It’s that time of year where many of us are heading on our summer getaways whether that be in the UK or abroad. If you’re travelling with kids, you’ll naturally want to ensure they’re as comfortable and safe as possible on their journey.
If you’re wondering how to keep them relaxed and entertained in the car, child travel experts, Joie, are here to help. They’ve shared their top tips and product recommendations to help ensure happy travels for your little ones this summer.
Take regular breaks
If you’re travelling long distances in the car, it’s essential to stop and have regular comfort breaks. We can all get a bit restless on long journeys, so taking a few minutes to get some fresh air and move about is always a good idea.
A 2-in-1 travel solution will help make life on the road a lot easier. The Joie Calmi™ R129 Carry Cot is a 180-degree lie-flat car cot that allows little ones to sleep in safety and comfort while you’re on the go.
The Calmi™ R129 pairs easily with multiple Joie pushchairs including the Finiti™ Pram and Versatrax™ Pushchair. Just pop the Calmi R129 off the base and onto your pushchair frame and there you go. It’s easy to grab a breath of fresh air mid-journey with minimal disruption to your sleeping passenger or for family day trips to the beach.
Keep them cool
No one likes being too hot on long car journeys, so it’s important to ensure your child stays cool and comfortable. Many of Joie’s car seats, including the Joie Calmi™ R129 Carry Cot have built-in ventilation to ensure they remain at a comfortable temperature. Other quick tips for keeping children cool in the car include:
- Using car sunshades to help block out the sun.
- Ensuring little ones are dressed appropriately for the weather.
- Monitoring the air conditioning to ensure it’s always at a suitable temperature.
- Keep an eye on them and look out for signs such as flushed cheeks or sweating.
Keep them facing rearward
You might think it’s a good idea to turn your little one’s car seat forward mid-journey to stop them from becoming bored but don’t be tempted! Babies should always face rearward until at least 15 months old as it provides much greater protection than facing forward.
Previous legislation stated that children could face forward once they reached a certain weight. However, the recent ECE R129 legislation sets a minimum of 15 months before a child should face forward – although, the longer the better. As a result, most Joie car seats allow for rearward facing for up to 4 years to allow for maximum safety. The back window provides a much more interesting view than the back of your car seat anyway!
Create some car games
Entertaining older children on long car journeys can be more of a challenge. Think of some car games to keep them engaged. ‘I spy’ is the most obvious choice but there are variations such as ‘road trip bingo’ that could prove more successful. Put together some bingo cards beforehand of things you may expect to see on your journey and have the kids tick them off one by one – don’t forget a prize for the winner!
Joie also offers a range of car seats suitable for older children, so they too can travel comfortably during those summer getaways. The Joie Traver™ Group 2/3 Toddler Car Seat is suitable for children between the ages of 3-12 years old and can be adjusted to 7 different height positions to ensure they remain comfortable throughout the years.
Choose a comfy sleeping solution
Once you’ve reached your destination, you’ll want to ensure that bedtimes are as stress-free as possible. A travel cot is a great way to create a home away from home for little ones. The Joie Kubbie™ Sleep Travel Cot is quick and simple to set up and can easily be folded away when not in use – perfect for packing in the car. It contains a removable mattress so it is great for both naptime and playtime, making for an ideal sleep-and-play solution while away from home.
Now you know the best travel tips and solutions for when you’re on holiday with your little ones, all that’s left to do is set off and make happy memories. Discover the full range of Joie car seats and travel solutions over at halfords.com.
