Things We Love: For Roadtrips

Heading on roadtrip with your baby, toddler or small kids?  Here are some essentials you will be thankful that you have!

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For Any Time You Get in the Car:

  • Window shades: These keep the sun out of your child’s eyes and keep them from crying (because who wants sun in their eyes?!).  If the limited visibility out of the back windows bothers you like it bothers me, you could also throw some sunglasses on your child instead… 
  • Sunglasses that your child won’t take off:  to help block the sun from your child’s eyes and to help them fall asleep.  We have had great luck with the Hipster Kid sunglasses since Claire was a small baby.  She never takes them off and asks for them whenever we head out the door.  You can find the Hipster Kid sunglasses in all kinds of cool colors (now come in an awesome wooden frame!) on Amazon here.
  • Windshield cover:  This is optional, but can be really helpful on hot summer days so your child doesn’t burn their hands or legs on the metal car seat buckles and so your baby isn’t too hot waiting for the A/C to reach the backseat.  Sometimes Claire puts up a fight getting into the car seat if the car or car seat is too hot, so I try to remember to put these up every time we park. 
  • Mirror for the backseat so you can see your child in their carseat:  A mirror is helpful if they are crying and you can see that you just need to remind them to pop back in their pacifier.  Or if they just want some attention, a little eye contact helps!  You can find one here.
  • Sleeping essentials/sleep cues:  We use a small stuffed toy, a pacifier on a pacifier clip, and a blanket.
  • Entertainment:
    • Stuffed animals
    • Books
    • Teethers if your baby is teething
  • Nursing cover:  If your baby is in an infant carseat, you can throw the nursing cover over it to help settle them down or make it darker
  • CD or music that they love.  We also like to have a kids’ book on tape that Claire can listen to the story and follow along in a book.  This Disney storybook cd with Moana is really doing the trick for us!

For Long Road Trips:

  • Snacks!  You can put them in a reusable plastic baggie, or Tupperware that prevents all of the contents from spilling out.  I don’t give snacks that are easy choking hazards and usually stick to cheerios or goldfish.
  • Bottled water
  • Even more toys!  For multiple days, put them in separate bags and give one each day so your child doesn’t run through all the goodies at once

Great Toys for Car Trips with Babies, Toddlers and Kids

Breastfeeding moms:

  • Your electric pump
  • Hand pump.  I brought this Medela manaul pump for any long trip to have as a back up just in case.
  • Battery Power Pack with extra batteries- This is another just in case item that is handy for when you don’t have access to power.
  • Car Pump Adapter for pumping on the road
  • Cooler- In case you want to save any extra milk or your child goes on a nursing strike
  • Ice packs for the cooler
  • Bottles to transfer pumped milk in and bottle tops
  • Bottles and nipples
  • 2 or 3 sets of breast shields
  • extra membranes
  • These Medela Quick Clean Wipes to clean pump supplies
  • Medela Quick Steam Bags– You can sterilize your pump supplies with these bags in the microwave!  If you don’t have a microwave in room, you can usually bring to the front desk and they can help you out.  Find them here.
  • Travel bottle soap
  • Travel bottle rack and brush: I didn’t have this when I was nursing/pumping, but I wish I did!
  • A few large gallon size zip-loc bags that you can toss your pump parts into
  • Nursing/car seat cover: you can put over the car seat of your arms to create a dark environment to facilitate sleeping, or of course, to use while nursing
  • Extra snacks and water for mom!  Don’t forget to take care of yourself to take care of your supply!

Is there something you think we’ve missed?  We would LOVE to hear from you!  Email us at info@travelisforthekids.com