6 Tips for Surviving a Road Trip with a Toddler for a Military Move
by PCSgrades Staff - July 12th, 2022
A road trip with a toddler is never easy--especially when it's part of a military PCS move, and you're already exhausted from preparing to move everything in your house! Military families often discover that they have to drive cross-country, with a toddler, to relocate to their new duty station.
Whether you are making a PCS move as a family, traveling solo without your service member, or making a long drive home to visit family, follow these tips for a successful road trip with a toddler.
Take your time when traveling with kids
Why set an unrealistic, ambitious travel schedule which will stress the entire family? You know your own child. If they do well riding in a car for a good stretch, then, by all means, drive as far and as long as you can.
But if you know your kids start to get antsy and pick fights with each other after two to three hours, schedule regular breaks. Get everyone out of the car to stretch their legs and use the restroom. Provide a surprise snack or activity.
My kids loved bubbles when they were toddlers, so we often took ten minutes for bubble play at the rest stop. You can keep a good pace by trading spots as one parent plays bubbles while the other uses the restroom. If you can take your time, do it. Chances are your household goods will not arrive on time anyway!
Be flexible with your military kids
Many military spouses are planners. We map out our trip; plan stops, meals, and overnight accommodations. And then Murphy arrives! You blow a tire. The interstate jams. You drive directly into bad weather. Your toddler in diapers has a blowout. It happens. Hopefully not all in the same trip! (And problems are less likely if you take the time to prepare your car for a PCS roadtrip.)
Be flexible and try to take it all in stride. I know it’s easier said than done, especially after the stress of having your life packed into boxes. But the little ones will take their cues from you and if you lose it, so will they. When problems make further travel impossible, take a deep breath, throw the plan away, and head for the nearest hotel to stop for the night.
Turn your PCS trip into a vacation
An itchy toddler can make a long trip pure hell for everyone in the car. With a little prior planning, you can avoid suffering through a toddler in a car seat with too much energy. Find all those places along your route where your military kids can get out and really play.
Many restaurants have playgrounds or a game area for kids. Parks and playgrounds are great places to let kids burn energy. When stopping overnight, book a hotel with an indoor swimming pool. If you really have time to spare, plan a side trip to the local zoo or children’s museum.
When planning your route, try to arrange an overnight stop with friends or family along your route. Having other kids to play with for a brief bit helps relieve the tension which can build between siblings on a long road trip. It’s also nice to stay in someone’s home rather than a hotel room, and cheaper too!
Another creative way to save money is by turning your PCS move into a camping trip! But... practice camping with your toddler before making these plans!
Celebrate Christmas in July!
Ok, maybe not Christmas and perhaps it’s still June, but you get the idea. Stock up on small, inexpensive toys which you can bring out to distract a bored toddler. If you are traveling by plane, small hand-held gadgets are easy to carry on as are DVD players with their favorite movie.
Car rides are easier because you actually have room to play board games while on the road with slightly older kids. I usually pick up a few games at the local consignment store before we PCS. A new game can hold their attention for quite a while. I Spy and other seeking games such as finding license plates from all fifty states or naming the artist for songs on the radio are great for older kids. Picture books can keep the attention of a toddler for long periods in a car seat. A new-to-them doll or stuffed animal can also help the time pass.
Divvy out toys and snacks one at a time to keep the surprises coming! Celebrate every time you cross a state border, or use them as bribes in between naps.
On a road trip with a toddler, avoid late naps
Yes, when the little ones drift off to sleep, it is nice! What parent doesn’t love a few quiet, peaceful hours on the road? To not have to hear “Are we there yet?” for the hundredth time is a small victory.
But beware! Too much napping could result in an energetic toddler at the exact wrong moment! You’ve just checked into the hotel after a full day of driving, and all you and your spouse want to do is relax and get a little shut-eye. And lo and behold, you have an energetic toddler ready to go! Nooo!
Space out those naps in the car and have a cutoff time where, from that point on, you keep the kids awake. It is definitely more work, keeping kids busy while they are strapped into a car seat. But later in the day, when all you want to do is relax rather than entertain, it will be worth it.
Don't be so hard on yourself or your spouse
My husband and I never bicker as much as we do when we are trapped with the kids on a long car ride. So take a breath, count to ten, do whatever it takes to avoid a parental meltdown when traveling with a toddler.
A road trip following the often painful, stressful PCS process can just amplify emotions both for the adults and the kids. Toddlers stuck in a car seat for hours on end will probably be cranky. Resign yourself to the fact that there will be a few tears and some whining on a long trip. It may not be just the littles who experience a tantrum. Military spouses having to recreate family life in a strange, unknown location have shed a few tears on the road.
Military life is full of ups and downs. No matter how well you plan, there will be hurdles to get through, sometimes with everyone on edge. A road trip with a toddler is ambitious to say the least. Take a breath. Allow for extra time. Be willing to ditch your carefully made plans. New adventures await! After a good night’s sleep, everyone starts fresh and tomorrow is indeed another, brand new day.
