See all Motoring Advice Road trips with kids can be brilliant fun, but they can also test your patience. A little planning goes a long way to keeping everyone happy and the journey smooth.
Preparation
If you are a parent, you’ll already know that when it comes to making things run smoothly, preparation is key. If you aren’t a parent and are taking a road trip with kids, believe us when we say you need to be prepared.
Car prep
A day or two before your road trip, start prepping the car. This is particularly important if you are going on an extended road trip.
Check that your tyres are correctly inflated and, if your vehicle is going to be stuffed full of kids and luggage, make sure you take the extra weight into consideration when checking tyre pressure.
Check all fluid levels like oil and screen wash and top up if necessary, and don’t forget to fill up with fuel.
The reason for doing all this beforehand is to help you get a head start on the trip. Preparing the car like this cuts time off your journey and is one less thing to worry about.
While fuelling up, give the car a quick tidy and vacuum. Items on the dashboard, such as empty coffee cups etc. can distract you, reduce your ability to focus and increase stress levels. When travelling with children, increased stress levels are something you want to avoid. By cleaning the car, you’ll drive away in a clean, serene and focused state of mind.
Journey prep
Another thing that increases stress and anxiety is getting lost, so make sure you have your destination saved in the navigation system in the car or on your phone and then double-check the route. You don’t want to end up in Cashel, Galway, if your hotel is in Cashel, Tipperary.
However, we would also recommend printing off the directions or having a physical map of some sort as a backup in case your phone loses coverage or runs out of battery.
Speaking of batteries, charge all devices before setting off, and pack charging cables. If your car doesn’t have USB ports, pick up a 12V adapter.
When planning your journey, it is essential to include rest stops at service stations, restaurants, playgrounds, or anywhere that the kids can stretch their legs and get some fresh air - and the driver can do the same. Don’t just treat rest stops as bathroom breaks; use them to let the kids burn off some energy and to give the driver a rest, too. Even if you don’t feel tired, you should take a break at least every two hours to prevent driver fatigue, which is estimated to be a contributory factor in as many as one in five driver deaths in Ireland every year.
Food prep
Snacks and water are essential road trip items, not just for the children but the adults, too. Keeping everybody well fed and hydrated will hopefully prolong any hangry meltdowns. You never know when you might end up stuck in traffic for longer than expected or rerouted because of roadworks, adding more time to your journey. Having plenty of food to hand will cut down on having to stop to buy stuff, which will prolong getting to your destination even more.
Buckle up
By law, drivers are responsible for ensuring all children under 17 are in the correct car seat or booster. Use the child’s weight not their age to choose the right restraint. Fines and penalty points apply if not followed.
Remember it’s against the law to use a rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat, unless the front passenger airbag has been deactivated.
On the road
If you have planned your journey wisely with plenty of fun rest stops, the only thing you really have to worry about is keeping the little ones content in the back until the next pit stop.
First off, make sure they are all comfortable and are wearing layers so if they get hot or cold, they can just take off or put on a layer until they are just right. Packing blankets and travel pillows is also a good idea.
You can buy handy plastic pocket organisers that hang over the backs of the front seats that are ideal for storing drinks, baby wipes, trash bags, toys and other entertainment items. You can also use shoe organisers that you hang in your wardrobe. They work a treat.
To avoid, or at least prolong, the dreaded “ARE WE THERE YET?” make sure you are armed with loads of things to do. Don’t just rely on electronic devices to keep the kids entertained because what happens if/when the battery dies? Make sure you have a backup of puzzle books, colouring books, activity books, or even a deck of cards or some sort of board game that the kids can all play together.
However, if any of the children are prone to motion sickness, then tablets, books and other toys that require them to look down are almost guaranteed to make them reach for the sick bags.
In this case, games that involve looking up and out the window are a much better idea and should prevent - or at least reduce - nausea. Try playing ‘Eye Spy’ or naming the counties or countries of the different car registration plates or get educational and try to name the different species of trees, plants, flowers, birds, etc., that flash past the window. Kids love it when adults join the games, so don’t just leave it to the kids; get involved - it will make the journey more fun for you, too.
By following these tips for travelling with children, the journey should be just as enjoyable as the destination.