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AUTO BILD INDIA's 10 top tips for travelling with children
Whoever said children are God’s angels has probably never travelled with one. All children crave attention from parents or any other adult available. Not to mention they don't like being confi ned in small spaces with little to do. The result? They become veritable chatterboxes with insatiable curiosity. They become fidgety, and if left unrestrained can create enough ruckus to drive the driver mad, and perhaps even the passengers, mad. Children also have to be fed frequently.
As you may have guessed, going on a road trip with children as part of the passenger list can be a trying experience. That, however, does not mean it can't be made enjoyable. The key is to plan well in advance, know the child and organise things that will interest him. Read on to find out how to plan out such a road trip.
An unrestrained child travelling inside a moving vehicle is always a hazard. So it's best to have him restrained. This becomes more important when you're travelling long distances at highway speeds since in a crash the unrestrained child would be thrown violently into the dashboard or the windscreen or into the other passengers, resulting in serious injury.
And holding the child in your lap doesn't count. Even in a case of harsh braking the child's momentum, which is his weight multiplied by the speed of the car, would mean that he would be thrown out of your arms. Besides, a restrained child is less of a distraction for the driver than a child who's jumping around the cabin.
If your child is anything less than adult height we recommend a child safety seat, a variety of which are available for different prices and sizes. The reason is that the car's seatbelt is designed to work on adults, so the cross strap which is supposed to go over the shoulder of an adult, would go over the neck of the child. As a result there would be the risk of strangulation or even snapping the neck.
Giving older children maps with locations to check off as they are reached lets them feel they are helping navigate and keeps them involved.
Although they are likely to keep your child the most satisfied through the journey, resist the temptation to pack in too much junk food like sweets, chips, crispies and fizzy drinks. The chances of the child developing acidity is higher when he's been fed a diet of junk all day.
Encourage children to pack in their favourite games children pack it yourself. An activity bag will they get bored of the passing scenery. In case you're carrying video or music players take the headphones along so as not to distract the driver.
There are certain things you need to carry with you when you're travelling with children. Ensure you have wet wipes, tissues, sufficient water (for drinking and cleaning), juices and light snacks. If your child is very small carry a change of clothes and a towel, in case he throws up or dirties himself. In case you're travelling to the hills or in winters be sure to have a light blanket within easy reach to cover him up.
Check on the kids every once in a while to ensure they are all right. Ask them if they are. For infants, request the other passengers to turn around and check on them once in while to make sure they're ok.
Choosing when to travel can make a big difference to your experience. Travelling through the night or early in the morning means the children are likelier to sleep through most of the journey. However don't try it if you yourself are feeling sleepy. Also, remember that if the child doesn't fall asleep he will become cranky. So calculate your risks and take a call when to travel. If they are asleep start waking them up from a little before reaching the destination.
Children, especially the younger ones, will inevitably dirty the car. Carry a few garbage bags to throw in empty wrappers and bottles. In the process you also teach them not to litter roads.
Carry hard boiled sugar candies, candied ginger, mango or tamarind to help take care of things if your child starts feeling queasy. If he suffers from motion sickness then speak to his paediatrician before travelling and find out what medicines you can give him.
If there is any luggage to be put in the cabin make sure you pack it in before you put the child in. Also ensure that children have enough room to be comfortable on the journey.
