Whether it’s a short trip to the store, or a longer trek across the country, traveling with young children can be an ordeal. The key to keeping both parents and children happy is planning ahead.

Food Never Fails

Keep their stomachs full. You can’t expect children to travel long distances on empty stomachs. Bring snacks and either sippy cups for toddlers, or sports bottles for older children. Don’t fill those cups with juice or soda pop; that’s a good way to encourage tooth decay. Water keeps best in a hot or cold car, especially when replenished with ice at every stop.

Bring a cooler to keep formula or breastmilk cold. Pack the cooler with fruit, cereal, peanut butter, bread, cheese, crackers, carrot sticks and any other snacks you think will keep for a couple of days.

Size Matters

If you own a car, consider renting a minivan for longer trips. Having room to store a cooler, luggage and other items is priceless.

Remember Their Z’s

Sleepy kids are quiet kids. Leave when the sun is still down, or travel during afternoon nap times. Bring along familiar blankets, pillows and stuffed animals. Calm, soothing music on the radio helps too. You can purchase tapes of sleepy-time music ahead of time if you plan a long trip, but beware that you don’t make the driver sleepy as well!

Don’t encourage sleeping on a short trip, or you risk having sleepy grumpy children when you arrive at your destination.

Music Sooths the Savage Beast

In addition to some calming tapes, pick up some tapes of popular children’s sing-along songs. That can keep the whole family amused on a long trip. Teach your child to sing in “round” style, using songs like Row-Row-Your-Boat. Or try Christmas carols, which kids seem to appreciate year-round.