The holidays mean family, festivities, and… sometimes long trips with little ones! This season, let’s explore some creative, sanity-saving travel tips that go beyond the usual advice. From sticker “passports” to car seat-friendly toys, these ideas can help keep everyone entertained, comfortable, and safe—so you can focus on making memories, not managing mayhem!
1. Create a Travel “Passport” with Stickers
Turn the journey into an adventure by making a “passport” for your child. Each time you pass a new town or landmark, give them a fun sticker to add to their “passport.” This keeps them engaged and helps them understand and anticipate the trip’s progress. Shifting the focus from “Are we there yet?” to “What’s our next stop?” can make all the difference.
How To Do It:
Grab a small, soft-sided notebook from a local dollar store, OR send us a DM us on Instagram or Facebook to receive our printable passport template!
Stock up on stickers they’ll love.
Reward each milestone with a sticker, letting them “stamp” their journey as you go!
2. Use a Visual Map with Sticky Notes to Track Time and Breaks
Managing time can be tricky when little ones are asking, “How much longer?” Try creating a travel timeline using sticky notes! Use one color to represent hours and another to show planned breaks. Each time you reach a milestone, let your child remove a sticky note. This visual approach helps children see time passing and breaks up the journey into fun, manageable sections.
How To Do It:
Use the roof or back of the seat area to display sticky notes within your child’s view.
Remove a sticky note at every hour or major stop. It makes the trip interactive and lets children feel more involved in the journey.
3. Pack a Soft-Sided, Car Seat-Friendly Bag of Toys
Keeping little ones entertained in the car can feel like a balancing act—especially when you’re trying to avoid hard or heavy toys. According to Dr. Baer, board-certified pediatrician, nationally certified CPST instructor, recommends the “ouch test”—if something would hurt when dropped on your head, it’s better left out of the passenger area or packed securely. Here are some car seat-safe entertainment options:
For Babies (0-12 Months)
Simple sensory toys work well at this age, keeping babies entertained without overwhelming them:
Soft Cloth Books or Crinkle Books: Babies love textures and sounds, and crinkle books are both safe and engaging.
Plush Rattles: Soft-sided rattles provide entertainment without the hard edges of traditional rattles.
High-Contrast Fabric Toys: High-contrast toys are particularly appealing for young babies developing their vision.
For Toddlers (1-3 Years)
Toddlers need activities that stimulate their curiosity, but it’s best to avoid toys with small pieces or anything hard.
Velcro Fabric Puzzles: Simple puzzles with big Velcro pieces encourage safe problem-solving.
Pop Tubes: Flexible, accordion-style sensory toys that are fun for little hands.
Plush Animals: Mini plush animals for imaginative play.
Quiet Books: These soft books come with interactive elements like zippers, flaps, and Velcro pieces.
For Older Kids (4-10 Years)
Older kids often crave more complex activities, but soft-sided, reusable items are ideal for travel.
LCD Drawing Boards: Perfect for creativity on the go and easy to erase.
Reusable Sticker Books: Soft sticker books let kids create scenes without loose parts.
Travel-Friendly Felt Boards: Felt boards with different shapes and characters are safe, interactive, and encourage storytelling.
4. Safe Snacking on the Go
Snacking is essential for little travelers on longer trips, but safety is key—especially in the car. Eating in a car seat can pose a choking risk, particularly for babies and toddlers. So whenever possible let’s plan our snacks during our stops. This way everyone can stretch, refresh, and enjoy their snacks safely. If a stop isn’t possible and children over two need a snack on the go, smoother easy-to-swallow options like smoothies, yogurt, or fruit pouches can help reduce choking risks; always supervising when they are eating in a moving vehicle.
*Remember our best-practice rule: no eating in the car for children under 2. Choking can happen in an instant and is often silent—making it difficult to pull over safely and quickly if you’re driving. Seconds matter in an emergency, so let’s avoid this risk entirely. For children over 2, continue to exercise caution by offering only “low-risk” foods in a moving vehicle and supervising closely. Safety first, friends!
5. Pack Two Separate Bags: One for the Car and One for Overnight
For longer trips with an overnight stop, packing two separate bags can be a great way to stay organized. A smaller bag with overnight essentials like pajamas, toothbrushes, and a change of clothes—makes it easy to grab what’s needed without rummaging through all the luggage. The larger bag can hold everything else for the final destination.
Pro Tip: Pack the overnight essentials bag last so it’s easy to access upon arrival at the stop. A simple strategy to make travel more convenient!
6. Simple Safety Tips for the Journey
Car Seat Safety
Ensuring little ones are securely strapped in is key to keeping them safe and comfortable. Harness straps should fit snugly and be at the correct chest position for your child. Bulky winter coats can prevent the harness from fitting properly, so dressing in warm, thin layers (fleece is an excellent option!) and using a blanket over the harness is a cozy and safe choice.
Prepare for Emergencies
An emergency kit can be a lifesaver during road trips. Include first-aid essentials, a flashlight, a fully charged portable phone charger, and any necessary medications. Keeping a list of emergency contacts in the kit is a great idea, too. For more tips on car safety and organization, check out our blog post, Road Trip Ready: Packing the Car Safely and Efficiently for Families.
Be Mindful of Motion Sickness
Some kids may be more sensitive to car travel, so having tools like kid-safe motion sickness bands, medication, and emesis (vomit) bags on hand can make a big difference. Packing wipes and an extra change of clothes ensures you’re prepared for any unexpected messes.
Pro Tip: Pack a few extra reusable/plastic bags for containing soiled clothes and garbage—they can be a lifesaver on long trips!
7. Bonus Sanity Saver: The “Mystery Bag” Trick
For little ones who enjoy surprises, a “mystery bag” can add an exciting element to the journey! Fill a bag with small items tailored to their interests and age like toys, stickers, or snacks (if they’re enjoying them during scheduled breaks). Let them pick something out at set intervals or milestones. It’s a great way to break up the trip and keep the excitement going.
How It Works:
Introduce the mystery bag before the trip and explain how it works—like getting to pick a surprise every hour, at rest stops, or at specific milestones.
Select travel-friendly items based on your child’s age and preferences.
For infants: crinkle blankets, pacifier, a tag blanket, silicone teether or cloth books.
For younger children: a silicone pop-its, a stuffed animal, felt busy boards, pop tubes, bath time books or o-balls.
For older children: reusable sticker books, water wow, small mess free coloring books, sticky feet or squigz.
Speaking of sanity savers, we’re running our Ultimate Baby Gear Giveaway right now! We’ve carefully curated the essentials from some of our favorite brands like Stokke, Clek, 4Moms and Skip Hop, setting up your parenting journey for a safe and comfortable start. Everything from strollers (yes, plural!), infant carseats (again, plural!), a playard, highchair and more ~ valued at $5,488 +tax! Enter for your chance to win today —HERE!
Travel safe this holiday season and stay connected with us here, on our socials and our newsletter for more safety tips, exclusive giveaways, and child safety resources.
Want to learn more practical child safety tips?
Explore our Infant+Child CPR and Choking Classes. They’re designed to equip parents and caregivers with the knowledge and confidence to act quickly and effectively when it matters most. Click here to learn more!