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Home › Articles › On the Road Again/Car Travel › Car Seat Games

Car Seat Games

Activities for Babies on the Go

By Penny Powell

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Entertaining Baby on a long car trip can help make everyone's trip that much better. But what can parents do to help their infants survive family time on the road? Try these tested tips from parents to help make your next road trip easier.

Use Siblings
Amy Upton, a Virginia Beach, Va., high school guidance counselor and mom of four children ranging in age from 2 to 15, knows all too well the challenges that come with traveling by car with children in tow. "I have taken way more long car trips with my children than I believe any sane person should," says Upton. "With that said, what are the tricks that have worked with babies a year old or younger? Well, the best one is their siblings – they love to entertain their baby brother or sister."

Christine Hill, a Jacksonville, Fla., mom to Joey, 16 months, Christopher, 10, and Emily, 13, agrees with Upton. "One sure game that stops his [Joey's] fussing every time is good old-fashioned peek-a-boo," says Hill. "Emily holds up a blanket in front of her face and then drops it and he laughs every time. Of course, she's very animated and that helps."

Introduce Old and New Toys
"If you are not lucky enough to have a bunch of children to help you or you are traveling alone with a baby, bringing an ample supply of toys helps, but they will eventually be dropped, and it is not a good idea to pick up dropped toys in the back seat while driving," says Upton. "The best way is to get toys that attach to the seat."

Hill also knows the benefit of using toys during car rides, but she prefers to bring along ones that her son has not yet seen. "I find that buying a new toy and waiting to introduce it until the middle of the drive – or sooner if his screaming reaches a certain pitch – works really well," she says.

Music and Singing
The calming effect music has on children is no secret. "Any type will work, but kids' songs played on the CD or tape player will often help entertain your baby," says Upton.

Once the CD or tape player has served its purpose, try a singing game with your child. Pick a favorite family song and let your baby listen to each traveler take a turn singing a part of the song. The voice changes may just hold Baby's attention for a little longer. Of course, the more animated the voice, the better!

Rhonda Biroschik of Middleburg, Fla., who is gearing up for an 18-hour road trip to Arkansas this summer with her family, says it was the "ABC" song that she sung along with her 9-year-old son that recently comforted her baby during a car ride. The song worked like a charm for her other child who is known to deeply dislike her car seat.

Make a tape of your baby's favorite songs and be ready to press the start button on the music player when the fussing begins.

Portable DVDs

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