5 toddler travel tips: The Short Haul

There are short travels (eg the local shops) and there are long travels (eg long in distance or time). In my experience, parents enjoy any travel that involves happy, contented, engaged children. These are a few things I have learnt to improve The Short Haul.

1. Food - maintain “snack packs”, ready to pop into your bag, buggy or pocket. Any parent will tell you that the tasty biscotti Miss/Master loved last week may well be ignored this week, so an appreciated pack will probably include more than one snack; a couple of biscotti, some pieces of dried fruit, etc. Cut fresh fruit and vegetable snack packs can be kept in the fridge (lemon juice is nature's preserver - no brown bits).
2. Drink - a drink container that does not leak (or the one that leaks the least of your available options, since experience has taught me most of them will leak of their own accord), that is kept clean, full and refrigerated takes only a moment to pick up.
3. Entertainment - leave a book or toy (according to the age and interests of your Miss/Master), in your usual mode(s) of transport (buggy, car or bag). This will save remembering such things, avoid any debate with Miss/Master about which item(s) to bring and should keep the entertainment 'new' and interesting to your Miss/Master. If you are frequently out and calling upon the book or toy, consider keeping two or three items and changing one over every few outings.
4. Mealtime outings - many parents bring electronic entertainment (iPad/smart phone), which do work well, granted. And I would be lying if I said we have not done the same. Having said this, one of my children is young enough that a couple of finger puppets often do the trick. These do not make noise, knock over drinks, are not damaged by mucky fingers and are a lightweight, (very) small, affordable addition to your bag or pocket. For highchair bound children, try a toy that can be attached with ‘loopy links’ to prevent it being dropped or flung away. Burning energy touring the venue inside and out (weather permitting) before and in between courses doesn't go astray either...
5. My outing box - kept in the vicinity of my front door, my outing box saves me precious time gathering everything I need to leave the house with Miss and Master. Contents of the ideal outing box will vary according to your needs. Mine includes muslin cloths, a drawstring bag containing a day's supply of nappies & wipes, a handbag size first aid kit, nappy disposal bags containing full sets of spare clothes, some small & light books/toys and a small box containing cutlery, bibs, calpol, raisins, surface cleaner & a cloth. Before you imagine me filling a suitcase just to "pop to the shops", the outing box is for quick trips and day travels! The one item that ALWAYS accompanies me outside the house is my ‘change kit’ (an appropriated cloth make-up bag). It contains two nappies per child, wipes and hand sanitiser.

What things have you learnt that make family travelling enjoyable? Please use the comments to share... 

Next time: 5 toddler travel tips (The Long Haul)