They poke, they complain, they have a strange need to use the restroom every 20 minutes, and they have almost no sense of time and distance — in short, young kids are not always ideal companions on a long car trip. Then again, what fun is a family vacation if you don’t take the family? In minivans and station wagons across the country, parents doing what they can this holiday season to keep everyone safe and sane on the road.
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Safety first
Before you do anything else, make sure your child has the right car seat. All babies should ride in a rear-facing seat until they are at least 2 years old.
After that, they can move to a forward-facing car seat until they outgrow it, usually after they reach 80 pounds.
After that, children should use a tall-back booster seat until they are at least 4 feet 9, tall enough to comfortably and safely wear seat belts.
Double-check the installation instruction for all seats.
Pack a first-aid kit with, among other things, bandages, infant or children’s Tylenol, and an antibiotic ointment.
If your children are prone to motion sickness, ask your pediatrician about the proper dosing for Dramamine.
This over-the-counter medication usually makes kids drowsy, although some get hyperactive instead. You might want to give it a