As the weather gets warmer, it’s time to start planning the next family road trip. We have discussed several times that it is important to have your car checked before heading out on the road to lessen the chance of having a serious breakdown which can put a damper on the trip.
If you have young kids, there are several things you need to get to make the trip more comfortable for them and even make the trip safer for you and your family.
Car Seats
You should already have age and size-appropriate car seats if you have young kids. It is always a good idea to check the car seat to ensure it is not damaged and securely fastened with the seat belts and attached to the anchor behind the seat itself.
Additional Rear View Mirror
Kids can be a distraction, and anything that causes you to take your eyes off the road is a potential hazard. Circumstances on the road can change within 3 seconds, so even glancing away from the road can be dangerous. Turning around to check your kids in the backseat can lead to a serious accident.
You can buy an additional mirror that attaches to your sun visor or attaches with a suction cup to the windshield. This mirror could be pointed to the backseat so you can quickly check on the kids while keeping your eyes forward and on the road. If you are more into a tech solution, you can get a camera mounted in the back seat with the monitor mounted on the dashboard.
Even checking mirrors or monitors can be distracting and cause you to take your eyes off the road. However, an additional mirror or camera can help by not forcing you to turn around physically. Caution is still strongly advised.
Side Window Shades
If your rear side windows do not have tints, the sun can be a significant problem for kids in the back seat. An easy way to avoid any issues is with a side window shade. These are not new accessories, but if you have young children, you might not have needed these shades in the past. If you are going on a road trip where you could be driving for hours at a time, a sun shade will avoid the discomfort of the sun potentially shining directly into your kid's eyes.
Back Seat Organizer
If you have younger kids, no planning or organizing will stop them from dropping something on the floor out of reach of their little arms. While you may be unable to prevent any issues, having a backseat car organizer will definitely help. These organizers attach to the back of the front seat so even kids in a forward-facing car seat can reach whatever they want when they want it. Once they take their toys out of the organizer, we can’t guarantee they won’t eventually wind up on the floor, but without the organizer, it is essentially guaranteed that you will be pulling over to retrieve their favorite toy from under the front seat.
For older kids, a center seat organizer might fit more stuff, including snacks, bottles of water, and more activities for them to access throughout the trip.
For younger kids who cannot reach either of those organizers, another option is a lap tray with room for a water bottle, tablet, snacks, crayons, or other smaller toys. These trays still stay in place in the case of a fender bender and keep the child safe.
A road trip is truly an All-American type of vacation. If you are going to hit the road this spring or summer, make sure you are ready for the trip, not only by checking your tires and brakes but by ensuring your kids will handle the long trip comfortably so you can keep your attention focused on the road.
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