Fun Tips to Ease Your Next Road Trip

Here are some creative ideas for making your next road trip fun for the whole family:

For a baby:

• Attach your baby's pacifier and any other small toys to her car seat using specially designed plastic rings so they're easy to reach.
• Bring a plastic mirror. It's a surefire way to keep a baby entertained for a while.
• Stop every 90 minutes and give your baby a chance to lie on the ground (on a soft blanket of course) and roll around. Babies need to stretch too, you know!

For a toddler:

• If you're a member of the American Auto Association (AAA), give them a call and take advantage of their TripTik program. It provides you with detailed maps on where to stop and local attractions.
• Make your little guy feel like a big kid -- let him pack his own toy bag.
• Take a tape player with music your child knows or a tape of you reading her favorite story.
• Try to adhere to your child's existing eating and sleeping schedules. Give him an opportunity to get out of the car and stretch every hour or two. It'll keep him in a better mood.
• Don't alter the diaper situation. Experts recommend putting your child in underwear or training pants and trying to stick to your training schedule. Diapering a child during a car trip will only confuse him, notes Angela LaRosa, MD, a pediatrician in Baltimore. He'll think that diapers are okay sometimes, but not others. However, if your toddler is on the fence about using the potty, put him in diapers and shelve the toilet teaching until you return from your trip.
• Plan for some special travel goodies, such as a roadside picnic. Never underestimate the power of a treat or two, especially on a long car trip. If fast food is a rare treat in your house, now is the time to head for the Golden Arches.
• If possible, have an adult sit with your child in the backseat to entertain her. If the only adult in the car is the one behind the wheel, try attaching a family picture in front of her so she doesn't get too lonely.
• Is your child afraid of the dark? If you're doing some night driving, try attaching an adhesive push-on closet light to the back of the driver's seat.
• Designate car-only activities. If your child knows that he only gets to play with a certain toy in the car, it'll keep his attention longer when he does get to play with it and he'll be more likely to look forward to the car trip.