Embarking on a road trip around the country with the whole family is a great opportunity to bond with your kids. There are sights to see, fun activities to do, and exciting experiences to enjoy together.

However, as parents, we’re also seriously haunted by visions of families that have lost or missing children – all because they went on a trip. Moreover, various mishaps can happen along the way if you go unprepared.

So, to keep your children out of trouble while travelling, here are eight tips that are guaranteed to keep them safe and comfortable.

1. Plan your itinerary

Make a travel itinerary by keeping notes of where you and your family will be going. Note down the stops you will have to make along the way. Plan for how much time you will spend in each town or city. Make generous allowances for visiting places of note such as parks, museums, beaches, and the like. Select child- and baby-friendly tourist spots or destinations, so the whole family enjoys the trip.

2. Make bookings in advance

Ensure you and your family have secure accommodations in the different places you will visit. Book hotel rooms, cabins, and even amusement park tickets in advance so there’s no need to leave everything to chance. When everything that is bookable in advance for your trip is already arranged, you can focus on enjoying the trip more than stressing over these things.

3. Arrange for travel insurance

Getting your family covered for just-in-case scenarios is always a smart move. Even if you’re extra careful, accidents can and do happen. And it’s not about feeling paranoid; you need peace of mind, and being insured always helps.

4. Pack more than what you need

Since you’ll be travelling in your family vehicle, bring extras of all travel essentials. If you’re going camping part of the way, be sure to bring camping gear. If a beach, pool or resort is also in your itinerary, pack your swimming essentials. Whatever activities you have planned for your road trip, ensure you have the following in your basic travel essentials checklist:

• Driving licence, and backup copies in your phone or email
• Proofs of identification for every family member
• Keys
• Wallet with emergency cash, credit and debit cards
• E-tickets for visits to amusement parks, museums, zoos, etc.
• Mobile phones, power banks, and travel chargers
• Camera, USB storage, and charger
• Music and car entertainment options (with relevant cables)
• Car seats for kids and infants (as needed)
• Water- and insect-proof ground sheet for outdoor play
• bum bag, backpack, body bag or any hands-free bag for carrying around essential items
• Clothes, including several pairs of socks, pants, shorts, casual tops and bottoms, underwear, warm layers, pyjamas, swimwear, rainy day gear (depending on the season), hats or caps
• Sandals or flip-flops, and at least two pairs of shoes
• Snacks for everyone
• Medication and copies of prescriptions
• First aid kit
• Wet wipes
• Nappies
• Contraceptives
• Tampons and sanitary towels
• Soap
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Face wash
• Moisturiser
• Toothbrushes and toothpaste
• Glasses or contact lenses in their cases plus cleaning solutions
• Sunglasses
• Combs or hairbrushes for all, hair clips and hairbands
• Reading materials for everyone
• Drawing materials for the kids
• Board games and playing cards
• Tablet with kid-friendly apps and favourite toys (one or two for each)
• Bags for soiled clothes
• Clean water bottle for refills

If you have a baby, be sure to include the following items:

• Sippy cups and baby cutlery
• Feeding bottles and formula
• Baby monitor
• Bibs
• Nappies, baby wipes and nappy cream
• Baby buggy
• Sling
• Favourite toys

Before putting everything in bags and suitcases, do a quick rundown to ensure nothing is missing or forgotten.

5. Bring plenty of filtered water

Hydration is important while on the road. Make sure your family has adequate supplies of drinking water for the trip. Of course, when you run out of supplies, you can always restock by purchasing bottled water. Else, you can bring a portable water filter if you prefer. Steer clear of sodas and juices as these will only dehydrate you because of their high sugar content.

6. Practise car safety

Never ever take car safety for granted. Always ensure seatbelts and car seats are securely fastened. Don’t leave children inside the vehicle alone or unsupervised. This includes quick stops at convenience stores or gasoline stations. You either take your kids with you, or one of you (the parents) stays behind with them in the car.

7.  Have your kids wear child locators or travel wristbands

Kids have a tendency to wander off since they get easily distracted. You can keep tabs on them by having them wear child locators with a matching transmitter (which you will keep).  If you happen to lose track of them, you can set off the alarm. You can then simply follow the sound of the locators so you can find them.

Another great alternative is having your children wear handbands or custom wristbands designed to keep kids safe, containing your name and contact information. You can buy wristbands cheaply from Handband. This way, should you lose sight of each other, there’s a way for finders to get in touch with you quickly. There are silicone wristbands, custom tyvek wristbands for your kids, as well as paper wristbands, woven wristbands or fabric wristbands. Our Australian wristbands are great for kids.

8. Be vigilant and diligent

Admit it; you will only enjoy your trip together if you know that your kids are safe. So, give your

kids travel advice or schedule a brief orientation on safety measures to be practised during your trip. This includes telling them what to do in case they get separated from you or lost. Keep a watchful eye on each one of them, and teach them to look out for each other as well.

Here's to a fun and safe road trip…

Taking kids along on a road trip can be a fun and challenging undertaking. It’s also a great opportunity to teach your kids about the world. Together, you will discover new places and spend moments you will all treasure for a lifetime.

So, to have a wonderful time together on the road, keep the above tips in mind. By implementing them, you can make the most out of your adventure away from home with your loved ones.