Keeping a baby entertained on a long drive

By Jonathan Clarke

Keeping a baby entertained for hours at a time during a long journey is no easy task, so choosing the right toys is vital.

It goes without saying that toys are a great way to keep a baby from becoming bored. Bring a bag of new and old toys with you in the car and give them to the baby one at a time. As they become bored of one toy you can introduce a new one to maintain interest.

Babies can often find even the most mundane object fun to play with, as long as it has an interesting feel or sound to it. Even something like an unopened bag of crisps can be fun for a baby, so don't feel restricted to just toys. Simply make sure it's safe for your baby to put in its mouth first!

While a baby isn't old enough to play car games such as eye-spy, there are a couple of games you can play that will hold their attention. Peekaboo is always a favourite, so if you've got an adult or older child in the back with the baby, they'll make an ideal peekaboo partner. It's reasons like this that it's usually best to have the baby on the back seat if you're travelling with a few people.

Perhaps the best advice, however, is to make your journey during nap time. This means that there's less time where baby is awake and so less time you'll need to spend trying to alleviate boredom. Don't forget that if you're flying late at night or very early in the morning you can always book an airport hotel. Stay overnight near the terminal and drive at a time that suits you and your baby.

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