East, West, Home is Best -Old Saw

You can no longer impetuously decide to climb in your car and, ignoring all reservations, speed off to you know not where. Now you have to plan-and not be too disappointed if a case of measles at the last moment upsets your plans.

Here are some general, useful tips that will help to make traveling with little children more fun for everybody.

Tell them about the trip first.

This may sound elementary, but it's important. Children under six are apt to be quite stuffy and prefer their everyday existence to an extended trip. But if they know what to expect they won't feel too uprooted, and will enjoy their experience more. If you don't consider this necessary, imagine yourself dropped down into a foreign country, where everything is strange and you don't speak the language or understand the mores of the natives. If the house where you will visit has stairs, talk about stairs. And if Aunt Mildred is in a wheel chair, talk about that a little bit.

How To Fix Up Your Car For Children

One mother we talked to, who has done a great deal of traveling with her children while her husband was overseas, gave us this solution:

"A must is to fix the back-seat level for play and nap area. The best way to do this is to put in the two suitcases that have to come out when you stop at a motel, cover them with blankets, and drape an old bedspread (not scratchy) or sheet over that. I mention suitcases needed at night because, though you might think it difficult to undo the arrangement, it will need remaking by that time anyway, and this saves opening the trunk of the car.

I am a great believer in car seats, even for children as old as five. Children can see out better, it keeps them from bumping into one another, and fighting, and, of course, it is much safer, and therefore easier on the driver.

Try making a rule-only one child down at a time from his car seat to nap or play in the level area. Early in the morning, or after eating, when they are in a good frame of mind, they can both be down as a treat.

If they both want to lie down for naps at the same time, take out one car seat and pile it on top of the other. The smaller child can lie down on the seat, and the longer child on the built-up space."

Pillows are comforting things to take. And an outdoor chaise mattress is a good kind of mattress for the back seat of a station wagon. Also, a bag for dirty laundry. And a denim bag, with draw strings, which is easy to make, can be tacked to the side of the car to hold small toys. Also a bag, or tin can, for waste paper and gum wrappers (paper bags break).

If you have a cigarette lighter in the back seat, remove it and cover the empty hole with strong tape. (Do this when they are not around, so you won't call their attention to it.)

Back-seat door handles can be removed on the inside by yourself or a mechanic.

Things To Think About Taking

1. Container filled with snacks such as cheese or raisins.

2. Water, if the water supply en route is doubtful.

3. One way to solve the thirst problem is frozen juice. Wrap the can in a cloth so their hands won't freeze. Punch a hole and let them suck on it. They will usually have finished it before the juice melts.

4. If you may stop at rest rooms that may not be clean, take your own toilet-seat covers.

5. Washcloth and soap. This is also handy to keep them out of public rest rooms. They can wash their faces and hands at outdoor faucets or hoses.

6. Disposable diapers, if you are in that stage.

7. For carsickness: Ask your doctor for pills. Also take empty ice-cream cartons, sponges, tissues, a lemon or peppermints to suck.

8. First-aid kit.

9. Their own suitcase, which they may help pack.

10. Stroller, even for a three-year old, if you will do much walking (as at Zoo).

11. Song Book, if your repertoire is limited.

12. A friend for your child, especially if he is an only child.

Good Toys For Trips

1. Their own, favorite cuddly doll or animal.

2. New and old books. (Old books, because they know the story by the pictures.)

3. Children's steering wheels, like the real steering wheel, so they can drive, too.

4. Adhesive or scotch tape to stick on back windows, or all over themselves.

5. Good goal: Ten-cent stores every so many miles to fill up bag with cheap toys. Cars and trucks to run around in among blankets are especially good.

6. Many children prefer articles bought at the hardware, stationery or jewelry counter to toys. Tiny sewing kits, with the needles removed, cheap and flashy rings, punchers tape, key rings-or even a collection of old bottle caps. An old purse, like mother's purse, equipped with comb, mirror, compact, etc.

Bad Toys For Trips

1. Noise makers-the din is nerve-wracking and bothers the driver.

2. Small toys, like marbles, which get lost and frustrate the child.

3. Crayons, unless your child is very well co-ordinated. It is hard to color while moving, and crayons break and get lost.

4. Balloons-they want to hold them out windows, they hit the driver, and they pop.

5. Any toy that makes a good weapon in a fight.

Car Rules

It is wise to brief them on rules early, perhaps even the night before the trip. Then repeat, when you start.

1. No leaning against driver.

2. No beating driver on head.

3. No fooling with dashboard, if they sit in front.

4. No throwing things out windows.

5. No screaming, "Hello, dumb lady," to passersby.

Eating En Route

If the weather is good, picnic lunches are an excellent way of working off energy. Children can stretch their legs, and get a sense of freedom, before getting back into car.

Stopping to eat near a school playground is highly recommended.

You can have your car oiled and greased while you are eating in a restaurant or a nearby park.

The mother can go into the restaurant and find a table and order the meals while the father walks the children. This shortens the time the children have to sit still at a table, and saves the nerves of parents, waitresses and other guests. You can pay the bill the same way, too.

Don't be embarrassed to feed two small children on one adult order. Restaurants expect it. Often this is a better choice than the child's plate.

Many restaurants have Children's Service, which usually consists of silverware, napkin, plate, milk, and perhaps dessert. Then you feed them off your plate.

Be sure they have some food to start on right away, such as raw carrots or crackers.

Try to avoid restaurants during the rush hours.

Bedtime En Route

You might ask about a good place to spend the night while you are at the restaurant, and then phone ahead for reservations.

You can get your children toileted and into their sleepers after the evening meal, then drive on in the dark. The rhythm of the car will probably put them to sleep. When you stop at the motel, you can carry the bodies in.

Avoid heavy city traffic by getting up early in the morning.

You can make a child's bed out of an adult bed by pushing it against a wall, and lining the other side with the backs of chairs.

You can let your child "play house" in the motel for a few moments after arriving, allowing him to move chairs about and arrange things cozily. This may help him to feel at home-and he will go to sleep happily.

A Way To Make Formula While Driving

1. Buy an electric sterilizer.

2. Wash bottles at night in hotel.

3. Fill each bottle with amount of water used in formula.

4. Put nipples on, nipples down.

5. Don't screw cap on too tightly. Leave room for steam expansion.

6. Put bottles in sterilizer and sterilize them. The water sterilizes with the bottles.

7. Fill one bottle with proper amount of canned milk. (Buy little cans, so you can throw them away.)

8. Add sugar or Karo or whatever you add.

9. Warm bottle on electric bottle warmer that plugs into cigarette lighter in car, or warm bottle in restaurant.

Trains

Get a seat as near as possible to the rest rooms, water cooler and diner.

Planes

It is a good idea to brief them in detail, because of the strange noises, and strange lights, and strange sensations. "We will get on the plane, and the lady will show us to our seats, and we will strap ourselves in, and then the motors will start to warm up-". And you might mention that there may be a funny feeling in their ears for a little while.

Don't rely on what the travel folders say. Take along some snacks yourself. And a blanket is useful, too.