Road Trip Prep with 4 Kids, 6 and Under
Our family has been adjusting to life with four kids - we now have a 6-year-old, 4-year-old, 2-year-old, and a newborn. Although I absolutely loved soaking in the newborn bubble phase of life, we were itching to have a little get away during our older kids fall break from school. Because our baby girl was still so little, we opted for an 3.5 hour roadtrip from Atlanta to Gatlinburg.
Taking a road trip with four little kids can be exciting and an easier alternative to a long flight, but with the amount of kids, strategy is key. From organizing the car to planning breaks - the more you plan out in advance, the smoother it will go. The key is organizing the car, strategizing snack prep, addressing unique needs for each child, and managing health and safety concerns, especially for babies and those prone to motion sickness.
Prepare for the Trip
Make a thorough packing list divided by family member, including clothing, toiletries, entertainment, and medicine.
Plan your route and pre-schedule stops to meet health guidelines for breaks (i.e., a one-month-old baby should sit in a car seat for no longer than 2 hours without a break), breastfeeding/bottle feeding breaks (every 3 hours), diaper and potty needs, and movement.
Discuss the trip with your kids. Let older children help plan a playlist, games, or what to pack. Involving them helps build enthusiasm.
Car Organization
Boosters and Car Seats: We recently became a Kia family, as we purchased the Carnival. It is a rebranded MiniVan, and although I was highly resistant to ever driving a minivan, it has enhanced my day to day life significantly. There is space for 2 carseats in the second row for the younger kids and 2 boosters in the third row for the older kids. Our older kids press the button on the sliding door and come in and out easily, walking through the captain seat and buckling themselves in their boosters in the back. That means there are only 2 kids I need to personally assist in getting seated, which feels like a win! Before the roadtrip, I made sure each booster and carseat was properly installed.
Behind the Seat Organizers: For the older two kids in the back and our toddler in the second row, I ordered these backseat organizers. I placed each of their Amazon Tablets in the top pocket, their YOTO Readers and cards, as well as their water bottle, a new sticker book, a small toy, a few healthy snacks, vomit bags (my kids get motion sickness) and tissues. The kids were SO excited as they looked at what they had.
Center Organizers: I used a few center organizers around the car. One was to hold wipes, diapers, vomit bags, garbage bags, paper towels, and hand sanitizer, and another organizer was to hold snacks.
Front Console: We had extra portable chargers for all of our electronics placed in the front.
Kids Comfort: Our kids tend to complain about comfort, so this time I remembered to bring pillows and blankets for each of the older three kids. For our 2-month-old, we also had her carseat newborn insert in the carseat to keep her cozy, along with a light blanket.
Prep Snacks
The biggest pain point of our road trips are the number of times the kids ask for snacks. I tried to place a few snack options in each of their organizers that they can eat. I also kept a bunch of lollipops with me to hand out as bribery to end tantrums.
Kid Entertainment
Hopefully the goodies that you packed in the organizers for your kids should help entertain them. These extra tips can help us as well.
Charge tablets, audio readers, and cameras in advance
Download low-stimulating shows and activities on the tablets in advance
Prepare roadtrip playlist to incorporate everyones favorite songs (so you don’t have to keep manually changing)
Have a few planned games like ‘I Spy’ that the kids can play together
Use the Traveling with Tots Family Conversation Cards to facilitate conversation amongst the family
Nuances for Each Child
It can help to write up a table for each of your kids and write up the important nuances for each kids. This can help map out any stops you need to take during your journey.
Age | Needs | Pro Tips |
|---|---|---|
6 years | Potty breaks and Prone to Vomit | Schedule breaks every 2–3 hours; encourage pre-stop bathroom visits; bring extra clothes |
4 years | Potty breaks and prone to vomit | Schedule breaks every 2–3 hours; encourage pre-stop bathroom visits; bring extra clothes |
2 years | Diaper | Easy access to diapers, wipes, and extra clothes |
Newborn | Diaper changes & feeding | Limit car seat time to 30 mins (first month) then max 2 hours; frequent stops for changes and feeding; Extended time can cause breathing issues |
Motion Sickness Tips
Unfortunately, my kids inherited my motion sickness (which has lasted into adulthood). In general, kids between the ages of two to 12-years-old are most susceptible to motion sickness, especially if one parent experiences it. Triggers can include screens, reading, winding roads, strong smells, heavy meals, or sitting in the back without looking out front.
Tips to Prevent Motion Sickness:
Encourage looking out the window, especially forward
Opt for audio players (i.e. YOTO Reader) or music instead of watching screens or reading
Offer small sips of water, light snacks like crackers, and keep fresh air circulating. Ginger Ale or Sprite usually works to help us
Avoid reading
Provide Dramamine for kids
With careful organization, scheduled breaks, and attention to each child’s unique needs, a road trip with little ones can be enjoyable and safe for the whole family.
