“We didn’t bring any snacks.”
We were 45 minutes into our three-hour road trip across the state. Our two toddlers were (literally) bored to tears in the back seat. Cassidy was staring at me with a troubled look of disbelief mixed with “I-don’t-know-if-we’re-gonna-make-it-out-alive.”
We did make it out alive (leaving some of our sanity behind) and made a vow to never leave for a three-hour road trip underprepared again.
If you have a toddler, you know the importance of stacking the deck in your favor for surviving a road trip.
Let us share a few ways we’ve upped our game since then.
Whether you’re embarking on an hour away from home or a multi-day road trip, here are 37 ways to ensure a painless road trip with a toddler.
- 1. Snacks
- 2. Coloring book with crayons
- 3. Magazine and safety scissors
- 4. First aid kit
- 5. Sunscreen
- 6. Battery-powered clip-on fan (if no AC)
- 7. Hand vacuum
- 8. Shade blockers for the windows
- 9. Comfy clothes
- 10. Extra silverware, paper plates, and napkins
- 11. Toddler potty
- 12. Diapers, wipes, garbage bag
- 13. Family stretch break
- 14. Park/landmark stops
- 15. Extra water
- 16. Scavenger hunt print-out
- 17. Bubble-wrap
- 18. Wrapped toys
- 19. Bento box (food)
- 20. Bento box (toys)
- 21. What’s your favorite___?
- 22. Toddler card games
- 23. Foot rest (if front-facing)
- 24. Blankets
- 25. Extra binkies
- 26. Personalized travel pack
- 27. Children’s audiobooks
- 28. Toss the sock
- 29. I Spy
- 30. Time your trip with naps
- 31. Blockades
- 32. Bring stuffed animals
- 33. Books
- 34. LCD writing tablets
- 35. Pre-download TV-show soundtracks
- 36. Singing songs
- 37. Tablet/phone
- A few bonus tips
1. Snacks
The foundation of any good road trip.
Do yourself a favor and pick a fan favorite.
For longer road trips, play the long game and withhold sugary sweets, as these can serve as quick fixes and long-term, meltdown-fueled nightmares.
2. Coloring book with crayons
A toddler can (and will) make a mess out of anything.
But, as far as artistic outlets, coloring can be a relatively hassle-free option.
3. Magazine and safety scissors
Emphasis on safety.
The last thing you need on your road trip is a toddler with a brand new owwie. If you do find yourself in boo-boo territory, this next item is a must-have.
4. First aid kit
We’re trying to mitigate disasters.
Always have the band-aids ready, just in case! Even if you never encounter a legitimate need for one, to your toddler, a band-aid is just a fancy sticker they can show off.
5. Sunscreen
Keep your littles protected from the sun on your adventure!
The last thing you want is an itchy sunburn on a kid who already finds their car seat uncomfortable.
6. Battery-powered clip-on fan (if no AC)
If your AC doesn’t reach the back of the car, you’ll want a way to keep a fussy toddler cool.
Clip-on fans can save you some whining and be a fascinating toy in a pinch.
7. Hand vacuum
What did I say about toddlers making a mess?
A hand vacuum can be a great way to clean up between pit stops (or overnight stays if you’re on a multiple day trip). Snack residue piles up fast and its nice to stay on top of it while on the road.
8. Shade blockers for the windows
After several trips trying to hang blankets and jackets from the backseat coat hanger, we made the investment in shade blockers.
Can’t recommend them enough.
Especially for littles who can’t always move their face out of the way of the beating sun. These can be crucial to maintaining harmony in the car.
9. Comfy clothes
Dress for success.
For toddler road trips, this means soft and cozy if it’s cold out – and light and breezy if it’s hot. Avoid overalls and other clothing prone to bunching and shifting.
10. Extra silverware, paper plates, and napkins
On top of being highly practical for meals, these can give a bored toddler something to play with.
If you’re making stops at parks along the way, a paper plate and napkin will save you the ick of having to put your sandwiches directly on the public table.
11. Toddler potty
You never know when your toddler is gonna need to “go.”
And for that matter, neither will they. We’ve definitely pulled over to the side of the road and busted out the potty more than once to avoid a pee-soaked car seat.
12. Diapers, wipes, garbage bag
If your toddler is still in diapers, triple-check your car for extra diapers.
Two bonus tips: (1) put them somewhere you can easily access them and (2) bring a sealable, waterproof bag to carry your stink bombs after a change.
13. Family stretch break
Make it a group activity!
The more you get into it, the more they’ll enjoy it. “Touch your toes, reach up high, to the left, to the right!”
14. Park/landmark stops
Depending on your toddler’s age and personality you have some options.
We’ve made it a point to stop by the “wild horses” monument when we pass through Vantage, WA on I90 East. Be on the lookout for special parks and landmarks your toddler(s) may enjoy.
15. Extra water
This may be the most important item to ensure a successful road trip for your family.
If there’s one thing you can be sure of, it’s that you don’t want to be caught empty handed when your toddler starts begging for more water.
16. Scavenger hunt print-out
These take some pre-work, but they can last a while if you put in extra effort.
Think through what you might encounter on your drive.
Create a fun collection of pictures in a Word document and print it out for your toddler to hold on the road. Use simple items like trees, trucks, birds, and gas stations.
17. Bubble-wrap
A toy for children of all ages..
Toddlers will certainly be entertained for a little while with a handful of this stuff. (Small bubble bubble wrap is recommended to keep popping sound to a low volume.)
18. Wrapped toys
Our toddlers love surprises.
Pre-wrapping their toys in gift wrap can add excitement when toys start getting handed out.
Pass them back one at a time and let your kiddo play with the single toy for a while before moving on to the next wrapped goodie.
19. Bento box (food)
These tap into novelty – similar to wrapped presents.
Lunchbox and plate in one, bento boxes are a way to turn your toddler’s snacks into an experience.
20. Bento box (toys)
Again, novelty really helps when your toddler’s window view hasn’t changed in the last hour.
Pack the box with tiny animals, dinosaurs, racecars, gadgets and gizmos. This’ll keep them entertained for a while.
21. What’s your favorite___?
If your toddlers are social (like ours) teach them some new questions!
Ask them “what’s your favorite animal, color, fruit, book, tree, etc.?” and let them ask you in return. Encourage them to come up with their own questions.
22. Toddler card games
Games like “Go Fish” can be great, especially if you are able to sit in the back next to your toddler game partner.
These games teach social skills and help pass the time.
23. Foot rest (if front-facing)
Comfort tip: it’s easier to sleep when your feet are supported.
We like to stack our bags or coolers in front of our front-facing toddler so that his legs don’t have to dangle the whole drive. This can help when we’re trying to convince him to fall asleep.
24. Blankets
Another crucial piece to ensuring nap time happens.
Even if nap time doesn’t happen, blankets can be hung up and strewn to create a pillow-fort-like effect; a fun distraction for the little.
25. Extra binkies
For some reason, the first binky never seems to make it the whole drive…
And if your toddler still uses a binky, that’s a huge problem.
Maybe it’s just us, but we’ve long realized the need to hold at least two extra binkies if and when the time comes our toddler has lost theirs.
Don’t risk the success of your trip on ONE binky.
Carry a back up (or five).
26. Personalized travel pack
Like the bento boxes, a personalized travel pack can give your kiddos a fun way to keep themselves entertained.
We have a mini backpack for each of our toddlers. Each backpack gets a small board book, a few toys, an (out of commission) electronic device, and a stuffed animal.
27. Children’s audiobooks
Streaming services like Spotify offer picture book recordings you can download prior to a road trip.
Our kids love a good story—especially one they’ve heard it a million times already. (Kids love repetition).
28. Toss the sock
An invention from our kiddos grandparents.
Toss a clean sock into the back seat where your toddler can get them and yell, “Ew! Stinky socks!”
Loving the silly energy, they’ll be prompted to toss the sock back to the front. A game of toss the sock can be a great time-killer.
Note from the grandparent: this game only works if there’s an adult in the passenger seat to retrieve the sock. It’s way too distracting for the driver to find the sock!
29. I Spy
Keep it simple.
Colors, animals, nature. Older toddlers will really get into it before long.
30. Time your trip with naps
Or bedtime (depending on how far you’re going)
No, this (of course) does not guarantee your toddler will sleep their way through the trip.
But leaving right when their nap normally occurs gives you a better shot at killing a few hours in peaceful silence.
31. Blockades
Design your backseat for success.
If your toddler gets bored, they’re inevitably going to harass their sibling.
Best practice dictates you set up necessary precautions like suitcase stacks to block off the vulnerable baby from the toddler.
32. Bring stuffed animals
Comfort is key.
We always bring a few (at least 2) stuffies for each of our kids. If they’re tired, their favorite animal can be the ticket to getting them to zonk.
33. Books
In our car, the passenger adult plays librarian.
Hand the kiddo(s) one book at a time, letting them “read” it (or just flip the pages) all the way through.
This way each new book can be “a surprise!” (If you haven’t figured it out yet, toddlers are suckers for happy surprises).
34. LCD writing tablets
Technically not a screen!
And promotes creativity—this is a (fully) mess-free alternative to paper and crayons.
35. Pre-download TV-show soundtracks
Upbeat ambience from a favorite show can really lift the mood.
We start off most road trips with the Bluey Soundtrack and move on into The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse soundtrack.
36. Singing songs
Our toddlers love a good sing-along.
“Old McDonald” and “The Wheels on the Bus” are great for their ever-expandability.
“The toilet on the bus goes flush flush flush,” guarantees a laugh from the littles.
37. Tablet/phone
If all else fails…
Sure, it’s a cop-out. Accept that fact and move on.
Sometimes you just need to pop the screen in front of them and survive the last 20 minutes of your drive!
A few bonus tips
And there you have it! 37 ideas to get you started on your journey toward pain-free road trips with your growing babies.
A few last general rules of thumb:
- Always come overprepared. There’s simply no reason to not plan for the worst. It’s going to be the time you leave the extra binky that you REALLY need it.
- Relax. Toddlers pick up on your stress and will feed you more of it. Keep the mood lighthearted and silly.
- Keep a loose grip on your schedule. Best practice with toddlers is to stay flexible. You never know what curveball they’re gonna throw you next. Don’t let “sticking to the plan” be the reason you get angry with your kiddo.
And with that, God-speed, parents.
You can do this!
