Check your Car Seats
Naturally, you’re going to be spending a lot of time on the road. So it’s crucial to ensure your vehicle is up to safety standards both inside and out. Besides checking your tires, lights, oil and water, don’t forget to also take a look at the kids’ car seats. While they may be suitable in your home country, laws on using car seats do vary around the world – with a shocking 39.4% of countries having no official laws at all. Check this out before going on a family road trip.
In Sweden, a child seat is required for all children up to 135cm tall. But whether they need a rear-facing, front-facing or booster seat depends on their age, weight and height. These rules aren’t universal, however. So before visiting a new country, it’s always important to check the local standards. I’d always recommend measuring your kids before setting off, not only to be certain you’re complying with the law, but also to guarantee they have a comfortable journey on the family road trip.
Pull Over to Eat While on a Road Trip with Kids
It can be really tempting to give the kids snacks as you’re driving to keep them from getting grumpy. And it’s something I think all parents have done at some point. But from a safety point of view, it isn’t a great idea. For young children in particular, being reclined and in a moving vehicle increases the risk of choking on a family road trip.
While it can be annoying to hear “I’m hungry” every hour (or less), make the most of these frequent snack stops to explore the new landscapes and areas you’re traveling through. Plus, your family gets to stretch the legs and move around. Another thing to note is that you never know when you may stumble upon a hidden landscape that makes for a brilliant picnic spot. Or when you may find a captivating new area that you’d have otherwise zoomed past.
Drive in Turns on a Family Road Trip
On the subject of breaks, it’s important to not drive for extended periods of time. Research has shown that driving long hours impairs your reflexes and reaction time. So it’s well worth stopping frequently. If you can, switch places with your partner or travel companion if the kids are happy and you want to keep going a little longer. We usually like to change spots every hour. It gives everyone a quick break and allows us to keep our attention levels high!
It can also be tempting to drive the longest distances at night. The children will sleep and you’re more likely to enjoy a peaceful journey, right? But, in fact, you’re 50 times more likely to fall asleep at the wheel at 2am than at 10am, no matter how long you’ve been driving. So, it’s far safer to stick to the daytime and get a decent rest in your bed overnight when you’re on a road trip with kids.
Road Trip with Kids and How to Keep Them Busy
If you’re wondering how to keep everyone happy in the car without snacks or sleep, don’t worry. There are loads of fun games to play on the move that will hold spirits high. If it suits your family, tablets with pre-downloaded movies or games can be a good option. Or you could opt for a classic round or five of “I spy”. You can even take it in turns to pick the music. Our favorites are “yellow car” and taking it in turns to pick the playlist.
Another great game is having an etch-a-sketch in the car along with books and a coloring book. These make it fun for the kids on a family road trip. Of course, it’s not safe to be distracted while driving. So it should be the responsibility of the non-driving adult to interact with the kids while the other is focusing on the road. But that doesn’t mean that the driver can’t play. The driver just needs to keep the eyes on the road while playing.
Staying Safe When Around Water
Wherever you venture on a family road trip, there’s likely to be bodies of water in some form. Fun at the pool, taking a boat out on the lake and playing in the sea. There are all iconic activities for a fun-filled family vacation. But the importance of water safety is something that can’t be understated.
Even if your children are keen swimmers, open bodies of water pose serious risks that every parent should know about. Natural water is often cold, and can easily send a small child into shock quickly (however many kids grow up bathing in cold waters). Not only that, you never know what is under the surface – water shoes have been a life-saver for us to avoid sharp stones in lakes, streams and rivers!
When you’re with your kiddos near bodies of water, make sure they stay near you. That’s especially true if they are younger than eight years old. My son is three years old and when we go into water, he is by my side or my hubby’s. That way, the whole family gets fun and we have a safe little boy! Wherever you’re heading off to for your next family road trip adventure, keep these tips in mind for a safe and happy trip. This way a road trip with kids will be a lot smoother!
Author bio: Chloe Mills
Chloe is an outdoor enthusiast and freelance writer who loves exploring new destinations with her two young boys and husband. Whether climbing mountains or relaxing on the sand, she loves to share her tips and tricks with other adventurous families.
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