It's not as quick and easy to jump in the car and fly down the highway when you have multiple children under age 3 to plan around. But it's certainly doable and can even be fun! It just takes a bit of planning.
If you're driving alone, it sometimes takes as long to pack the car and get the little people ready as it does to make the trip...depending on where you're going.
But you can have smiling cherubs when you arrive if you don't lose your temper. And it helps if you take a few hints from child expert and Author Dagmara Scalise of TWIN SENSE (I've thrown in a few ideas from my own experiences with 10-month-old twins too!)
One of the hardest parts may be loading everything and everyone up. I say load the car with food, toys, diversions, music, books and luggage the day before when your young ones are asleep. Then throw in their favorite toys at the last minute. Get yourself dressed and ready, have the car gassed up ahead of time. That way your small children are the last things you add to the car.
It's usually easier to drive at night when your little ones can sleep in the car! That way they arrive rested and refreshed. Let your young ones wear their jammies in the car. If you're driving on multiple days, make the first leg of the trip the longest drive so that it gets easier from there. Make sure you bring snacks for yourself (keep a cooler within easy reach so you can hand out the food without getting distracted) and take time to stop and stretch your legs so you don't get sleepy behind the wheel.
Eat outside whenever you can so you all get fresh air and a change of scenery. That means bringing a stroller or Boppy seats for little ones to sit in so they don't have to sit in their car seats in the car and outside...just breaks up the monotony. (Plus squirmy little ones will need the break to stretch too.)
It wouldn't hurt to switch sides of the car that their car seats are on so they each get a different perspective in and out of the car.
Bring baby blankets and pillows, or even grown up sized blankets and pillows for anyone who wants to snuggle up during the ride or the breaks.
Install child mirrors in the car so you can easily glance back and make sure they're okay. It's inconvenient to need to stop every time you hear a child cry out or worse still, when you don't hear them for a while.
Use window shades to block the light. I'm trying one by Munchkin right now. They also make a cute diaper changing kit that looks very snazzy for when you stop at rest stops and need a diaper changing pad.
Get an EZ pass device so you can avoid long lines at tollbooths.
Electronics are a great option for toddlers and small children...CDs with earphones or earplugs, a dual DVD player so each child can watch something different w/their own earphones.
And a toy organizer, a clear plastic bag or netted bag with different toys for different children is essential. Just like in the grocery store, it wouldn't hurt to start with regular toys and build up to special or favorite toys. Scalise suggests creating "goody bags" with small, wrapped surprises that children can unwrap and discover. It's a nice idea for 2 or 3 hour trips. I'm not sure it's worth it for a one-hour ride to the shore every weekend. The thrill will wear off quickly. Plus it gets expensive.
Obviously double up on favorite toys so there are no fights and avoid toys that can become projectiles...anything with sharp edges, or heavy building blocks and small die-cast cars that can hurt if they hit someone in the face.
Young children likely need an extra change of clothes in case they have an accident. And everyone could use a sweater or jacket for middle-of-the-night rest stops that might be chilly.
I'm a big fan of books...so I say bring multiple light weight books for your children to thumb through.
Great toys for the car, according to Scalise, are coloring books, washable markers, light-up and glow-in-the-dark toys, magnetic puzzles and pictures that stick to a flat surface (you can make your own using a metal cookie tray and magnetic alphabet letters for children over age 3).
You'll be at your destination before your children have even had a chance to enjoy all the fun surprises you've brought along!
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