Traveling on holiday by car with children: some important tips for comfort and safety
Car tourism and car rental
"When my baby turns five, then we'll go" - this is approximately the phrase we hear from parents when it comes to their upcoming vacation. Then the numbers start to change every year upwards: after five years, six, seven years come, and then, look, the parents' health has deteriorated and the pension that "suddenly" arrived - one continuous vacation...
In order to avoid such a sad situation, we propose for discussion the topic "Traveling on vacation by car with children". I would really like to know the opinion of car parents on this matter and share my own regarding some of the features of traveling by car with small children.
...So, you have decided to take a road trip with a three-year-old child. Pediatricians believe that three years is the age of a young passenger when his physiological and psychological characteristics basically allow parents to make this decision. Please note that in each specific case we are talking about both increasing the tone of the child's body and positive emotions, and about some negative effects on it.
When answering the question "Should I take my baby on the road?", parents should take into account the following factors:
The age of the child;
Type of feeding: natural or artificial;
Individual characteristics and health of the baby;
Ability to quick and easy acclimatization;
Type of transport, including a personal or rented car;
Climatic features of the area of the planned vacation;
Change in time zones, etc.
Most experts claim that "babies" up to 6 months old can be transported over distances of no more than 300 kilometers, since a sharp change in environmental conditions will lead to anxiety in the child, sleep disturbances and appetite. Parents planning a full-fledged vacation are unlikely to be able to realize it in such conditions: it will be necessary to take into account the correct diet, daily routine, and hardening procedures, air baths for the baby. That is why the recommended age for car trips is from two years.
It will be good if your child already has some experience of traveling together in a car. Most parents know how a baby behaves on the road. However, in our case, there is a list of nuances with an adjustment for a safe and comfortable route with children.
Tip 1
The main rule is a car seat correctly selected for the child's size with pre-checked fastenings.
Tip 2
Do not chase the maximum number of attractions on a trip. The maximum of new impressions for a child is as destructive as their absence. Everything should be in moderation.
Tip 3
During your vacation, you can stay not only in hotels and inns, but also in a rented apartment. This option, by the way, is more convenient for a family vacation with a small child. It is better to cook healthy food in the kitchen yourself, rather than feed the baby in restaurants and cafes.
Tip 4
When preparing the car for the road, do not forget to lock the doors and windows for the safety of the little passenger.
Tip 5
What to take on the road for a comfortable ride for a child? Parents need to think through the answer to this question in advance, we offer an approximate list:
A car refrigerator with a supply of food (including fruit), if the child has certain food preferences, they must be taken into account;
A sufficient number of spare clothes;
A first aid kit with the necessary medicines;
Bed linen, blanket, pillow;
Favorite toys (just do not take them all out at once);
A gadget for watching cartoons;
Wet wipes and other hygiene products.
Tip 6
When driving, make several planned stops for the toilet, sleep, active games, and for the child to eat on the road. And the driver of the car, for the sake of safe driving, will have an extra opportunity to rest to restore his working capacity. While the car is moving, do not offer the child a snack or give him drinks or water.
Tip 7
It is better to plan to leave the starting point of the trip early in the day so that the child can "catch up" on the morning hours. In the evening, it is better to leave an hour or two before the child's nighttime sleep. An equipped comfortable sleeping place for the baby is a guarantee of his cheerful state and good mood.
Tip 8
During forced and planned stops, hold the child's hand, do not allow him to put foreign objects in his mouth, or talk to strangers.
Tip 9
When packing travel items, do not place them on the rear panel of the passenger compartment. In case of braking, things may fall on the little passenger.
Does the idea of a summer trip with children by car suit you? And did our little "road wisdom" help you? Of course, the details of the advice will be different for everyone. It is the personal business of any car parent to come to an understanding of why so much time and effort is spent on travel and what all this was conceived for.
Have a good trip!
