As we take to our cars for the Bank Holiday weekend, Leonie Guguen, mother to Sasha 3 and Pierre 20 months, gives her advice on trips with young children...
Travelling with toddlers can be a nightmare and at other times they can surprise you with their patience and good behaviour. In my experience, when it comes to long car trips with little children, timing and preparation are the key.
Our most successful trips have been done at bedtime. We simply bath the children, put them in their pyjamas, load them into the carseats and set off. Usually they sleep the whole way and in the evening the roads are generally less clogged.
However, if you can't or don't want to travel at night there are some steps to make car journeys less arduous for all.
Firstly, make sure that your petrol tank is full and your oil and tyre pressures are checked before you set off and that you have valid breakdown insurance. Get the car stocked up with drinks, wipes, spare nappies, a change of clothes, and a bag for rubbish and possibly even a sick bag. If the weather's good, get the sunblinds out for the back seats.
If the whinging starts half an hour into your journey, it's time to get creative. Wendy Shand, founder of Tots to France and an expert in traveling with kids recommends packing some surprises - a cheap toy camera is a fun way to pass the time. Going on holiday is such an adventure so encourage them to take photos as you drive along. Alternatively, VTech have introduced a fantastic multimedia Kidizoom digital camera (RRP. £59.99) for children aged 4 and above. Just like mummy and daddy's, they can see their photos on screen, record video and even play computer games.
Wendy also suggests planning for meals en-route (plus allowing time for delays). Children love picnics, so take sandwiches or baby food and plenty of drinks. It is also worth packing a variety of snacks - raisins, breadsticks, fruit sticks, chopped up fruit etc which are all popular and will help stave off the tantrums. The Great Little Trading Company has a brilliant range of non-spill cups and containers that are ideal for car journeys as well as a handy Kids' Car Organiser which holds everything you need to keep your children occupied and amused.
I've found that playing the children's favourite CDs and nursery rhymes can keep them happy for hours even if hearing Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes for the umpteenth time can be extremely grating. However, now I'm progressing them onto the Sound of Music and Mary Poppins, I'm secretly enjoying the songs and a nostalgic trip back to childhood.
The Thomas AquaDraw Activity Case (RRP £9.99) is a wonderful way to keep young minds entertained in the car. Children can discover Thomas the Tank Engine water pictures and hidden activities with their water pen, leaving no mess as they do so and it fits neatly onto a toddlers lap. Another great distraction is the ELC Travel Scribbler (RRP £10).
Even if you are on a good run, you should stop every 2 hours to check nappies, let little ones go to the loo and to allow everyone, including drivers have a good stretch and break. If you're potty training and likely to have a desperate child who needs to go within seconds, then a Pottette (RRP £7 available at Mothercare) is invaluable. This portable potty folds flat for transportation and then its legs simply unfold to make it ready for use. Compact, absorbent liners are placed inside for use and then simply thrown away like a nappy when finished with.
And finally, if you are planning a long journey in hire car, Herz have introduced the option of in-car DVD players in their rental vehicles - probably an option your toddlers will favour most!
