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Travelling in the car
Travelling in the Car
Short and long car trips can be fun with babies and children as long as you can keep them safe, comfortable, well fed and entertained. Here are a few great tips for when you are in the car.
Safety is first and foremost
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Always have your mobile with you and charged (the best way to keep your phone charged is to buy a car charger for your mobile - they are inexpensive). A mobile is an essential if your car breaks down, especially if you have kids in the car.
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In your "Contacts" in your mobile, save your Roadside Assistance that you belong to (eg. RACQ, NRMA etc) so if you break down and you don't have your membership card with you, you have the number there to call.
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Also in your "Contacts" in your mobile, save your "In Case of Emergency" contacts so Ambulance Services and Police Officers (or any other official) who are at the accident or emergency scene can go straight to your mobile and immediately contact the necessary people. eg: husband's work and mobile, parents, best friend etc. For example, you type in the name as "ICE 1" or "ICE Mum" and then the number for your mum. You should have a few "ICE"s listed in case one of them doesn't answer their phone.
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Also ensure you have other essential numbers in your phone like your children's child care centre, kindy or school, children's doctor, your obstetrician/gyn, poison hotline (131126) and so on.
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Put a Baby on Board sign in your car that notifies officers in an emergency that there is a baby on board! The old fashioned yellow and black signs do not always draw their eye to children on board as there are a lot of other yellow and black signs around now saying other things. The ones that are child focused give them immediate knowledge there are little ones on board.
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Car keys are great entertainment for babies and little ones. Please do not give your child your car keys no matter how tempting it is to do so. They can unknowingly and innocently lock themselves in the car if you shut the door before you realise they still have the keys. Buy them a toy set or give them some old keys that are not "real keys".
Keep them entertained
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Car activities and games for kids are a real winner in the car for their enjoyment and for your sanity. Great activities for the car include colouring in, i-spy, first one to see, counting games, rhyming games and make up a song games. Visit our free kids activity section to download some of these travelling games.
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Another great activity for kids from 3 years in the car is a sticker book - you will not have to worry about toys rolling onto the floor and they will love spending time finding where the stickers go. Buy a new one for a long car trip.
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Car organisers are also great in the car to hold the kids toys, drinks and snacks - have a look at some great car organisers we have found - we use them for our kids and they are fantastic!
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Music is a great tool to use in the car. There are some great CDs for kids featuring nursery rhymes and other kids songs as well as classical music toned for little ears. It’s amazing sometimes the difference it makes to your child’s behaviour by changing the music in the car from your favourite FM station to putting on a classical CD...kids can calm down very quickly.
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Audio CDs books – a fun way for the kids to read, listen and follow a story.
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If you have older kids, give them a map so they can see where they are going and they can follow the way and look out for the next city or town. A portable DVD or CD/MP3/iPod player is also great entertainment for older children.
Make sure they are well fed
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Always pack snacks, water bottles and if applicable, 2-3 baby bottles (with the correct water in each bottle and pre-measured formula in separate containers). You never know how long you can be held up in traffic or delayed at your destination so always take more food or drinks than required. There is an in car bottle warmer available so you can easily feed when on the go.
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If travelling with more than one child, have a snack bag for each (with same contents to avoid fights). Include things like dry fruit, rice crackers, sandwiches, mini muffins and maybe a few small treats. Don't fill them up on too much sugar though as they will then want to run around not sit in a car! There are some great food containers available that keep the contents cold for up to 8 hours - so you can safely take milk and yoghurt on long trips.
Comfortable
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Always keep in the boot of your car - a hat for each child, sunscreen, a few nappies and wipes, a portable potty, nappy sacks, pram/stroller, books/toys/activities, a blanket if it's cold weather, first aid kit (include insect bite relief, burn cream, insect repellant).
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If you are on a long trip, plan to stop every couple of hours for a toilet break, drink, something to eat and depending on the time of day some activity time. You can take a basketball or soccer ball so the kids can have a run around. If your kids get restless in the car and you have a very long drive, travel at night so they sleep in the car.
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If your child is toilet training, you can take a travel potty with you and keep it always in the car, even if your child is well trained. Use a seat protector so if your child wets in the car, their car seat is protected.
New Child Restraint Laws - what has changed?
As a parent it's important to know it's not just infants that need approved child restraints. It's now law for all children up to 7 years of age to be correctly restrained according to their size and age.
As of 11 March 2010, new child restraint laws will come into effect as a part of the Queensland Governments commitment to improving road safety and to bring the state into line with the national road rules.
All children up to seven years of age will need to be secured in an Australian Safety Standard approved child restraint, such as a capsule, child seat or booster seat according to their age and size.
The following provides a guide for parents and carers to selecting a suitable child restraint.
- 0 to 6 months - Less than 8kgs - Rearward facing baby capsule or infant restraint
- 6 months to 1 year - 8 to 12 kgs - Rearward or forward facing infant restraint
- 6 months to 4 years - 8 to 18 kgs - Forward facing child restraint with built in harness
- 4 years to 7 years - 14 to 26 kgs - Booster seat with H-harness* or a booster seat with a secured adult seatbelt
* An H-harness can continue to be used with or without a booster seat for a child up to 32 kgs
Safety Tips
- Babies should change from a rearward to forward facing restraint at approximately 8-12 kgs. This will vary depending on the brand of restraint
- Young children should progress towards the next level of child restraint once their eye level is above the back of their current restraint, or the harness straps are in excess of 25mm below the child's shoulder height.
- Only use restraints which have been approved by Australian Safety Standards
- Check the manufacturer's information and product guidelines on the child restraint to ensure correct usage
- Children can move to an adults seatbelt before 7 years of age if their eye level is above the back of the booster seat
For further information go to www.transport.qld.gov.au/childrestraints or phone 13 23 80.
General Advice Disclaimer - the tips described above are to be used as a general guide only. It does not take into account your special circumstances. Haggus & Stookles Pty Ltd is not liable for any actions taken from our advice or tips.
