LiveLoveAndDrive.com

Common phrases heard in the
back seat of a car…
“Are we there yet?!”
“I’m bored!”
“She’s touching me!”
“He won’t stay on his side!”

Road trips - got to love them!  Whether you are driving around Portland/Vancouver or traveling cross country, keeping your children entertained and fed will keep them happy and you sane.  Here are our favorite tips for your next road trip.

• Games like 20 Questions or the License Plate Game (you go through the alphabet shouting out when you see the next letter in someone’s license plate until you get to the letter Z) are free and keep the kids entertained for quite a while.  Also available in stores are small, portable and affordable travel games like Connect Four and Etch-a-Sketch - they are a big hit with kids old enough to play on their own.
  
• Food, always a must! Some great snack ideas include juice boxes, pretzels, crackers, granola bars, apples, grapes and water bottles, all of which are much better than gas station stops stocking up on soda and candy bars.
  
• Cell Phone; for emergencies, vehicle mishaps or if you get a little lost.
  
• Toys; purchase one or two smaller toys for your kids - don’t tell them about it!  Nothing will keep them entertained and happy like a new toy to discover and enjoy.
  
• Maps are never a bad thing to keep in the glove box. Why does it seem when you have it, you never need it - but that time you don’t have it you suddenly feel like Dorothy and Kansas is nowhere in sight?  Navigation systems are wonderful too - program in your destination before leaving and you will always be able to find your way.
  
• Music or Stories on CD. The kids can sing along or listen along to the music they enjoy. If the Wiggles become too much for the adults, headphones are always a handy alternative! Check out the Honda Odyssey’s DVD rear entertainment system for the ultimate road trip entertainment. (Hey, it wouldn’t be a driving blog if i didn’t mention ANY vehicle!)  Also, consider making your own CD by reading and recording your children’s favorite stories.  Your voice will help sooth and relax small children and entertain the older ones.
  
• Try travel sized items.  Take one bag in the vehicle containing these items so they are at your disposal as needed; baby wipes, hair combs, disposable bibs, sunscreen, first aid kit, tissues, lotion, hand sanitizer and a small first aid kit.
  
• Comfort Items - If your little one has their favorite blanket or stuffed animal, make sure to bring it along. 100 miles from home is the last place you want them to remember they do not have it!  Let them pack their own little bag so they feel part of the travel process and can have a few of their favorite things with them.
  
• Shopping bags are handy for trash; you can easily toss the bag right into a can at the next gas station or rest stop.

kids.audible.com - a fantastic resource for Books on CD
Parenting.com - great travel advice and shopping ideas   

Did you know that over 85% of car seats are installed improperly?  Keep your children safe by making sure that their car seats and boosters are properly installed!We have gathered info to help you know what to pay attention to when installing a child seat, and at the end of this post have added a list of additional resources for you.  The pictures and videos are courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Need a visual demonstration of common mistakes, correct car seat use, and a typical safety inspection?  Watch the videos below on infant & toddler car seats and convertible car seats.

REAR-FACING INFANT SEATS: Use in the back seat from birth to at least 1 year old and at least 20 pounds.

Using the installed car seat. 
- Adjust the harnesses to make them snug.  If there’s a plastic harness clip, keep it at armpit level to hold shoulder straps in place. 
- Be sure you know how the buckle system works.  You can tighten and loosen the straps around your baby with the harness adjustment lever. 
- Don’t allow the straps to get twisted - they should lie flat.
- After you buckle your child in, tug the straps to make sure they’re locked.
- Place rolled-up cloth diapers, blankets, or towels around newborns to keep them snug in the car seat. You can also purchase head, neck, and body supports to secure your baby.
- If your infant’s head flops forward, make the seat more level by wedging a folded towel or other firm support under the front of it.

FORWARD-FACING TODDLER SEATS in the back seat from age 1 and 20 pounds to about age 4 and 40 pounds.

Need more help?  Check out these sites for more information. 
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers more diagrams, videos, car seat recommendations and more.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics has a Car Seat Safety Guide updated for 2008, as well as a checklist to make sure your current car seat is safe.
- Feeling super technical?  SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A.’s website has a TON of details on the technical aspect of car seats and proper installation.