1. Travel Lap Tray // 2. Canvas Tote // 3. XL Disposable Toilet Covers // 4. Biodegradable Placemats // 5. Potette Potty Seat & Liners // 6. Wine Tote & Cooler // 7. Toddler Safety Backpack // 8. High Chair Harness // 9. Disinfecting Wipes // 10. Kids Tablet Case //
11. Kids Volume Limiting Headphones // 12. Hand Sanitizing Wipes // 13. Mini Crib Mattress Topper
11. Kids Volume Limiting Headphones // 12. Hand Sanitizing Wipes // 13. Mini Crib Mattress Topper
We are driving to Charleston, SC in a month- with a 4 year old and a 19 month old. It sounds crazy but we have made the 12 hour drive from New York with Lilly 3 times now, including last year when we drove with both kids. Our reasons for driving vs. flying include that my husband prefers not to fly if he can avoid it and we like the flexibility driving offers- leaving when we want and bringing everything we need from home.
Surprisingly, all of our trips have been successful and I believe with a lot of planning and the right gear, there is no reason to fear going on road trips with toddlers! Below are some of our tried and true must haves as well as some new gear we are incorporating this year since the kids are slightly older (one potty trained and no more bottles!!)
1. A travel lap tray is a new addition to our gear this year. Lilly will use this to house her tablet and other activities. I like that a tray will keep activities and snacks in place and off the floor.
2. A large, structured tote is everything when traveling in the car! We keep food, extra clothes, and a cooler organized in this tote and it’s the perfect size to place on the car floor. This tote has a wired top which keeps it open and accessible. It’s also a versatile item; we use it in the car and then we also use it while on vacation to tote all the things for the beach and pool.
3. These extra large toilet seat covers cover nearly the entire toilet surface and are coated on the underside to avoid leak through from yucky rest stop toilets!
4.I always bring disposable placemats for the kids when we travel. I don’t like creating waste so I love that these are biodegradable!
5. Now that Lilly is potty trained we are entering new road trip territory. This Potette potty seat is a life saver to keep in the car, not just for road trips but all the time. It can be used alone as a potty (with the liners) or on a large toilet as a training seat. Another plus- the liners are biodegradable!
6. Yes, a wine tote/cooler! No, I don’t carry wine on the road, but this tall cooler is a great space saver. Instead of a typical short wide cooler that gets buried under other items, a taller cooler remains easily accessible without taking up much horizontal floor or tote space. We use ours all.the.time. (And it’s great for toting wine too, of course).
7. Safety/ harness backpacks are a little controversial, but we are going to be utilizing this one for Cole this trip. While he will stay in the stroller if need be, there are certain crowded places I would like to let him explore but remain safe (for example, the aquarium). My view is that it doesn’t hurt but it could help, so why not. It also helps when the kids can carry some of their own items and this cute Dino backpack is insulated as well.
8. This high chair harness turns any chair into a high chair. It’s easy to fold up and carry everywhere to keep the littles safely seated.
9. Disinfecting Wipes!!! These use the power of peroxide and they kill Norovirus aka, the stomach bug (not all disinfecting wipes do!). Enough said.
I use these when we are at hotels and rental homes to wipe down all of the germy surfaces (phones, remotes, bathrooms etc.) and I also carry some in my purse to wipe down shopping carts.
10. This tablet case has served us well for 2+ years. A tablet is essential for road trip success and this case is easy for the kids to carry and the handle also folds to stand.
11. Lilly has been using these kid’s headphones for two years as well. They adjust to fit and they are volume limiting.
12. I love these hand sanitizing wipes and have been using them for years. We always take them when we travel because they eliminate the need to wipe down little hands after a spray sanitizer.
13. A mini crib/pack and play mattress topper is not really for the road trip but rather, when we arrive. Cole is a great sleeper but when we are away from home he doesn’t sleep well at all. I did a lot of research and read a lot of comments from parents with the same issue stating that mattress toppers for travel cribs had solved their sleep issues. Travel cribs don’t have the most comfortable mattress pads so I am hoping this memory foam topper works for us this trip! This particular topper is sized for a “mini crib” and states it will not work for the pack and play, but this one does fit my pack and play model so just be aware of measurements and if this one doesn’t fit, there is another version that should.
I’ll be showing these items on my Instagram Stories, so if you want an up close look at anything, be sure to head over to my Instagram feed.
I’ll also be following up with a post about how we entertain the kids and keep everyone happy on the 12 hour ride, so stay tuned!
Happy travels!
Surprisingly, all of our trips have been successful and I believe with a lot of planning and the right gear, there is no reason to fear going on road trips with toddlers! Below are some of our tried and true must haves as well as some new gear we are incorporating this year since the kids are slightly older (one potty trained and no more bottles!!)
1. A travel lap tray is a new addition to our gear this year. Lilly will use this to house her tablet and other activities. I like that a tray will keep activities and snacks in place and off the floor.
2. A large, structured tote is everything when traveling in the car! We keep food, extra clothes, and a cooler organized in this tote and it’s the perfect size to place on the car floor. This tote has a wired top which keeps it open and accessible. It’s also a versatile item; we use it in the car and then we also use it while on vacation to tote all the things for the beach and pool.
3. These extra large toilet seat covers cover nearly the entire toilet surface and are coated on the underside to avoid leak through from yucky rest stop toilets!
4.I always bring disposable placemats for the kids when we travel. I don’t like creating waste so I love that these are biodegradable!
5. Now that Lilly is potty trained we are entering new road trip territory. This Potette potty seat is a life saver to keep in the car, not just for road trips but all the time. It can be used alone as a potty (with the liners) or on a large toilet as a training seat. Another plus- the liners are biodegradable!
6. Yes, a wine tote/cooler! No, I don’t carry wine on the road, but this tall cooler is a great space saver. Instead of a typical short wide cooler that gets buried under other items, a taller cooler remains easily accessible without taking up much horizontal floor or tote space. We use ours all.the.time. (And it’s great for toting wine too, of course).
7. Safety/ harness backpacks are a little controversial, but we are going to be utilizing this one for Cole this trip. While he will stay in the stroller if need be, there are certain crowded places I would like to let him explore but remain safe (for example, the aquarium). My view is that it doesn’t hurt but it could help, so why not. It also helps when the kids can carry some of their own items and this cute Dino backpack is insulated as well.
8. This high chair harness turns any chair into a high chair. It’s easy to fold up and carry everywhere to keep the littles safely seated.
9. Disinfecting Wipes!!! These use the power of peroxide and they kill Norovirus aka, the stomach bug (not all disinfecting wipes do!). Enough said.
I use these when we are at hotels and rental homes to wipe down all of the germy surfaces (phones, remotes, bathrooms etc.) and I also carry some in my purse to wipe down shopping carts.
10. This tablet case has served us well for 2+ years. A tablet is essential for road trip success and this case is easy for the kids to carry and the handle also folds to stand.
11. Lilly has been using these kid’s headphones for two years as well. They adjust to fit and they are volume limiting.
12. I love these hand sanitizing wipes and have been using them for years. We always take them when we travel because they eliminate the need to wipe down little hands after a spray sanitizer.
13. A mini crib/pack and play mattress topper is not really for the road trip but rather, when we arrive. Cole is a great sleeper but when we are away from home he doesn’t sleep well at all. I did a lot of research and read a lot of comments from parents with the same issue stating that mattress toppers for travel cribs had solved their sleep issues. Travel cribs don’t have the most comfortable mattress pads so I am hoping this memory foam topper works for us this trip! This particular topper is sized for a “mini crib” and states it will not work for the pack and play, but this one does fit my pack and play model so just be aware of measurements and if this one doesn’t fit, there is another version that should.
I’ll be showing these items on my Instagram Stories, so if you want an up close look at anything, be sure to head over to my Instagram feed.
I’ll also be following up with a post about how we entertain the kids and keep everyone happy on the 12 hour ride, so stay tuned!
Happy travels!