Traveling long distances by driving a vehicle is very pleasant, especially with family. Boredom when driving can be treated if interspersed with a chat with a partner or listen to your child talking. However, happiness with family can turn into a disaster if parents are negligent in maintaining the comfort and safety of children. What are the things that must be considered when bringing children to travel long distances using a vehicle?
1. Obey traffic rules
The first tips before you travel with your child is to always remember to obey road markings and traffic rules to prevent events that could endanger your and your child’s safety when driving.
2. Sit the child in the back seat & make sure the child seat belt is attached
Placing children in the back seat is safer than sitting in the front seat. If the vehicle is braked suddenly, children will avoid colliding with the dashboard or windshield. For children under 5 years old, it would be better if placed in a car seat for toddlers. You need to Attach the seat belt to the children even though he is sitting in the back seat to keep him safe from things we don’t want.
3. Always lock the vehicle when walking
The high curiosity of children allows him to suddenly open the vehicle door when the vehicle is moving. Therefore, do not forget to lock the door with the central lock function when the vehicle is running. This function makes the vehicle can only be opened from the driver’s door. By locking with a central system, vehicles are also avoided from the risk of doors being opened from the outside by others.
4. Always provide food, entertainment, and medicine for children
In addition to adequate change of clothes, make sure your child is not hungry and thirsty on the road. Buying food or snacks on the trip can certainly be an option, but bringing your own food from home is more important because besides being more economical, cleanliness is also more guaranteed. Do not forget to bring toys that can entertain children while driving, because generally, children will be bored if they have to sit for a long time. Simple children’s games can also be an alternative for children to stay cheerful. You can bring personal medicines for children and eucalyptus oil if needed.
5. Pullover at least once every 2-3 hours
On average, children under the age of 13 will urinate 13 times a day. therefore, pull over to the rest area every time you drive 2-3 hours so that the children can defecate and stretch their legs. If you continue to drive without stopping, chances are children will be fussy because of boredom and can disturb your concentration when driving.
6. Don’t leave children in hot vehicles
Generally, vehicle temperatures can rise by 10 -15o Celsius every 15 minutes, and children’s body temperatures can rise 3-5 times faster than adults because of lower water reserves. Do not leave children in a hot vehicle even if you open a window, because it can make it experience a heatstroke that causes dizziness, disorientation, and skin redness. In some cases, children can even experience death. Therefore, as much as possible do not leave your child in the vehicle. If forced to do this, make sure the vehicle’s air conditioner is on and you don’t leave for more than 5 minutes. Don’t forget to open the window a little when there are passengers sleeping in the vehicle.
One more thing that is no less important than the points mentioned above is to always check the condition of the vehicle and the availability of gasoline fuel before and during your trip. A vehicle that is stalled due to running out of fuel can make the duration of your trip longer and cause your child’s mood to get worse because of boredom. Therefore, it would be better if your vehicle has a digital display feature that provides information on the distance before the fuel runs out, so you can anticipate running out of gas by looking for the nearest pump to refill when gasoline looks thin. Use a vehicle that has a seatbelt in the second row that is ready to secure your baby and the design of the seat that adapts to the back curve and a quiet interior so that children can rest comfortably while driving.
How? Are you ready to walk away with your baby?