As I mentioned in my last post, D is working away from home during the week for the next four weeks. So the little guy and I packed up and hit the road to go visit D for a couple of days. All I needed was my trusty laptop so I could work while the little guy napped. The Internet connection was a little spotty, but it worked well enough.
This mini road trip has helped me learn some lessons about traveling with a toddler, which will hopefully help our next family vacation:
1. The suite life. A simple one-room hotel doesn't really cut it once you have a toddler. Even though it costs more, we will be reserving a suite on our next trip. The little guy won't go to sleep in a hotel room unless it is absolutely quiet, as dark as possible and he either can't see us or thinks we're asleep. Being able to put the little guy to sleep in a separate room means I don't have to sit on the floor in a dark corner just to be able to check my email during naptime.
2. Play day. Finding the best playground in the area before you go can be a lifesaver on a day when the weather is nice and you don't necessarily have anything planned. A friend who lives near where D is working right now recommended a fantastic playground (pictured above) and the little guy spent two very happy mornings playing there. Plus, it's free!
3. NAPS. Maintain your toddler's normal nap schedule as much as humanly possible. The little guy got preoccupied playing in the car on the way to the hotel, so he didn't sleep long enough (I planned our departure to be around his naptime). That lead to tears that evening and a wonky sleep schedule the next day. Trying to get a 2-year-old to sleep in a new place is hard enough--don't add overtired to the mix if you can avoid it.
4. Video games have their place. I'm not a big fan of kids playing video games in general, but sometimes they can be a lifesaver. The little guy's Vtech MobiGo made for a very pleasant car trip (although I had to take it away from him so he would sleep) and my iPhone kept him occupied while trying to find my way through a new city. However, beware of letting a toddler play with your cell phone when you can't see what he's doing. My little guy set a password on my phone on this trip and the only way to get rid of it was to restore my iPhone to factory settings.
5. Have toys, will travel. Bring whatever toy or toys your toddler currently loves to play with for the most amount of time. No matter how big or awkward--unless it won't fit in your car (or a suitcase, if you're flying)--bring it. You can't be on the go for every waking moment during a vacation, so odds are you'll spend at least a little time hanging out in the hotel. Unless you want your toddler climbing into closets, opening and closing the room fridge dozens of times, pushing all the buttons on the hotel phone, and flipping all the light switches off and on (because it's all NEW), pack a bag with just toys. The little guy's big bag of Mega Bloks gave me the longest moment of peace I had the whole trip.
Now I'm just hoping we can put these lessons to use in the somewhat near future.
