Traveling With Kids: Big Adventure or Big Headache?

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200 Miles

The next level up, the 200 mile, will be an overnight trip. You and your clan will be too far away to return home in a day, so you will be sleeping at Grandma’s house or a hotel room perhaps a 5 hour drive from your home. All the above rules apply (but you’ll need a bigger magic bag) with the addition of a few more.

• Expect to bring a lot of stuff! If you regularly visit Grandma, the best idea is to have the essentials in baby/child equipment already at her house. If Grandma has a crib, play pen, high chair, or stroller there, it saves you from saying a lot of bad words as you try to cram that stuff into the trunk of your car. You might consider keeping an umbrella stroller in your car at all times, and an inflatable wading pool takes up little space and can sometimes double for a crib or playpen.
• Make sleep a priority. Little kids tend to like their own beds, so it might not be easy to get your little ones to go to sleep in a strange place. Try to make things as normal as you can – usual bed time, familiar pajamas, favorite bears and blankies, night light from home, and bring an extra supply of patience for yourself. Likely, it will take a few tries to settle them down for the night and don’t be surprised if they are awake and ready for action earlier than usual.
• Bring familiar foods. Grandma might make an awesome roast beef dinner, and you’ll want the kids to try some, but if your little guy is stuck in a phase of eating only certain canned alphabet noodles, you darn well better have some with you!

Possibly most importantly of all, don’t leave home without your sense of humor. Remember, today’s mini crises are great material for tomorrow’s wedding speeches! Prepare for the journey the best you can, but be ready for some bumps along the way. Don’t stress too much – we were all kids once after all. Keep it light and remember this quote – “Attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure.”