A friend asked on Facebook today. “What are your top tips for travelling with a toddler?” So I thought I’d share some of my tips.
While I don’t profess to be any kind of expert, I’ve lived remote for most of my adult life and what I do now with the kids is coming from experience, trial and error. Living remote means long kilometres to get to anywhere. I used to travel a 10hour round trip just to do my groceries and more often than not this was done in 1 Day with 2 kids under 2 in tow. Living in Alice Springs we are fairly spoilt because Woolworths is only 3 minutes from the house.
# 1 Snacks and Drinks.
Invest in a good car fridge. Honestly you won’t regret it. 
I find when we travel we tend to eat junk, so this suits us a little better. This is also helpful when the kids get hungry or thirsty and your not near a roadhouse. I pack dry food in a picnic basket.
While we do buy a lot of our own food before we travel. We do also but things along the way even if it is just something small like gum or coffee ESPECIALLY if we use the restrooms.
BONUS Travel courtesy tip! Always buy something if you use the facilities. It costs money to clean and maintain these toilets, so support the businesses who provide them.
#2 Entertainment
It’s nothing for us to be in the bus for up to 12 hours at a time. So keeping them occupied is really important. When we bought the bus Darcy installed a caravan tv, plugged in an infrared transmitter and we bought infrared headphones so they could watch movies without us having to listen.
Prior to 3plus5 I had a dual screen set up that strapped to front headrests in the Nissan and it ran off the cigarette lighter. It also didn’t have headphones so I listened to Luna Jim on repeat the whole way from Jamestown SA to Canberra NSW.
They all also have their own backpacks with colouring in books, reading books and little games.
#3 Comfort
If kids aren’t comfortable they will complain. Pillows, aircon, blankets or heating. 
Being comfortable may also encourage naps. I was always told as a kid if you sleep the trip will go quicker. Even now if I’m in the passenger seat I’m asleep in 10 minutes.
HAPPY TRAVELS and share any tips you may have below.
Bec
3Plus5 