Road trip with a 10 m/o - Tips/tricks?

prisschris

A week from today my DH, SS (9 y/o) and DD (10 m/o today!) are driving from Houston to Leesburg, VA.  We have friends there and the point is to spend spring break seeing the historical sights/museums in DC.  Frankly, I'm dreading it.  I can handle road trips but we've never done anything like this with the kids.

Any suggestions for supplies to have on hand in the car?  Is there any chance in hell I'm going to be able to keep my daughter awake so that she's not up all night? 

Athena0809

When DS was 6 mo we drove about 8 hours--it was a 5.5 trip but we stopped many times to nurse, change, etc. Never again, I don't care how expensive air fare is I'm flying or I'm not going anywhere. After just 2 hours in the car it became hell DS didn't want to be in the car seat anymore he would cry bloody murder. Not what you want to hear, but I think maybe being 10 months she might be awake more being interested in looking out the window or things like that. If I was you I'd prepare lots of snacks, and lots of "new" toys, some peanuts in an empty water bottle, books, anything that will distract her. Stop frequently for diaper change and a chance to stretch. As far as the 9 y.o I would bring lots of movies for the portable DVD player! GL

rboisvert

We just drove from Upstate NY to NC two weeks ago with a 9 month old.  We made the  trip part of the destination.  We broke up the trip so we were never more than 5 hours from where we were stoping for the night.  It took us about 7 hours with stoping to eat, change etc.  I think having another child in the back seat might help, my DD would get board with no one but herself to look at.  That might help keep your LO awake.  I would just break it up as much as you can, find things along the way to see.  Good luck.

LacieMI

How long is the trip?  It seems like it would be 1.5-2 days of travel?  Yikes!  When LO was 4-5 months, we flew out to MO and drove home, which was an 8-9 hour trip, but we stopped overnight.  When he is ~13 months, we have a wedding in Iowa.  I am totally dreading that trip, as there are really no good airports nearby, and the tickets are so far, quite expensive.  We're planning a 7-8 hour road trip then too.  I too, am TOTALLY dreading it, based on the first road trip.  I think we're going to drive about 1/2 way and stop for the night, so even though its a short trip compared to yours, it'll probably take 2 days.  What are your plans for stopping and overnights? 

My only advice is to make sure that your LO loves the car seat she is in.  We had to borrow a car seat for our return trip (airline lost our infant carrier!) and my son HATED it.  We're going to make sure he's in a car seat that he loves, and not transition to his convertible seat too late - I want to give him lots of time to get used to the new seat, or at least know it's not going to work!

prisschris

My husband is delusional.  I'm not worried about the 9 y/o.  He's a great reader and he has hand-held games he can play.

Pray for us.  :-| 

JMU_Bride09

We did a roadtrip cross-country when DS was 8 months. I sat in the back with him so he wasn't alone. Bring lots of toys and solid food gear. DS took some naps and still slept at night. The time change confused him, but he did well. It is possible to road trip with an infant!

PayolaCrayola

i have been thinking of taking a trip to SD with LO....its about 2-3hrs away but i just cant bring myself to do it...she hates being in the carseat and i just switched her to the Britax Boulevard because i thought it would help and so far its only helped minimally...we can go places that are less than 30min away,...which is pretty much NOWHERE with LA traffic!