Ideas for 16 Month Old and Traveling

In the car we always talked about the things we saw outside, sang songs and played silly word games. It helped develop language much faster. Most of the grocery stores we shop at have cookie clubs for the kids, so I would wait until they were getting bored and fussy, then get them their cookie. If you are bringing a snack, don't give it to him until he gets bored and fussy. If we were someplace like Wal-mart we would visit the toy section when they would get bored, then let them carry something from the toy section around in the cart for the rest of the trip.

Snacks are a good idea.

I used to take llittle infant toys that strap to cart to keep him entertained.

If he likes books, take those.

Take him in your car seat/stroller & let him see what is going on when grocery shopping.

For car trips, I found new toys to take for him to play with & drove longer when he napped so we'd get there faster.

Also, is there anyway you can do your grocery shopping w/o him?

Make your groc stops fast. In then out! That helped me out greatly. And I'd plan my way around the store in a circle (as much as possible). No doubling back or ambling around etc. I could get it done in 15-20 mins tops.

When we rode in the car for a trip, I always bought new toys he'd never seen before to keep him entertained.

I wear my son, he is two now and it an Ergo backpack he can look all around and be interactive with people. It keeps him happy.

In the car, he usually just stares out the window and we look for things (Mostly motorcycles and any ambulance, truck, firetruck, etc)

My son is 14 months so I can relate. But I sometimes step back and remember that he doesn't have to be entertained all the time. I'm sure my mom didn't keep a bag of toys in the car like I do and I learned to just look out the window and think. With grocery shopping, I make my grocery list in the order I walk through the store...saves so much time! I give him food he can relatively safely play with, like small cans, it buys me a few minutes. As he gets older I may make a picture grocery list of items for him to pick out, but even at 16 months I'm not sure they can do that. If you're keeping him entertained constantly, you'll maybe have to bite the bullet and deal with it in the moment until he gets used to being content with observing. Try doing short trips when he's at his prime, rested, fed and dry. There has been one time I left the store without buying anything because I knew I was pushing my luck with his patience. Talk to him and involve him as much as possible; I tell my guy every item I put into the cart. I also shop in the mornings when the store is the quietest and the old people are having their morning coffee, but I don't know what your schedule is like. Otherwise, remember a majority of the other shoppers are parents too and have been through embarrassing moments with their young children. Also, consider your son's general personality. My son has always been an observer, so this comes more naturally for him than other kids who are hands-on.

I think your best bet would be to try and break the habit of snacks and being entertained every time you need to do something or go somewhere. If you are talking about a ridiculously long road trip, then, of course, some new little trinkets are in order to keep him occupied. You will be doing him well, by teaching him to entertain himself just by his surroundings. I would always point out different things when riding in the car, sing songs etc. Most of the time my kids were happy, just looking out the windows.