Traveling anywhere with a toddler is always an adventure. Here are some items that might prove useful when traveling with a toddler, especially if you're heading out alone.
1. Bag of Animal Crackers
Take a simple Ziploc back full of animal crackers. If the plastic Ziploc causes you concern find a small plastic cup. Other things like the fish crackers, or granola bars work just as well.
2. Child scissors
If you carry scissor as part of a pocket knife, or fingernail clippers, or even pocket knife with just a blade, you are pretty much prepared for this one. You'll want to be able to cut the straw down to a shorter size to make it easier to handle with the smaller cups that come with your child's drinks. Watching a child drink from a straw that is too long makes the need for this one obvious. You can often avoid picking up and holding the drink if the straw is shorter.
3. Handkerchief or Receiving blanket
This is true for toddlers as even more true for even younger children. You n eed something to wipe the noses, clean up the spills, and otherwise wipe away the tears that inevitably come with your adventures with your toddler.
4. Tiny flashlight
This can be a small flashlight or even a pen light. It is useful for entertainment for your toddler as well has helpful in finding what ever object has been dropped behind or under the back seat of the car.
5. 2 pieces of hard candy
Some might consider this cheating. But if it works, then dad should use it. Two pieces of candy come in handy when you want to stop the crying, persuade or bribe your child into doing what daddy wants. Of course you can't give candy to your children all the time, or as often as they would like, but there are moments when you are in a hurry that it works wonders. If you get to the point that your child is asking you for candy all the time, you are definitely doing this too often.
6. Picture of your child
This is as much for bragging rights as serving any useful purpose. Pictures are always good to help strike up a conversation. Just keep in mind that you may have to look at their pictures as well.
7. Moist Towlet (individual wet wipe)
What works best is those individual moist towlets like the ones you get at your BBQ restaurant. While having wet wipes with you is always a must, sometimes you don't have them available and having a single moist towlet tucked away can be a lifesaver. (Especially after you used the candy and now your child is all sticky.)
8. Extra Pair of sun glasses
If you don't want your toddler reaching or wanting to play with your sun glasses, then you need an extra "cheap pair" or sun glasses for your toddler that actually fit them. There is nothing cooler than when your child wants to wear her sun glasses to be like daddy.
9. Camera
Digital or disposable, there are those moments when you are with your children that you wish you had a camera. Not to mention, if you ever are in a car accident, or witness one, a camera can be really important to have then as well.
10. Extra Emergency Diaper Bag
Take a gym bag and back if full of the same stuff as in the diaper bag. Include the wet wipes, diapers, a change of clothes etc. Keep it in your vehicle. If you have more than one vehicle, make one for each vehicle. When you forget the diaper bag or run out of something, you will be the hero for having thought ahead. If you are alone with the children and realize you don't have the diaper bag, you will be thankful for the emergency diaper bag.
--------------------------------------------------------------- William E. Petersen is author of the Ezine called DaddyTalk. William is a father of two children, Angelina who is three and Carlos who is one. He lives with his wife and children in San Antonio, Texas.
He can be reached at DaddyTalk@publicist.com---------------------------------------------------------------
Presented in Association with SiteSell and William Petersen.
