Travelling with a Toddler

Road trips are fun minus the tiring bit, but travelling with a toddler brings on a new ball game. We have been making few road trips up and down our Malaysian highways with my little tot and with each trip I seem to be packing more and more. Since my little princess is now a toddler and has 3 square meals besides her finger food, I  find myself packing in carrots, pumpkin, broccoli, leafy vegetable, pasta and the list goes on and on besides the basic clothes and milk.


There is a whole box dedicated to her organic produce. It is certainly a feat packing for road trips with a toddler in mind. Below is my checklist for a 4 day 3 nights away from home

Food and Supplements
1. Bread
2. Probiotics
3. Yogurt
4. Cheese
5. Fruits
6. Box Organic vegetables
7. Baby pasta and rice
8. Cereal
9. Puffs and snacks from IHerb

I keep the probiotics and yogurt in my used to be breast milk insulated bag, stashed up with ice packs. This bag must be kept in the car where it can stay cool from the air condition. Yogurt is for breakfast and it saves me time from preparing another set of meal in the morning. 

Medication and First Aid ((just incase we need them)
1. Paracetamol
2. Terumo thermometer
3. Dentinox
4. Iliadin for nasal congestion
5. Smecta for runny stools

Feeding
1. Steriliser 
2. Feeding bottles and teats
3. Milk powder

Others
1. Cloth diapers
2. Disposable diapers
3. Clothes and PJs for 4 days
4. Soothers
5. Bumbo seat (for feeding)
6. Soap nuts
7. A small basket of toys and   books
8. Burts Bee shower Gel and Shampoo



In total there were 25 items on my checklist...pheww  all that into the car with our own luggage and stroller.  Packing it up in the first place is already a challenge.I know some mothers who have double of my list and that is certainly scary.

Travelling with a toddler needs a lot of planning and skills in manoeuvring tasks in a moving car. I get motion sickness when I have to look down and rummage through things when the car is on the go, however I survived this trip having served lunch, breakfast and dinner in the car to her royal highness. 

Tips for mothers who are travelling, do keep a goodie bag of food in the car so your child is entertained besides playing with toys. For this road trip, I prepared a bag of cut apples, baked some cheese muffins (recipe from my bread story board ) and packed in some finger food.  Have too, lots of tissue papers, small hankies and wet tissues near you as it can be get messy when eating is purely for fun. Don't forget plain water, long distance travelling can dehydrate young children easily so do keep the fluids up. For me, my little munchkin always ends up constipated from the excitement,  long hours of travelling and the just the sheer joy of refusing water.


Pit stops are needed so that your little fella gets to air their bum bum, stretch a little, touch some flowers at the R&R areas, wave at strangers, run about and perhaps have a snack or  a change of diaper under a nice shady tree. Mummy and Daddy too can get a run for the toilets. Isn't that just lovely? 

Entertainment is important and crucial for your sanity, so do pack in books and toys, I tried Violet this trip and it seems to work, as my little tot was occupied off and on with this travel companion of hers. Press its paws and Violent responds with a list of songs, nursery rhyme and catchy phrases but most of the time, mummy is the CLOWN. I wish I was the one behind the wheels. 


As you can see, I only had one bag cramped between my legs which carried my important items, even that is shared with some other things not belonging to me.  Motherhood certainly shakes, rocks, turns your world upside down and inside out, but good things never come easy. Raising a child is never easy, I keep telling myself that when things do go downhill at times, looking around I see so many courages mothers raising children and special angels  and I know their shoulders must be heavier. These mothers inspire me and I look to them for strength. I thank god everyday for the blessings he has given us and honestly every night my simple prayer is to thank him for bringing us all back safely  as a family amen!

Reaching your destination brings great relief that you have survived the drive without a melt-down. The next trip I swear, we need to install a bracket so the iPad can be fixed for some in-car entertainment.   To be honest, I was exhausted to the bone but there was still  the unpacking and preparing stock for next day's meals...oh the joys of motherhood.  


Breakfast the next day was splendid. Basking in the morning ray, my little girl had her yogurt and cereal.  I would say if my 15month  old could articulate her thoughts, she would be telling her friends at the nanny what an adventure she had over the week, the driving on long long roads, the yummy yums she had in the car, the extra attention from mummy, the exploring of these strange stop places where people zoom in and out,  not eating in her feeding chair, breaking all table mannerism, exploring a strange kitchen and house, plucking flowers and leaves....if only I could get in her mind and see how happy it is. 

Happy travelling mamas!