Travelin' man

Daniel took his first road trip at 3 months. At 3 1/2, he's been to six states and is well on his way to catching up with mom, who's visted 41. But that's what happens when the grandparents and great-grandparents live elsewhere.
Having worked through the holidays, we're taking advantage of this upcoming 3-day weekend to once again get out of town. This time, it's a five-hour drive to great-grandma's, near Rockingham.
Now traveling when he was tiny was easy; he slept most of the way. Flying was not so fun; it was scary at first and then he didn't like having to sit still for the length of time it took to get from Atlanta to Detroit or Norfolk. Add in the frustration of getting through airports, waiting around in airports, the sheer chaos in airports, and mom, dad and boy were all frazzled by the time we got where we were going. Nevertheless, it must be done, and we've learned a few things about making it easier.
First, feed the child. A backpack is better than a diaper bag for traveling, mostly because you can sling it over your shoulder and have one less thing to juggle. Also, it holds a bit more than most diaper bags, which is good since bottled water, snacks and toys are a must. And when I say snacks, I'm not so much thinking crackers or pretzels. Hot dogs travel well, as do grapes (hint: leave them on the vine in the baggie). A full tummy makes for a sleepy Daniel when he gets bored.
As for toys, Fisher Price makes a small roll-along "suitcase" that toddlers can take with them and feel like part of the process. It opens up and you can store flash cards (again, in a baggie to prevent them from dropping out everywhere) or other small toys. In mom's handy backpack should go one more thing: a portable DVD player.
Daniel didn't watch tv for his first two years. Part of that was my preference, but mostly it was because he was just too busy doing everything else! But when he finally discovered Winnie-the-Pooh, he also learned to sit still. He'd still rather play outside, but if it's cold and rainy or we're stuck in a waiting room somewhere, his movies are just the thing.
We got the DVD player for an early Christmas present this year. You can find pretty good deals now that the "hot" has worn off. We chose a Panasonic with an 8" screen which rotates 180 degrees and locks closed over the control buttons. It comes with a remote so mom and dad can operate it "hands off." Quietest plane ride we've ever had. And you bet it will be in the car with us this weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.

Poll: What is your child's favorite movie or kid's show? I'll tally the comments and share the results.