• One family stops every hour to let them run around.
• The DVD player is the last resort.
• Coloring books and crayons are fun, but if you do that, DO NOT leave the crayons in the car in hot weather!!
• Buy these cheap sticker books at Michaels that have like 200 stickers in a variety of sizes. They can stick them all over themselves and it keeps them busy for a while.
• Small foam puzzles (usually at the dollar store, watch out for choking hazards, of course).
• Someone sits in the back to play with them in their seat.

More ideas in the first post about car travel with toddlers…
See more WFMW tips at Rocks in My Dryer….

Ok, Parent Hacks is starting a meme, inspired by AJ’s list at Thingamababy, which is surprisingly amusing, actually (to mommies that is, I’m sure the cat readers are less than interested ;)) - what’s in your diaper bag, and what IS your diaper bag?? Trackback to this post so I can go read it (nosy mama that I am ;)) or leave your answers in comments…..
Ours used to be a little backpack with a fold-out changing pad that zipped up the front and cute little pouches for cupholders. Alas, it became covered in all manner of baby mess, and my attempt to put it in the washer rather than spot clean it tore it to shreds. Now we have a little messenger-bag/backpack thingy, not as many nice pouches but still an insulated place to put sippy cups (necessary in this HEAT!) and a few pouches in there.

Ok, actual contents - I dump it all out every few weeks and then toss stuff back in there, usually a changing pad, lots of diapers and wipes, at least two outfits (yes, Lil’ Duck is the ultimate laundry creator even still), hat, sunglasses, sippy, snacks, camera, diaper rash cream if necessary, teething stuff right now….. anything else that looks promising and is just laying around, then the duck rides between the bag strap and my body, as he cannot be left behind for any amount of time. So if you see a small mama with a bouncy little boy and a duck, you’ll know it’s me…..

• Coloring book & doodle pad with crayons, colored pencils, or markers.
• Blank envelopes for putting things into and taking them back out.
• New books.
• Tons of (relatively finger food-ish) snacks (Handi-Snacks breadsticks and cheese are a big favorite).
• A cup of crushed ice.
• Hot Wheels cars
• New dollar store toys in a fun little backpack or bag - something new and inexpensive if they are lost on the plane.
• A portable DVD player & various DVD’s (Lil’ Duck loves Clifford, Veggie Tales, and Monsters Inc.)
• Stickers or a box of colorful band-aids
• Small container of play-doh
• Silly putty
• Lollipops
• New plastic farm animals
• New shape sorters & wooden puzzles (for kids who can do them without being either frustrated or bored).
• iPod or other music player with baby-friendly headphones & their favorite music (many little ones like the Wiggles).

Hindu Mommy has some general tips about traveling with children up to 6 years old as well - if you have more tips to share, put them in comments and I’ll add you here!

We have shopping issues. Lil’ Duck loves the idea of going out, and will hold my hand and walk into the store nicely. Then the problem begins. He wants to run like a crazy baby away from me and play this great game of keep-away, and I want him in the cart so that he doesn’t do that. So, I get out his nice cart cover, set his beloved duck in there (oh yes, the duck does go everywhere), and arm-wrestle him into the seat.

When Lil’ Duck was just starting to sit up, we got this handmade cart cover from a friend. It has a pocket in front of him with his name on it, a few toy loops, a cute little pillow (with a loop to attach it) and a drink holder. It stretches to fit any cart, high chair, etc. - when it gets dirty, we toss it in the washer and dryer, and it is good as new. Now, after 18 months or so of heavy use, it still looks great. I even got an extra pocket in case we have another one, so we can put their name on it rather than my little guy’s.

As you can tell, these photos are from when we first got it - he actually loved the pillow so much that he would fall asleep on it! Now we don’t use the pillow, as there is no way he’d sleep if there was something interesting to see.

Anyway, this thing is the best invention ever (well, that and my sling ;)) - keeps him away from germs, keeps him comfy (did I mention it is padded?), keeps his toys and food near, and is easy to use! That’s what works for us….. if you need one, e-mail her for fabric samples (pretty much anything you want) and pricing and all that. It’s well worth it!

Be sure to check out the rest of the Works For Me Wednesday tips as well as the rest of my blog while you are here!

• Cd’s - kids songs, fun songs, a wide variety of things (Lil’ Duck loves Veggie Tales CD’s).
• Portable DVD player - with DVD’s of favorite shows of course.
• Some people drive at night so they will sleep.
• Take frequent breaks - let them out to run around when you get gas, etc.
• Put a soft basket of toys by the car seat within reach - use new toys or toys that have been retired that now will seem new.
• Put a snack/cup holder on the car seat.
• Point out things outside, play little games, talk to them

David (@ Third World County) always has nice comments for me and I love his posts about the fair tax. I have to talk about his post, entitled Child-raising 101, as it is both hilarious and sad. He saw a mother at the post office with her young child harnessed on a leash, and recommended as a joke that “this book, Teach Your Dog 100 English Words, should be used as a ready reference by every parent of a young child who wants to have their children grow up to be civilized human beings but doesn’t want to stifle their creativity, initiative or personality.”

My first reaction was to laugh, as I have been occasionally guilty of yelling at the little one to SIT AND STAY….. but then I can’t really imagine leashing him though, I guess I understand it if a) you are at a busy amusement park with tons of people or b) you have so many children you don’t have enough hands for them all. With just one, however, I think it’s much better to just teach him to hold my hand and stay put (perhaps this is where the whole child vs. dog thing comes in, eh?).

Of course, you say, nobody would treat their children like their dog - but I’ve seen some scary examples of just that, not just about the harnesses (if you must use one, don’t use it to drag your child along, use a stroller, my goodness) but also bribing with food, barking out commands, etc etc. On the whole, treat your child as you would want to be treated, even my little guy responds best to being treated with respect at less than two years of age.

What do you think - are leashes and all this just part of the necessary baby items, or a sad reminder of the demise of society?

My little guy loves to go out and eat, and he’s usually good, especially when it is breakfast or lunch. I thought I’d pass on some tips from other mothers about entertaining them when you go out though, as it’s always helpful. This is assuming that you are using common sense in not bringing them to a super-fancy place, taking them when they are tired and/or cranky, etc etc. There is no hope for you if you do that, you are inviting the nightmare and I don’t feel sorry for you ;).

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