Road trip with toddler checklist: Essential packing list

A road trip with a toddler – like many things in the world of parenting – is no walk in the park. And like with most things in parenting – it’s the end result which keeps you going – namely in this case some form of a holiday at the end. If you are looking for a road trip with toddler checklist then look no further.

Safe to say, that to survive, say a 4 hour car journey, strategy, stealth and patience are required. It is also a good idea to set some ground rules before you leave which will help to manage everyone’s expectations and create a checklist so that you don’t discover something mid-way that will cause the mother of all toddlers tantrums.

With that said, here is my road trip with toddler checklist featuring all the essentials you need to keep everyone happy and sane.

Car essentials – car seat/booster seat

A car seat or booster seat that is appropriate for their age, height and weight is an absolute must for any car trip with a toddler. It’s a good idea to check that everything fits and is comfortable before the big departure today so you can ensure you have a happy and comfortable toddler. It’s best to find out that your toddler has outgrown their seat with plenty of time to do something about it so you have enough time to check the latest price and availability/delivery times of a possible replacement.

Comfort items

You want your toddler to fee as comfortable as possible, especially if you want them to nap. Equally they will need to have enough room to move around, something to be especially mindful of if your car is full to the brim!  If they’re uncomfortable, they’re more likely to be disruptive. So bring a snuggly blanket and if they like to use a travel pillow, then bring that too as well as anything else that helps them feel comfortable.

Snacks & drinks

Pack plenty of snacks and drinks. Road trips can be long, and a toddler can get hungry and thirsty quickly and also very frequently! Make sure to pack snacks and drinks for the entire trip, not just for when you first start out. It’s also a good idea to bring sucky sweets especially if they suffer from car sickness.

Nappies, wipes & first aid kit

If your toddler is still in nappies/diapers then be sure to have a supply ready at hand. If they are potty training, be sure to have their travel potty. And of course, wipes are necessary always whether they are still in nappies or not. Our saviour for wiping up a plethora of messy scenarios.  First aid kit because yes, even a car it is possible for a toddler to have an accident!

Games & activities to pack

Bring along a variety of toys and activities. A toddler can get bored quickly on a road trip, so make sure to bring along a range of toys to keep them entertained. This will also help to keep them from being too loud and disruptive. Some ideas of things to pack include:

  • Colouring book & pens/crayons
  • Water colouring book
  • Activity books
  • Stickers (+ something to stick them in)yes
  • Puzzles
  • Bubbles
  • Stamping kits
  • Favourites toys
  • A list of car games (great list here)

Invest in a car organiser that sits on the back of the seat in front of them to help keep everything as tidy as possible (although know your car will probably look like a bomb has gone off in it by the end!).

Albums, Books & Podcasts

Going down the audio route is a great way of avoiding overreliance on screens during a road trip. Spend some time picking some favourites from Amazon’s Best Seller’s Children’s Albums or check out this list of the best podcasts for kids under 5 for inspiration. As for their favourite books, let them pick three or four for the road.

Tech – iPad etc

This only comes out either towards the last hour when I’m all out of entertainment ammunition. Be sure to bring their headphones too, especially if you are travelling with more than one child.

Emergency supplies

Because you just never know – make sure you have emergency supplies in the back including maps (in case GPS goes down), torches, water, blankets, breakdown kit and the like. And be sure that your roadside breakdown/insurance/driving license is all up to date and that you have a spare tire in the boot.

Bin bags

And finally, a road trip with a toddler can be a messy affair so be sure to bring rubbish bags so that you can tidy up all that mess and chaos left behind at the end.

11 comments

  1. haha! Love your disclaimer. Really? I so thought you were telling us to let the kids drive…..so much more interesting ;). Yep, totally agree with all those. Except, haven’t tried bubbles in the car…..but so are going to try it now!! It’s a stressful thing, travelling with kids. But as long as you have HEAPS AND HEAPS of food, that drive won’t be too bad. #TwinklyTuesday

  2. We have a long car journey to do next week and my iPad does the trick but I do try and delay it for as long as possible so it’s effect is maintained until hopefully the journey is older! 🙂 x

  3. Great list here. We haven’t tely done any long long journeys with Zach since he’s been aware of journeying! Not on purpose, we just haven’t needed to! I’d definitely use all of these tools though if we did! Thanks so much for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday

  4. Great suggestions! We have a 3 hour car journey next week and I will be using every one of these. I had no idea there was a Cbeebies album! Will be buying this before we go as it should definitely kill at least an hour (although I may end up demented!).

  5. #MyFiveThings by HiFiveBaby: 5 tips and tricks for a first road trip with baby — Motherhood: The Real Deal says:

    […] then. We could have managed passing up a thing or two yet with children, that too on their first road trip, it is no alternative by any […]

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