pay some bills, mop the floors or clean out the junk drawer? Come to think of it mommy could need a nap too. Wake me in 1 to 2 hours.

Sitting on the toilet – Yes, I do spend a lot of time hiding in the bathroom. It is quiet & gives me a few moments to recharge my batteries. This is keeping in consideration that my daughter doesn’t bust down the door while I am on the can. Now I understand why men spend so much time on the toilet. 

Going on a date – Daddy needs a break sometimes too. Grab your hubby and have a night out together just the two of you.  You both deserve it & it will be a welcome change from squabbling over whose turn it is to put the kids to bed.

 Thank you as always for stopping by. Please follow us on Facebook as well.

Vacationing With Your Toddler

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My husband and I love to travel. Before having our daughter, we would plan our next trip before our suitcases were even unpacked from the last. I have a travel bucket list about a mile long. There are so many places that I want to see, people I want to meet & foods that I want to taste. I don’t think I will have the time. We were going up until my 3rd trimester when we took an anniversary trip to Iceland.

 

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When we had Mai, we both agreed that we would continue our travels with our little passenger in tow. We thought it would be a great learning experience for her as well as a great way to create memories & bonds for us as a family.

 

We just took our first big family vacation last week. Hubby, Mai, Nana & I all took an 8 day cruise to the Bahamas. It is amazing how different vacationing is when you add a 2 year old into the mix.

 

Packing has changed for sure. I once went to Europe for 17 days with nothing but a duffel bag. Now that duffel bag would barely fit just the diapers alone. P.S. Potty training starts when we get home.

 

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Last call at the end of the night is no longer buying a beer for each hand, it is one of us scrambling to try to find a chocolate milk before bed.

 

The first night on the ship there was loud music playing a few floors down. Before having kids, we would have been rushing to get ready to see where that music was coming from, instead “Oh my God!, Why is that so loud at…8 o’clock at night.” Oh yes, I am a mother now.

 

And maybe it is just me but I wanted to punch random strangers in the face almost daily. It was shocking to me, how easily some people walked right through my child as if she was not even there. “Heeeellllo! That is a little 2 year old that you just knocked over.” Yeeeeah, you know who you are.

 

Meal times are a race against the clock. You are always on the run. Sleeping in is not an option.

 

It is tiring…

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and stressful…

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…but it is still fun. Your fun has just been redefined.

 

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Traveling with your little one can be exhausting but also rewarding and fun.

Be prepared for everything. If you think you need it, bring it. Make sure to bring extra clothes, diapers, toys, first aid etc…

 

Plan ahead. Call & check with your hotels to see what amenities they provide for your little one. Many places have cribs & Pack n plays for guest use. We had a crib set up in our room & it was a life saver.

 

Stay as close as you can to your bedtime routine. If you read stories before bed, be ready to do that on vacation too. If your child has a favorite animal or a lovee that they sleep with, bring it. If they go to sleep using a music box, it has to come.

 

Plan kid friendly activities. If you have a feisty toddler who like to run and explore, don’t pick long bus tours or boat rides. If you must, make sure they have toys or books to distract them. You know you child best & know what they can handle.

 

Dress in layers and always bring a blanket. On a very windy boat ride in the Bahamas. I was relieved that my mother-in-law had packed a blanket away. We wrapped it around Mai’s head & face to protect her from the wind.

 

Pack plenty of snacks & drinks. My toddler goes from thirsty to meltdown in a matter of minutes. Keep them handy at all times.

 

Bring hand wipes and wash everyone’s hands frequently. Vacation is never a fun time to get sick but it does happen. Try to prevent with washing up often and make sure to bring medicines in case they are needed.

 

And if you are fortunate enough as we were, having an extra set of hands always helps too. Thanks Nana!

PACKING LIST