Long road trips with your toddler need not be tiresome affairs. All they require is a bit of foresight, strategic planning, and a healthy dose of good humor to tide you along and keep things fun. Take a look at the below steps to make sure your ride is as smooth and as child/parent-friendly as possible.

Plan your trip ahead of time

Prepare a list of all the things you’re planning on taking with you at least a week before your departure date and work on getting all the items on it ready as soon as you can. You should also have your car checked and call to make sure your road assistance plan is up-to-date in case of car breakdowns en route.

Pack strategically

Categorize your luggage into items that you want to keep close at hand and things that you can pack into the car trunk. Basic items like hats and jackets as well as supplies like sun cream, Fine Baby® wet wipes and plastic garbage bags should be kept in easy reach. You might also want to keep an extra change of clothes ready in case of messy mishaps.

Take standard safety measures

Make sure that your toddler’s car seat is installed properly before you begin your road trip, pack a first aid kit and a phone charger for the car, and get plenty of sleep before your departure time; sleep deprivation can become a hazard as it contributes to unsafe driving.

Take your toddler's sleep schedule into consideration

Preparing to hit the road right before your toddler’s usual bed time is actually a smart move, as your kid will be able to snooze for the initial long hours and give you some peaceful driving time. Another plan is leaving before lunchtime and having your toddler snack in the car and sleep afterwards.

Arrange for frequent rest stops

Expecting young kids to sit quietly for several hours in a single stretch is unrealistic, so plan to pull over every 2-3 hours at rest stops or parks to give yourself and your toddler a chance to stretch your legs and relieve some pent-up physical energy. If it’s too cold for parks, try stopping at malls along the way.

Stack up on drinks and snacks

Kids can get hungry or thirsty long before a rest stop or restaurant is in sight. Pack a bag of goodies for the trip to nip dehydration and hunger related crankiness in the bud. Easy-to-pack snacks include crackers, pretzels, cereal, sandwiches, cookies, apple slices, precut vegetables, string cheese, and sippy cups with juice or water. Try to avoid juice cartons, yogurt and most types of fruits that can make a mess.

Bring along entertainment

Packing toys and entertainment for your toddler is a great way of keeping them occupied during long drives and limiting backseat meltdowns. Things like a bag of plastic animals or cars, dolls or action figures, puzzles, books, crayons and paper, and even story book CDs are great for keeping your toddler engaged for a few hours.

Alternate with your partner between driving and entertainment duties

If you’re travelling with another adult on board, take turns to drive and keep your toddler entertained and fed. Doing so will help both you and your travelling partner stay sane and your little tyke remain in good spirits.

In-house accidents are more likely to form the bulk of the safety threats to your child's wellbeing than outside factors that you cannot control. You can take a proactive role in keeping your child safe by undertaking a few precautionary measures around your home and childproofing your house as much as possible. Keep in mind that the only guarantee you can have of keeping your child safe is constantly supervising it wherever it goes.

How to Begin

Get down on your hands and knees and survey each room from a child's-eye-view. You'll be able to identify potential sources of danger and attractive but risky objects and areas. As your child grows you should repeat this step to determine new sources of danger that he or she might be able to reach.

Strangulation & Choking Threats

• Make sure that your child's toys don't pose a choking hazard.
• Keep small items that your toddler can put in its mouth and possibly choke on them out of reach. This includes beads, paper clips, coins and other items you might find on low tables or in low drawers and cupboards.
• Tie cords of blinds, shades, draperies, and curtains up out of reach, as they could get wrapped around your child's neck while it plays with them or passes under them.
• Use drapery cord shorteners or wind-ups to keep cords out of reach if your toddler's crib or bed is located next to a window.

Safety Gates

• Use safety gates to keep your child out of rooms that contain dangerous objects or areas.
• Place safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs to protect your child from falling.

Securing Windows & Doors

• Apply window stops to prevent windows from being opened more than a few centimeters to protect your child from falling out.
• Consider installing window guards, as window screens alone aren't strong enough to prevent falls.
• Use door stops on doors to keep them from closing on your toddler's small hands and injuring them.
• Never place furniture close to high windows, as your toddler might climb onto windowsills.
• Use doorknob covers to keep children out of rooms that can't be childproofed or contain hazardous objects or areas. Make sure adults can use these easily in case of emergencies.

Miscellaneous

• Never keep a loaded gun in your house. If you must have a gun, store its bullets separately in a different and secure location that your child can't get to.
• Certain dog breeds like Rottweilers, Pit Bulls and German Shepherds are more aggressive than others, and can be the cause of fatal dog bites. Always supervise your child when in the presence of an animal.
• Buy toy chests with very light removable lids or lids that remain attached to the chest to avoid injury to your child.
• Keep visitors' bags, jackets and other items out of your toddler's reach, as visitors might be carrying dangerous medicines or small objects that your child might play with or place in its mouth.
• Never place objects, appliances or knives close to a table's edge; move such items further in towards the middle of the table.

Now that your toddler can sit up well unaided in the bathtub and play on its own, bath time should be a more fun and interactive affair, not to mention a great time for mommy-toddler bonding. Keep things fun by bringing along bath toys for your toddler to play with and adding some bubbles when time allows. Before you start with the water play, however, make sure you read through the below bathroom safety measures to ensure your toddler’s wellbeing when bathing.

Never leave your toddler unattended in the tub

Taking your eyes off your child for even a split second could be potentially dangerous, as you never know when your toddler will attempt to stand up in the slippery tub, fall over and injure itself. Some toddlers will also play with shampoos or bathroom accessories, taking a bite out of the soap bar for example, which can be dangerous. If you need to leave the bathroom for any reason, wrap your toddler in a towel and take it with you. Prepare all the bath items you need before getting your toddler into the tub to avoid having to leave it unattended, and never rely on a young family member to supervise the baby while it is in the tub.

Check the water temperature before placing your toddler in the tub

Make sure the water is lukewarm and safe before letting it touch your child’s sensitive skin, and turn off the tap before you let your toddler into the tub. You never know when the tap’s water temperature will change due to someone else turning on the cold water in another room, potentially filling the tub with hot water.

Do not rely on bath rings or seats to keep your toddler safe

Bath rings and seats are not guaranteed to keep your baby safe in the tub. Make sure you secure bath seats and rings to smooth surfaces, as the suction cups will not stick to textured or uneven surfaces.

Warn your toddler against playing with the water tap

Teach your child to stay away from the water knobs at all costs, as your toddler might turn on the hot water tap and harm itself inadvertently.

Keep electric devices far away from the tub

Make sure that all electric devices in the bathroom are unplugged and out of reach of your toddler, and as far away from water sources or the tub as possible to prevent electrocution.

Only fill the tub with enough water to cover your toddler’s legs while sitting

You won’t need more than this amount to bathe your child. You still have to be extremely careful not to leave your baby unattended, however, as toddlers can drown in as little as a mere inch of water if they fall face-first into the water and can’t manage to get up (which isn’t improbable in a slippery tub).