TOP TIPS FOR TRAVELLING WITH THE KIDS THIS SUMMER       like this page ?, tell a friend
                                                                     By Suzi Godson, freelance parenting journalist

Summer is not the best time for keeping kids cooped up in a stuffy car but inevitably it is exactly the time of year when we decide that it would be a great idea to rent a house and drive to Scotland. The following tips will help to make the journey more comfortable for your kids which obviously means less hassle for you.
 

Before you get going

  • If you are getting a toddler out of nappies, this is not the time to leave them off.
  • Dress kids in lightweight clothes and no shoes.
  • Use a shade on the window.
  • Get each child a junior travel pillow.

Kids in the car

  • Small toys can be tied to the back of the headrests of the front seats to keep kids amused.
  • Play toddler tapes and sing nursery rhymes but not too often or you'll go mad!
  • For slightly older children hand out small snacks, a couple of grapes at a time or a ginger biscuit. If you give them something larger, ie; a whole muffin, you are guaranteed to find it down the back of the seat a year later.
  • Make time to play a quiz. I pretend to be Chris Tarrant and I always have to say 'is that your final answer'. I ask general knowledge questions - capital cities, spellings, maths, name that tune etc.

When to stop

  • If your children are fighting it has probably been too long since you stopped.
  • A 20-minute break for every two hours on the road is about right with little ones.
  • If you suspect car sickness or someone needs the toilet, just stop. Many roadside restaurants like Little Chef have toilet facilities that you can use.It may be inconvenient but cleaning up and driving with the awful smell is worse!

Where to stop

  • Make regular stops at venues and make kids run around to burn off some energy.
  • Consider stopping at Little Chef, who won the 'Most Parent Friendly Roadside Restaurant Award' in the 2001 Tommy's Campaign Parent Friendly Awards. They have over 400 restaurant sites throughout the UK so you'll never be far away from a convenient family stop-off point.
  • Many restaurants will heat up baby milk and purees but Little Chef now offers free Baby Organix baby food to all babies dining with their parents. The menu is for babies from 4months+ and comes served in Tommee Tippee bowls with weaning spoons and disposable bibs.
  • Also aim to stop at places that are geared up for children. Again, Little Chef offers a wide-range of family facilities from high chairs and baby changing, to dedicated kids menus with a choice of six main meals and a free toy.

If you have a child who gets car sick

  • Make sure they are raised up in an approved car or booster seat so that they can see the horizon through the windscreen.
  • Never ever let them read in the car and keep the windows open if possible.
  • Give them ginger biscuits to eat before setting out as ginger prevents nausea.
  • Stop frequently at roadside restaurants and get them to run around and get some fresh air.
  • If your child feels carsick, stop the car and get them to lie down and take deep breaths until the feeling passes.
  • Keep some plastic bags and wet wipes handy in case of emergency!

Safety First

  • According to the 'Which' car guide, 9000 children under the age of 11 are killed or injured in cars every year.
  • Seatbelts are a legal requirement for anyone travelling in a car and, by law, children under the age of 14 have to sit in the back of the car.
  • In the event that one of your children should get separated from you, be sure you have written your name and phone number on each of your children's hands in biro.
  • Tell your children that if they get lost they should approach a female member of staff.