We'll be taking our first road trip with DD over the labor day weekend and I'm a little leary. DH parents live in Ohio and its an 8 hour drive. The plan is to start out Friday night after DD has had her dinner and bath in hopes that she'll sleep most of the trip. We've tried this approach when going to the beach and for the most part its worked. DH hopes to make it all the way to his parents, but if sleep overcomes him we'll stop and get a hotel room.
What I'm most concerned about is keeping DD entertained Saturday morning on the possible 4 hour car ride from a hotel to DH's parents house and then the potential 8 hours in the car on Monday morning home. Personally, I'd like to leave Sunday night, but I have doubts that will happen. We have a DVD player, but none of the contraptions I've found to attach it to a headrest look safe. Are there any other suggestions besides snacks and little toys to keep DD happy?
Re: Road Trips
DD always surprises me on road trips - she normally conks out a good bit in the car and if she's not, she's pretty happy to just watch the road and cars. We'll look for red cars or horses or blue trucks, etc. and see who can find whatever first - shockingly, DD wins almost every time!
If you need to drive home on Monday, I'd just make sure you either leave at the crack o'dawn (4 or 5 am) and put her in the car asleep and then stop when she wakes up and let her run around a bit to burn off some energy and then get back in the car and she'll probably fall asleep again.
I would check out best buy or amazon for the portable case. Two summer ago we took a trip to Williamsburg, VA and then SC and the second leg of the trip we stopped about 10 times and it was complete hell. DD didn't want to sit in her car seat. While in SC we bought a portable dvd player and a case to go with it. We also left in the middle of the night (around 8:30/9) and drove straight to my aunt's (6 hour drive from NC, we were staying at friends house). I think she woke once in VA at midnight. We got back to my aunt's around 2:30 a.m. and I just put her to bed then.
I would try and drive through the night. We relaxed all rules for the car, we played with playdoh, books, puzzles, ate tons of goldfish crackers. Got out a ton too. Good luck with your trip!
I agree that if you are going to be leaving to come home on Monday morning, leave at the ass crack of dawn. Snatch her out of the crib, put her in the car seat and go. This worked for us when we went to the beach recently. DS slept another hour or so and woke up around his usual wake up time, was awake for 1.5 hours, then took a nap for the rest of the trip. He normally would not nap at that time of the day, but something about the car makes him sleepy.
As for keeping her entertained while she's awake...I've got nothing, lol! I sat in the back with DS and read books, but that only lasted so long. We didn't have a DVD player, but I'm not sure how much that would have helped anyway. I'm interested to see what other people suggest!
BFP#1: 01/10, M/C 6w
BFP#2: 06/10, M/C 5w
BFP#3: 09/10, DS born June 1, 2011
BFP#4: 07/12, M/C 5w3d
BFP#5: 12/12, EDD 08/18/13
My Blog: Decorate This
Do you have this case? I was eyeing it since the DVD player we have doesn't fold flat or swivel. DD is still rear facing and I think it wouldn't be that safe or she would kick it since her legs hit the back of the seat.
I have no idea what I have. I have to go home tonight and look it. We did buy it from Best Buy though. DD was already forward facing when we took that trip, and the dvd player was strapped in between both the driver and passenger chairs. I may be a little worried about it falling myself if she kicked it.
My brother and SIL bought new toys for their girls for the car - just from like the dollar section of target, but she had a big bag of the new toys so every hour or so would bring out a new one if the girls were antsy. They also had books, a DVD player and the girls' blankets and stuffed animals. Between these things the girls behaved relatively well from Minnesota to Maryland, which is 17 hours. I think they might have stopped overnight but I am honestly not sure. There was also lots of singing involved. LOL.
oh yeah - I forgot this trick! Bring lots of new toys and wrap them. You can also do this w/ bags of goldfish or fruit snacks too! DD loved ripping paper at that age!!