It's hit me recently that we are going to actually be traveling with our toddler, like for a LONG period of time! We are lucky to be conditioned to travel with her for 6 hours to see my parents but our autumn vacation to Florida is looming and I'm realizing that I'm not quite sure how to get her from point A to point B with minimal difficulty. And lucky us, my husband and I not only have a toddler in the car but we are brave enough to be bringing our dog with us on the car ride too! Yippie!
Ok, sarcasm aside, I'm less then one month away and I'll admit to being a little freaked out. I think the biggest reason is actually because our 22 month old is showing more then just signs that she is interested in potty training. (Yes, I know it's a bit early, but this munchkin always seems to think she's older than she is. Does that happen with your toddler?) As we get closer to our vacation departure I will let you know what we decide to do with potty training. We are at a critical point where we don't want to miss a window of opportunity to do this now but to do this before we go - ugh! Diapers in the car would just be so much easier! So I'll keep you posted on what goes on.
The distance is also settling in as well. We are driving 1500 MILES south along the East Coast with BOTH a toddler and a dog!! EEK! We have been lucky to travel with our daughter since she was 3 months old so I think we have had some significant experience so I'll let you know about any tips we have found along the way.
With that said, let's start with basics: the car seat. It is essential to have a good, safe car seat. When Keiki was an infant we used the Chicco Keyfit 30 and as she got older we have been using the Recaro. I could spend the time reviewing both, but I'm not paid to promote either one so I'll just leave it as "it worked really well for us." Cozy cushions for head support and adjustable reclining position/angle position is crutial for napping and sleep times is always helpful. Sun shades, suction cup toys, sippy cup holders, etc. are all just added bonuses for a more pleasant ride.
And for those of you who are curious what I brought on the car trip that was worth it to bring, I"ll write another post once we travel onwhat worked and what didn't.