Summer Trippin’

07/20/2017

It’s almost summer vacation and many families will be hitting the road on annual treks to cottages, beaches, and to visit family. Travelling with little ones is so tough, there’s just so much to remember and so much to prepare. On our most recent trip, we packed the van to the brim – we were only going for two nights but the amount of survival gear loaded into our vehicle would have anyone guessing we were leaving for at least a week.

Now this summer we plan on doing a few more trips – up to the cottage, camping, and some beach days – and we need a survival plan.

1. Sleep: This is for sure the number one issue when it comes to travelling with little kids. My four-year-old sleeps fine pretty much anywhere but the toddler is not so easy. He refuses to stay asleep in the pack and play and thinks sleeping with us is a party. So really no advice – just prepare to be tired.
2. Snacks: Bring plenty.
3. Fun Distractions: We drove a total of 13 hours in a three-day span. It wasn’t pretty. But with the help of our van’s DVD player, a ton of books, and Happy Meal toys we managed to escape with most of our sanity intact.
4. The Kitchen Sink: Pack everything. Even if it sits unused, it’s still there. Bring more clothes than needed, more food, more everything. (Maybe don’t actually bring the kitchen sink).
5. Fun: The more fun the kids have, the better they’ll sleep. We were lucky in that we had friends and cousins to play with, a beach to swim in, and a backyard to run around in. The whole point of vacationing is fun, so try to have some!

It’s not always a vacation when you bring along the kids, but with planning and forethought a trip with kids can be great! Just be prepared and keep expectations low!