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Car-Trippin' With Your Toddler: Yes, You CAN Do It! BY KERRY L. PINTO My friends are probably thinking of the irony behind me writing this piece seeing that just a few short weeks ago, I was contemplating putting a Craigslist "curb alert" ad for my daughter while traveling down the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Perhaps it is the fact that I have weathered multiple car trips across dozens of states my with 2 year old that makes me somewhat of an expert at traveling with a "lively," "energetic," "active"( or any other adjective where I don't just come out and say "horrendous") car traveler. So here are some things I have learned throughout our travels with my 5-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter. Please Don't Stop the Music I'll be honest, most kids music makes me want to veer off the road, particularly when it's children singing or worse, kids singing hit songs from the radio (I've actually heard a version of kids singing "Careless Whisper" What?). To be fair, kids generally don't want to listen to grown up music either, so if everyone is quiet and content, a little Raffi doesn't hurt anything except my nerves. The Temporary Babysitter DVD Player: I am still shocked when thinking that my parents pulled a Clark Griswold and drove our family cross-country for three weeks when I was little -- with no DVD player. Talk about the Stone Age! kids will be drawn into the allure of watching TV in the car, but for those who are, DVDs offer a nice way for kids to be occupied, particularly on longer trips. Kidding. Not all Stop or Don't Stop, You Make the Call Most "expert" recommend stopping every so often to allow your kids to stretch their sites use the restroom. Since my daughter is still legs going! Use common sense and change diapers as often as you would at home or you will have a fun mess to clean at your next stop. passed out, keep and my rule is if she is quiet, and hopefully in diapers, 10 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • July 2012