Toddler Road Trip Essentials
This post was written in partnership with Walmart, all opinions are my own.
The summer travel season is nearly here, and I’m sure many of you are gearing up to hit the road on a family vacation! Last summer, we ventured out on our family road trip from the Bay Area to Santa Barbara. We made sure to stop and stay at a handful of our favorite coastal locations along the way. With extended road trips and plenty of time in the car, it’s good to be prepared with plenty of snacks, activities, and items for incidentals.
Our own time on the road has helped us prepare for future trips and I hope this list of toddler road trip essentials will also help your family. Believe it or not, some of the most common host-hold items tend to be the most used! Keep reading to learn from our mistakes while also gaining some packing insight for your next summer road trip. Plus! See how you can benefit from a Walmart+ membership.
Toddler Road Trip Must-Haves
If you’ve ever been in the car during an extended drive with a small child or toddler, I’m sure you’ll understand that you can never be too prepared. This is especially the case when it comes to accidents. With younger children, accidents happen quite frequently, including spills, car-induced nausea, or potty accidents. Unfortunately, there isn’t a cure-all for these, but rather a packing list to ease the stress of these situations to keep you and your child comfortable and happy.
First and foremost, always pack a clean set or two of clothing! This means a head-to-toe outfit, socks, pants, t-shirt, underwear, etc. This is weather dependent, and you may find you need more layers depending on the season. DO NOT store this extra outfit tucked into a suitcase! Instead, place these clothes in a ziplock or reusable bag, and keep them somewhere convenient. Then, you can use the bag to store the dirty clothes. (Doggie bags also work great for dirty clothes!) In our case, we like to stash this bag of clothes under the passenger seat. Wherever you decide, make sure it's close and convenient.
First Aid Kit - Include an array of both adult and kid bandages of different sizes. Children’s foaming antiseptic can be used on adults and kids, so there is no need to pack both. I like to keep travel-sized Tylenol, anti-nausea, boogie wipes, and hydrocortisone cream.
Comfort - When it comes to extended time in the car, comfort is key! So besides wearing a cozy outfit, your toddler might also appreciate a small blanket from home, a pillow, and a sunshade for the window.
Stay Charged -iPads and Amazon fire Tablets are great for entertainment, but be sure to pack the necessary charging cords. Packing an external rechargeable battery pack is also a great idea if you need power in a pitch!
Clean up Crew - Accidents often mean clean-up! Because of this, wipes, paper towels, and doggy bags come in handy! Most of these items can also wipe down surfaces or clean hands after snacks or mealtime. You may find that you leave these items in your car even after your road trip has ended!
Potty Breaks - Toddlers are notorious for not going to the bathroom when asked or when it's convenient. Because of this, you may find it beneficial to bring a portable toddler potty and the essentials. Baby wipes are also a great addition that serves more than one purpose. For younger children, pull-ups may be a good idea!
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Toddler Road Trip snacks
Before any big trip, we always pre-plan and pack snacks! Being a Walmart+ member gives you the advantage of placing free same-day delivery orders ($35 order min. Restrictions apply.). This convenient benefit is great when shopping for last-minute snacks and essentials. Our little one is a HUGE snacker, and we know to have snacks on hand at all times - otherwise, we end up with a cranky little one. Road trips are no exception!
Walmart carries a huge assortment of travel-friendly snacks to satisfy every palette. Below are our go-to snacks to have on hand for our toddler that don’t require a cooler.
Individual Squeezable Applesauce
Veggie Straws
Raisins
Fig Bars
Bananas or Clementines
Individual Peanut Butter
Fruit Snacks
Gold Fish
Beef Jerky
Popcorn
TODDLER road trip ACTIVITIes
Suppose you can align your time in the car with nap time. I highly recommend it! Not only will it give you some quiet time, but it will also mean less time shifting through car activities. Most cars are limited in what they can offer. We have a mid-sized SUV and have enough room to bring along a handful of playtime activities but mainly rely on small tangible toys and downloaded TV shows and movies. Combining the two usually buys us time and keeps her occupied during long stretches. If you bring along an iPad, make sure to prep your pad with downloads before getting on the road. A tablet holder for the chair and volume-control headphones are also great!
If your child isn’t good with naps, try creating a schedule or travel game where they can open a new activity each hour. Walmart has a great selection of small toys and games that are great for in the car. Our little one loves surprise toys, trucks, and wipe clean coloring sheets.
Water WOW
Paint by Stickers (older toddler or child)
Reusable Sticker Book
Magnet Games
Fidget Sensory Toy Popit
Window Clings
Crayola Color Wonder
Travel Legos
Quick tips family road trips
Road trips can be stressful for the entire family, especially when packing and preparing to get on the road. Walmart+ offers a ton of great member benefits. Walmart+ members now save up to 10¢ per gallon at Exxon and Mobil gas stations. This is, in addition, to select Walmart and Murphy gas stations* in 48 states across the country! If you find yourself short on time, take advantage of Walmart+ free unlimited grocery delivery from Walmart stores ($35 order min. Restrictions apply.). This is a great way to stock up on snacks and must-have essentials for your family.
*Fuel discount varies by location & station, subject to change.
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