^{Originally posted on BabyCenter.com March 8, 2013}

You know what can be fun? Taking a 10-hour road trip with a toddler.

No, seriously. It can be…as long as you’re prepared.

My wife Sarah and I recently took a vacation that brought us from frigid yet cozy Vermont all the way down to Maryland. Accompanying us was our 21-month old, who is admittedly mild-mannered but even still managed to surprise us with how well he handled both the long drive down and the long drive back. Speaking from experience, here’s some tips to make long trips a breeze.

1) Be prepared. No, it’s not just a scout slogan. Sarah was amazingly well-prepared for this endeavor. We had snacks, toys, books, and more to provide a distraction from the monotony of the road. When one item lost its luster, another one came in to replace it.

2) Leave early. The more daylight you have, the more things your toddler can see. That means more interesting sights and a longer playtime with toys. Don’t assume you can get away with leaving at 4 AM, though. We tried to slip our son out the door and into his car seat without waking him only to have his eyes snap open the instant I buckled him in. Thankfully, he took pity on our failed ninja night strike and chose not to start the morning with high-pitched shrieking.

3) Provide interaction. Sure, it might make you feel a little bit insane to carry on a conversation with the back seat while not receiving any response, but it will help your toddler remember that he hasn’t been forgotten. Ask how he’s doing, sing about bottles of juice on the wall, or debate whether you should take that left turn at Albuquerque. As long as you’re talking, your child will be in a better mood.

4) Play games. Any games that involve interaction and don’t require you to turn around in your seat are good ones. Our son is learning his alphabet, so we called out letters in order and had him yell them back to us. Sure, hearing “A…A…A…B…B…B…C…” for three hours on end gets a little monotonous, but for the first two hours and fifty-nine minutes it’s solid gold.

5) Plan for breaks. When drawing up your travel plans, take breaks at least every couple of hours. Use this time to use the restroom, change diapers, get a bite to eat, and run around and go crazy. The more energy your child expends running laps around a rest stop, the less antsy he’ll get in the back seat.

6) Consider a portable DVD player. Philosophically, I was against a DVD player in the car. I don’t like television, and especially don’t like it when it’s just used as a distraction. However, even I can’t deny its utility in certain situations. We left later than we hoped on our return trip, and when the daylight ran out there was nothing for our son to do in the back seat but cry. The DVD player gave him a chance to relax and still enjoy himself on the trip. But as a driver, make sure you avoid sneaking peaks in the mirror at what’s playing – even if it is the truly awesome Tigger Movie.

7) Avoid hallucinations. When you’ve been driving for eight hours straight and you start imagining that the cars in the passing lane are talking to you, it’s time to get out and take a break. No exceptions.

Finally, be sure to thank your child after it’s all over. After all, he did a lot of the hard work, too. Thank the poor kid profusely, and he might just forgive you.

_{Featured Image: Sarah Brooks}