The right gear: must-haves for long car rides with children

Clothes, toys, toothbrush, cuddly toy – the checklist for the Traveling with a child is long. And you know it from experience: every outing or vacation by car with a child should be well prepared! When Packing for a car ride you are more flexible regarding weight and number of bags than on a plane or train journey. Still, there are things you shouldn't forget when driving to your vacation or on an outing.

Besides a selection of fun car games for the children's entertainment in the car are indeed useful travel aids indispensable for your relaxed trip. Most importantly: a car organizer bag, which can be attached to the back of the front seat and offers enough space for travel games, children's books, art supplies, snacks & co. A car organizer bag ensures that your rear seat doesn't turn into chaos and that your little passengers can help themselves can. In addition, a lap tray for kids especially practical. When placed on the lap, it instantly becomes the kids' table for the car – perfect for countless rounds of 'city-country-river' and creative coloring sessions!

What you need when driving with children

We've put together for you a overview with all the other handy travel aids. That way even the longest stretch stays relaxed and the time flies by!

• child car seat

• sunshade for the window

• neck pillow, sleeping pillow, sleep/cuddle roll, optional blanket(s)

• seatbelt pad

• portable craft bag

• tablet holder

• kids' travel tableware (like cups, plates, or lunch boxes)

• music, audio plays & audiobooks

• headphones

• children's activities in the car, e.g., small entertaining travel games

• cool bag for food & drinks

Are you looking for a practical packing list for a car trip with children that you can print out and check off? In our magazine you'll find a detailed packing list on this topic!

Food for long car trips with children

Not only for luggage and travel items, but also for food and drinks for the car journey, good planning is essential. Healthy snacks and unsweetened drinks are part of a relaxed car trip. Just like the cooler where all food and drinks stay fresh and cool. Save yourselves the search for snacks at highway service areas! They are usually more expensive, greasier and higher in sugar than the healthy, light alternatives that you can prepare at home can. We recommend you bring travel provisions including:

• Fruit – from apple slices to mandarin segments to grapes

• Vegetables – bite-sized pieces of bell pepper, cucumber and carrot

• Sandwiches with whole-grain bread, for example topped with cheese and tomatoes

• Nuts for a little snack in between

Your travel provisions can easily be transported in lunchboxes and water bottles. These are perfect for a small picnic, for example during a break at a rest stop. You can enjoy your snacks in peace, recharge your energy and get some fresh air. In our shop you will find for your trip shatterproof children's tableware with great designs – from dinos to forest animals to firefighters or the fairy-tale world.

Safety for children when driving

As you know, safety is the top priority on the road. Besides fun car games and lots of fun, you should make sure that your little ones are always properly buckled up and properly positioned in their car seat are. Note the following safety details when driving with children:

• The belt should snug above the shoulders of your child and straight over the stomach to the buckle

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• A seatbelt must never sit below the arms sit, otherwise your child is not properly protected and can even be seriously injured in the event of an accident.

• It's best to check from time to time during the trip whether everything is still positioned correctly. Attention: in winter this is especially important for young children: Winter jackets are taboo – because thick clothing prevents the straps from sitting tightly enough, even if it feels that way. In an accident this can be very dangerous. So on long car rides to vacation, it's better to take your child's jacket off and use a blanket to keep them warm.

• Also, it is very important that you safety instructions for your car seat read carefully. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and information regarding size, age, and maximum weight.

Car sickness when driving with children? Here's what you can do!

Some children get sick when riding in a car and feel unwell or even need to vomit. This often happens when you are on hilly, winding roads while traveling. The reason is usually the excessive stimulation of the vestibular system in your children's ears. Adults can suppress this feeling better than little ones.

But what can you do against travel sickness in your children do? Try the following tips:

• light food before and during the drive

• frequent fresh-air breaks and regular ventilation in the car

• seat your child in the middle seat; they can look ahead through the windshield more easily

• keep their gaze on the center line; this helps the eyes make sense of the car's movements

• ginger lozenges to suck on in between

• lower side-window shades as protection against sensory overload before nausea starts

Keep a close eye on your little passengers who are prone to travel sickness during the ride. If they become quiet and a bit pale in the face, caution is advised. Frequent yawning is also a sign. It's best to take a break right away and get some fresh air. For emergencies, it's worth having sick bags and anti-nausea medication in the travel medicine kit for children to take with you.

5 tips for long car trips with children

You are currently immersed in the planning of a long car trip with children and looking for ideas to make the journey as pleasant as possible? These 5 tips will help you:

1. Take plenty of breaks along the way! Even if you might reach your destination faster with fewer stops, the break time well spent. If your, they burn more energy and won't get restless as quickly in the car.

2. Set milestones along the route! Divide your whole route into smaller stages and consider, which sights are interesting for your children are. The Breaking the journey into smaller segments gives your kids the feeling that time passes faster! Extra tip: Write the individual milestones on a long piece of tape and stick it to the ceiling of the car. Attach some Velcro to a small toy car and place it in front of the first milestone. During the trip the car can be moved along the route.

3. Pack a surprise bag! Small travel games and healthy snacks hidden in a paper bag work wonders. For the winners of a round of games or as a mid-trip reward – a lovely surprise will immediately lift your children's mood!

4. Start late in the evening or at night! A long car trip with children at night often goes very smoothly because your little ones are still tired and sleep a lot. Especially for long trips over 7 to 8 hours it's worth, making use of the little ones' bedtime and racking up the miles in the dark. With neck pillows and cozy blankets, they'll nap away on the back seat!

5. Dress your kids in comfortable clothing! In loose sportswear like sweatpants or even in pajamas they'll feel much more comfortable right away. Breathable fabrics and soft materials like cotton ensure it's neither too warm nor too cold.