NWMR: traveling alone w/kids

emberlee3

Due to a scheduling fluke, I have 10 days off in May. DH has to work. I am thinking of taking a week to drive 10ish hours to visit my sis. The kids are 4.5 and almost 2 yo. Have any of you done a long drive like that with just you and the kiddos? How did it go?

Flying would require nearly the same amount of travel time (no direct flights) plus the hassle of lugging car seats and renting a car.

bcnoelle

I've never done that, but it sounds like a great trip. Kids won't be missing school yet, it's rare to get so much time off so it makes the length of the trip worth it. I'm not sure if you'd want to travel at night when they're sleeping? Part of me thinks that's a good plan and another makes me think you'll be exhausted when you get there and it might not be that safe. Is there anyone who lives in between that you might consider staying a day/night with to break up th trip? I would definitely have my cell phone fully charges, some small emergency supplies, maybe even roadside flairs, etc. Maybe some new iPad apps or a DVD playing if possible?

NCMichelle

I frequently (every other month or so) make a ten hour drive with my two kids (4 and almost 3) by myself.  Is it the most awesome time ever?  Not even close.  Is it doable?  Absolutely.  

1)  Having a potty in the trunk of my Pilot is the best thing ever.  It is so incredibly time consuming to truck them into a disgusting rest area for potty breaks.  Plus one is contained in the car seat while the other is going.  Very helpful.

2)  DVDs are a godsend.  With headphones.  Life has improved tremendously since the youngest one started leaving headphones on.  I can only listen to Frozen so many times in a row before going insane.  If they have their headphones on I can listen to whatever I want on the radio.  I also take the iPad, but only use it if one falls asleep and the other doesn't so they won't fight over it.  With that being said, my kids usually don't sleep on our drives.  (WHICH SUCKS!)

3)  I usually pack lunch and we eat in the car.  We usually go in to a restaurant for dinner...

4)  We play lots of games.  Who can find an airplane in the sky?  Who can find a blue car?  

BEST OF LUCK!

Virgo17

It is definitely doable.  Do your kids sleep well in the car?  You might consider driving overnight or at least a portion of the night.  You could leave super early in the am and by the time they are up you could be halfway there.  

Bring any/all electronic devices, a portable potty, and lots of snacks/drinks.  Good luck!

emberlee3

Thanks for the suggestions.

I will probably break up the drive over 2 days and spend one night in a hotel.  Maybe one with a pool so the kids can have some fun. 

DS has a bladder of steel and DD is in diapers, so I will be the one needing potty breaks.  I may get a dual-screen DVD player for the trip.  The kids are pretty good in the car.  We took a few day trips (3 hours each way) last fall that went very smoothly.

PSU_Texan

We have a contraption I bought on amazon that holds the iPad between the two front seats so both kids can see it.  We load it up with movies and go.  I can still reach it if I have to but my older one is good at changing movies, volume, etc.  Good luck!