Road trip survival tips

I am by no means a master of 'travel with children', but I have had a little experience of family travel. Here are a few things I have learnt about surviving a road trip with children...

• Breastfeed upon arrival at any stop whether short or long: during a road trip with a weaning breastfed baby I used short stops for breastfeeding followed by baby food in the car after departure.
• Nappy change(s)/bathroom visit as soon as you arrive anywhere; if it is a 'long' stop (eg lunch) then another nappy change/bathroom visit may be in order after you have eaten. This should ensure both you and your Miss(es)/Master(s) are ready to get back on the road as soon as everyone else is.
• Comfort item (blanky, teddy, drink) should always be kept out of sight until you absolutely have no choice but to use it. At this point the item becomes a great comfort (and not just to your Miss/Master).
• Food should be handy, healthy and hearty (if possible). If you refuel location has a less than impressive/healthy menu then your on-board snacks need to work double time. Fresh fruit is great (and has minimal packaging); dried fruit lasts longer (obviously) and can better survive rough handling. Low packaging items such as nuts and berries are healthy and take up less car/rubbish bag space.
• Baby wipes - keep packets in your door and/or seat pockets (yes, all of them)
• Washable bags - keep a stash in your door pockets; used for... rubbish, grotty shoes/clothes, shopping, managing kid-clutter (I prefer nylon for really grotty stuff because it dries quickly, a repurpose yoghurt pot (with lid and handle; empty at every stop) for rubbish, cloth bags for the remainder).
• Baby change kits - keep two at the ready so you can always find at least one. I used a variety of bag types, including a  small drawstring bag (hangs from you or a hook while in use) and large (washable) make-up pencil case type bags; contents: 1x at-least-half-used packet of wipes (lighter, smaller than a full packet), bottom cream (1-hand open), a couple of spare nappies (because they day you don't have 1 to wear plus a spare, you'll tear the nappy or baby will fill it immediately).

And last, although by no means least...

Get your vehicle checked for roadworthiness long enough before you leave to allow time to source and install any necessary parts so as to ensure your vehicle is in road-trip worthy condition. You would not want to end up driving during a rain storm without wipers in an area where it is safer to drive than pull over and wait it out!

Please share the wisdom you have learnt in your road trip travels via comments!