The “terrible twos” can make traveling with a two-year-old a challenge. Full of energy, these toddlers are sometimes too young for activities which could entertain and distract slightly older kids. Luckily, we’ve collected plenty of tips and tricks to make traveling with your two-year-old easier and more fun. Try out some of these simple suggestions to improve your travel experience.

Snacks

Make sure to pack plenty of your two-year-old’s favorite snacks, and keep them coming! Fruit, crackers and juice are all easy to pack and don’t necessarily need to be served cold.

Toys Galore

Don’t forget to bring along your child’s favorite toys and books! Doing so will help them feel at home while on the road and will give you and your toddler the opportunity to spend some quiet, relaxed time together. Toys and books are also great for entertaining a fussy toddler. Amazon.com has a good selection of toys perfectly suited to your two-year-old.

Take Lots of Breaks

It’s important to take every opportunity to stretch and to eat. Your two-year-old won’t be able to sit still for long periods of time, so it’s best to take a break every two hours or so. Pull over to have lunch or a snack at a safe location where your toddler can run around and play a bit before you get back on the road.

Sanitizing Hand Wipes

Your two-year-old is likely to be a professional at making messes, so you won’t be able to buy enough of these! They’re great for cleaning up messes on and around your toddler as well as for sanitizing everything their little hands come into contact with.

Break up the Drive with a Fun Stop

In addition to taking lots of eating and stretching breaks, we also suggest that you schedule a fun destination, such as a zoo or aquarium visit, in the middle of your long drive. This idea comes from an article at AllExperts.com, which contains a number of other excellent ideas for traveling with your two-year-old.

Audio Books

Pop in a toddler-friendly audio book every so often to keep your two-year-old smiling. The Little Bear books and virtually any book by Jim Weiss are great selections to entertain you and your child. You can find these types of audio books at your local library, at a bookstore or online.

Invest in a Child-Carrying Backpack and Lightweight Stroller

Depending upon where you go, traveling with your two-year-old could involve some walking. It’s not always convenient to have a stroller, and carrying a two-year-old for more than 30 minutes at a time can be hard on the back. FamilyTravelGuides.com suggests a solution for this problem – a child-carrying backpack. Lightweight and easily packed, a backpack allows your toddler to see everything around her while not having to walk on her own tired legs. A very lightweight stroller is another good option, and one of these can easily be placed in airlines’ overhead compartments or stored as checked baggage.

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