Car Trips With Baby

Holiday travel can be nerve wracking, especially with a small child in tow. Kate Kelly, Managing Editor of American Baby Magazine, has some tips for making trips go smoothly.

First and foremost, slow down! "The vacation starts the minute you walk out the door," says Kelly. "You have to get out of this mindset that you're going to rush to get there and you just want to get the trip over with." Trips with kids take time. You have added potty breaks and stops for food. You may even need to stop to just let your toddler run around and blow off some steam. Accept that this trip may take longer, but that it'll be worth it in the end.

A stress-free trip, however, starts with some careful packing. First, be sure to take along some healthy snacks for your little ones. "Eating is a form of entertainment," says Kelly, but she warns not to give into junk food pleas. Avoid sugar at all costs - no one wants hyper, bored children wailing in the back seat on a long trip.

Be selective when choosing toys for the trip as well. You want to pick toys that have staying power, not toys that will be played with for five minutes and then thrown on the floor. Look for water activated markers, crayons, big puzzles and other creative games that will take time to complete. Bring books so you can read to your child. "Or, you can always make a fun stop at a local pharmacy and see what they've got that your child hasn't seen before," says Kelly. You'll be able to find a great new toy for 5-10 dollars.

As for clothing, try packing your child's wardrobe in gallon-sized zip top bags. "You can sort of plan on 8 outfits for every five days," says Kelly. This allows for clothing changes if your child gets dirty. Pack everything in the bags - socks, pants, PJ's, shoes, etc. This makes getting dressed easy and gives you a place to store dirty clothes - or dirty diapers - if necessary.

If you have the luxury of having two drivers, try to travel at night. Leave at your child's normal bed time. Take turns driving, sleeping and keeping each other awake while your little one rests in their car seat. "When you arrive, you go to sleep and your kid wakes up," says Kelly. This is especially useful if you're heading to Grandma's house. Let Gram or Grandpa take care of your child while you get some much needed shut-eye.

If all else fails, "Get in the back with them," says Kelly. "If you're there, they feel like their needs are being attended to." Sing, play a tickle game or play peek-a-boo. Whatever it takes, it will get you to your holiday destination that much easier.

For more tips on traveling with children, as well as additional parenting advice, click here to visit www.AmericanBaby.com.

By Erin Petrun