Over Christmas we travelled from Hampshire to Manchester, to North Yorkshire to Cumbria and then home again. A trip we have done many times before. You’d think by now I’d be an expert when it comes to travelling with children. I am not. What I can tell you is what NOT to do when going on a long car journey with three under 5’s.
- Do NOT under any circumstances ‘lose’ one child’s taggie blanket, having to spend three hours being asked for it and then swapping the remaining taggie between two girls so as to alternate the crying is not recommended.
- Do NOT give in to requests for food too soon, a snack shortgage is not a situation you want to be in.
- Do NOT start to open a bag of sweets when you think the children have just fallen asleep. Remember little ears are well tuned into rustling packets, allow at least 15 minutes to ensure they are in a deep sleep.
- Do NOT tell a child who is saying she feels sick, that she will be OK, then turn back around. Pass a bag back immediately and hold in place. You do not want to have to clean two car seats on return.
- Do NOT believe a 3 year old who tells you she does not need the toilet before you get in the car.
- Do NOT pass 3 year old a full open bottle of water and ask her to ‘carefully’ pass back to you.
I of course did not follow my own advice and we had several horrendous journeys.
My absolute TOP TIP is to travel at bed time. When we had three beautiful sleeping children in the back of the car, instead of screaming, crying and shouting horrors we almost didn’t mind the 3 hours of driving down the M6.
and DO take an ipod with in-ear headphones to make your journey more bearable!
I feel your pain – we have done them all! I find that giving milk & cereal before a journey to Scotland will only result in sickness less than 10 miles from home too….dry cereal, toast or biscuits before car journeys from now on!
x
Lololol!
Love this ‘Don’t Do’ list, much more useful x
I have been guilty of all of these! Hilarious! x