How to Prepare for a Road Trip Alone with a Child Under 2 Years Old

Traveling with a young child is always and challenge even when you have another adult or older child with you to help. When you have to travel alone with a child under 2 years old there are even more challenges, but some simple preparations can ease some of these.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A well organized travel plan for each day.
• Cooler stocked with water, juices and ice.
• Single serving easy to eat dry snacks like animal crackers
• Favorite blanket, toys, books
• Children's music and/or story CDs
• One small suitcase besides any larger suitcases needed for clothing

1. Have a well thought out travel plan for each day. Know your child's limits and plan to only go as far each day as they can handle. Many web sites allow you to research and print out maps of your route including rest areas, gas stations, restaurants, hotels and entertainment.

2. Know where you are going to stop for bathrooms/diaper changes, food and fuel. Keep in mind with children you always have to be flexible.

3. Pack your cooler with water and clear juices such as apple and white grape, in single serving containers. You can use these to fill sippy cups and to keep both you and your child hydrated. Put the cooler in the front passenger seat so its easy to get into.

4. Pack snacks packaged as individual servings that are easy to pass back to a child, easy for the child to hold and easy to clean up if dropped. Animal crackers and cracker are great for this. Put the snack bag on the floor of the front passenger seat so its easy to get into.

5. Have some of your child's favorite toys, stuffed animals, books, blankets and other items easily accessible to them and others easily accessible for you for passing back to them when they start to get tired, bored and fussy.

6. Don't forget to pack your child's favorite music or story CDs. If you have time you can even prerecord some of their favorite stories for them on your own CD.

7. Pack your child's diaper bag with the essentials for the day. Diapers, wipes, children's acetametaphen or ibuprofen, an extra outfit, sunscreen a portable diaper changing pad.

8. If your travel plans include staying one night in a hotel before you get to your final destination, pack a smaller suitcase with what you and your child will need that night. It will cut down on what you have to carry in from the car to your hotel room.

Tips & Warnings

• Plan to start your trip at or near your child's nap time.
• For women, making hotel reservations under your husband's name or just your initials gives you an added layer of security.
• State visitor center's along major interstate highways often have extra accommodations for families such as family restrooms, child seats in some bathroom stalls and often have attendants on duty not only keeping facilities cleaner, but safer.
• Always be aware of your surroundings.
• Share your travel places with family and friends.
• Keep your cell phone charged.