I survived a road trip with my kids without losing all of my hair! That's right, I recently returned from a week long vacation to Colorado with my husband and two little ones. My husband and I decided to drive there to save a bit of money and also see some sites along the way. It was a 14 hour drive, a very long 14 hour drive and road trips do not always bode well for my 4 and 6 year old. Seriously, they sometimes have melt downs on a 5 minute car ride to the grocery store! So, I had to plan accordingly for this trip and I am here to share my tips with you today.
1. Bring Flip Flops or Sandals
Do you really want to spend a good 5 to 10 minutes at every stop tying your kids shoes? Because on a road trip, the shoes WILL come off and as many times as you tell them "We are about to make a stop, start putting your shoes on" they will still need some sort of help with tying them. So, make it easy on yourself and bring shoes that are easy to slip on and off!
My daughter is good for this, she will exclaim over and over that she does not have to potty and the MINUTE we leave a gas station or rest step it's "I have to potty!" Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. So, what did I start doing? I told her she has to atleast try to potty at every stop. And, you know what? She ALWAYS had to potty.
It is inevitable, when kids get bored they will fight. So, I made sure I loaded the back seat up with plenty things to do! I would love to say that the entire way to Colorado they were entertained with learning games, flash cards and math facts but then I would be dreaming. The fact is, as much as both my kids love to do these things it just does not keep their attention for very long. Have you ever been hit in the back of the head (while driving) with a flash card because your little boy used it as a Ninja Star to chuck at his sister? I have and those things gain momentum and make a pretty powerful paper cut. Therefore, I also bring things that will entertain my kids for a good amount of time such as their game systems or even DVD player. Don't judge or I will Ninja Star you with a flash card, just kidding (you hope).
4. Pack Plenty of Healthy Foods and Snacks
I am a firm believer in feeding my kids healthy and avoiding fast food at all costs but that does not stop their desire for it whenever they see those golden arches. I have come to find out that this desire is never about the food but always about the play area and Happy Meal toy. Still, it is engrained in their brain and when they see those fast food signs along the highway it is always, "I'm Hungry!" And my reply is always, "Good thing we made those yummy wraps and have some of your favorite fruit in the cooler." And a lot of times, do you know what they asked next? "Yes, I love grapes! .... but .... Mom can we get a toy in Colorado?" Ha, I knew it! Mom: 1, Fast Food: 0
The words "I don't feel good!" coming from my child's mouth on vacation is my worst nightmare! Well, maybe not the worst but it is definitely up there. You couldn't imagine how much money I have had to shell out on emergency rooms and Urgent Care centers because I was out of town and one of my kids had gotten sick. This vacation I was prepared and gave both my kids a Culturelle probiotic. These chewables are a great way to prevent upset stomachs and help support kids natural defenses. And my kids loved the taste as well, they thought it was candy. Ssshhh! Let us not tell them otherwise.
Did you know that 70% of you immune system was in your digestive tract? Yep, that is right! So, a healthy and balance digestive tract is key in strengthening ones overall heath and immune system. Cuturelle probiotic provides ongoing maintenance for healthy digestion. It also helps reduce upset stomachs, support the body's natural defenses and provide relief for digestive discomfort.
Cuturelle is trusted by pediatricians, it is the #1 recommended probiotic supplement brand for kids. Trusted by parents and me!
Disclaimer: I was compensated for this post and received free samples. However, all opinions are my own!
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Great tips!! We travel a lot too as all our family is in DC and we are in Rhode Island! Also, my son has major tummy issues, so we have him on probiotics and Myralax. Traveling does make it worse. The meds help a bit!
ReplyDeleteI'll have to try that probiotic for my kids. They both have intestinal issues and my son has been complaining of tummy aches lately.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your tips, especially the shoes!! Great job.
ReplyDeleteThese are awesome tips! I can usually never escape my office at Dish so, when we take vacations, I opt for road trips! It gives us more time to bond as a family, just as long as I can keep the kids from getting too squirmy. Like you mentioned, it’s a must to grab something to occupy them! I’ve learned the best cure for their restlessness is to bring along our tablet. It gives them a wide variety of games and, while we’re stopped at the hotel, they can pull up their favorite shows to keep them entertained. Since we have the Dish Remote Access app, which connects our tablet to our home TV through the sling adapter, they can watch any of their shows no matter where we find ourselves. I don’t know what I’d do without it!
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