Traveling with children and pets can often be stressful as they don’t understand just how important road safety is. Instead, they often can be very distracting in the car which can make you more likely to make mistakes. Prepare your car ahead of any travel so that you’re fully stocked with anything you’ll need to keep them calm. However, you’ll still probably have to contend with your fair share of distractions. Make sure that both pets and children are in the proper safety restraints so that they’re safe in case of a crash. And finally, be extra careful about leaving pets unattended in hot vehicles as the weather heats up. Hopefully, you can use these tips to keep you, your children, and your furry friends safer on the road.
Safety Tips for Traveling with Children and Pets: How to Get to Where You’re Going Safely
Prep Your Car
When traveling with children and pets, preparation is key. Especially if your children are younger. Make sure that you have plenty of toys and snacks on hand to distract them and make the car ride more enjoyable. Keep your car stocked with some pet treats as well, and make sure that you’re carrying plenty of water. Plan to make lots of stops for potty breaks for both kids and pets, so allow lots of extra time for traveling.
Driving with Distractions
However, as much prep work as you can do, sometimes when traveling with children and pets, there are still distractions. A screaming baby in the backseat can drive anybody to insanity, so don’t be afraid to pull over for a few minutes if you need a break. In addition, set ground rules for older children that you’ll stop the car if they begin distracting you. To keep your pets from being a distraction, make sure that they are properly restrained and not climbing all over you in the driver’s seat.
Proper Restraints
Car seat safety is so important when traveling with children and pets in the car. In fact, it’s the law. Make sure that you are adjusting your car seats as your children get older. Most children begin in an infant car seat in the rear-facing position. When they reach the size limit, you’ll want to switch to a larger convertible seat but keep them rear-facing as long as possible. Afterward, your children will move to booster seats. Make sure to check any car seat installation with a local car seat safety specialist. For pets, make sure that they are properly restrained as well so that they’re protected in a crash and also cannot cause a distraction. There are plenty of carriers, seat belt attachments, and pet seats on the market.
Hot Vehicles
Finally, one final note about traveling with children and pets is to always be aware of the weather. As summer approaches the temperature will heat up. Remember that the temperature inside a car gets higher much more quickly than it does outside. So do not leave pets unattended for more than a few minutes. And make sure to leave your windows down and plenty of water. Every year there are stories of children being left in hot cars as well. Make it a habit to check your car seats whenever you get to a destination. And never leave children alone in a car for any amount of time.
Traveling with children and pets is necessary but can be frustrating at times. Often, they cause a lot of distraction because of boredom. Stock your car with plenty of toys and treats for both to keep them busy. In addition, make rules about keeping calm in the car and pull over if you ever need to in order to clear your head. Make sure that both children and pets are in proper restraints in the vehicle so that they are safe in a crash and so they cannot move around the car and create a distraction. And finally, be very careful about hot cars as the temperature heats up. Never leave children unattended, and try not to leave pets either if the weather is warm. Hopefully, your pets and children will learn to behave calmly in the car so that you can get to where you’re going safely.