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Road trip with a 9 month old
We are driving to Michigan in April so my grandparents can meet DS. The drive without kids can easily take 10 hours so I'm assuming that we're looking at a 12 hour trip. Any suggestions on toys, dvds, cds to bring to help entertain a 9 month old?
Thank you!
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Re: Road trip with a 9 month old
We took DS to FL when he was about 10 months old. There was no way we were driving straight through. We stopped in SC for the night. Even with just doing halfway it was an 8 hour drive to SC vs 6 because of 2 pit stops.
My suggestion is definitely stop somewhere for the night. I know it sounds like such a pain in the butt but there's no way DS could do 12+ hours straight in the car no matter how much entertainment we had.
For entertainment we did have books and rattles to play with. Cellphones work great as well. We have bluetooth speaker in the car as well and he enjoyed "talking" on the phone to my parents.
it will probably depend on your LO's temperment and how used to car trips he/she is, but here's what has worked well for us (all our family is OOT so we've taken many 4 hour trips and several 8 hour trips).
leave early in the morning, practically when LO gets up and feed as many meals in the car as much as possible. We've tried leaving all times of the day and night and the morning works best. i think it's because he's well rested and generally more easy-going than later in the day. oh, and once you're in the car, get on the highway asap - gas up and pack up the night before, get yourselves breakfast/coffee at home that you can take, etc.
I usually sit in the back seat to feed DS and bring a big bag of random toys and books. At some points we'll have to rotate a new toy every 5-10 mintues, peek-a-boo with toys works for a long time and he loves when we sing songs. It also helps to bring a brand new toy or two, or one they haven't seen in a while (that will buy at least 15 minutes, lol.) toward the end of trips I've resorted to clips of barney on youtube on my phone and it helps - I think he likes the singing and dancing aspects of it vs. other kids shows.
We brought a soothing music CD (I got it for $1 at micheals and it is mostly piano and nature sounds) and put it on during "nap times". I will put on the CD, give him his paci, bear, and light blanket and then go to the front seat so he falls asleep. The first couple of times he fussed a little before falling asleep, but we stayed really quiet and he eventually realized this was the sleep routine for the car and it works great now. I think it helps him stay asleep longer too - at first he'd barely nap in the car and it was miserable, with the CD he'll sleep at least an hour, sometimes the full 2 hours.
DS is really great in the car now - we can make the entire 4 hour trip without stopping and we can make the 8 hour trip with one stop about half way (we use that stop to eat lunch and then we're back in the car in time for his afternoon nap). the timing is really critical though, if we leave too late the whole trip is harder, and we found that the more we stop the less DS likes getting back in the car after the stop.
Sorry this is so long, but I feel like we've got it down to a science
GL!
I would try to break the trip up over two days. When J was that age, he maxed out at about 8 hours in the car. And any trip that would normally take 6 hours would take at least 7 if not more, so I can't imagine trying to do a (normally) 10 hour trip straight through.
We did lots of books, toys, singing, snacks. I sit in the back (sucks for me but it's the only way). If your LO naps well in the car, it helps to time it so you either leave and/or stop for a rest right beforehand, so they can work out some energy and you can change their diaper and fill up the tank so you can crank while they're sleeping. I usually put on my white noise app while he's sleeping so road noise/talking etc. doesn't bother him.
Good luck!
TTC #2: BFP 12/17/11, m/c 1/7/12 and D&C 1/12/12
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What works for us is leaving really early. We usually leave around 6 a.m. (put the kids in the car in their jammies - DS will stay asleep and DD usually falls back asleep, drive two hours, stop for breakfast and getting dressed, drive 3 hours till lunch time, stop and let them run around for an hour, and then drive for another three hours. That's their daily max of 8 hours in the car. If we push it beyond that, it's usually messy. This also give them a few hours before dinner to run around and get all that pent up energy out.
As to entertaining while in the car. We bring toys, we sing songs, we read books, we watch DVDs on the portable DVD player. Electronic toys like Fisher Price Puppy, and the cell phones that play music are usually a big hit. With DD, who is older, we play I spy and color. Sitting in the back makes a big difference. Usually someone sits in the back between breakfast and lunch. My kids usually nap after lunch so we sit in the front then.
I don't have a lot of suggestions as my kids are horrible in the car and we have not done much driving but just wanted to see if your LO is already into movies? We didn't do any movies for DD until she was 2 and since she's the older child, DS was exposed earlier,but I have to say that even at 20mo old, he does not show much interest.
so you may want to do some trial DVD-in-the-car watching to see if it keeps him occupied.
Are you nursing? if so, I would pump in the car and give a bottle vs. stopping to nurse.
good luck!
ditto this - I use his nap times to pump while I'm in the front seat.
I echo most of what everyone is saying. BUT I am not sure that I would break it up into two days. I drive to just about Cedar Point, so it's just a little further for you.
I would definitely have one of you sit in the back with DS. It's easier to keep them entertained when you are in the back.
Here is what we would do around that age: I would leave right before the morning nap so that you can most likely get to Breezewood before DS wakes up. Then you can take a break there...15 minutes or so. There is a new Shell station on the right hand side that has a Subway and lots of seats etc so there is plenty of room and CLEAN bathrooms.
Then, we stop at the about mile 80 or so left in PA because it is the last rest stop on the PA Turnpkie, and the first one on the OH Turnpike is closed. So unless you want to get off the Turnpike, this is your best bet. The rest stop at mile maker 197 on the OH Turnpike is nice as well, so if you think DS can last that long, I would go for that, but it's about 230-250 miles from Breezewood.
We get off at exit 145, so I can't give you many hints passed that. I will tell you that we did drive from Detriot to DC in one day when DS was 14 months and stopped about 4 times. It is doable! Plus, if you are tired when you get there, the grandparents can help take care of DS....
Just reread this after posting and saw that it's your grandparents, not his. I am assuming that your parents are in the are and can help take care of him if you are exhausted from the drive.
I guess you need to think about how long your trip is and how many days you can take for traveling. The time we did break driving up into two days, my DS was HORRIBLE the second day of traveling....
PP reminded me, DS is usually a little harder on the return trip. I think it's probably because it is usually a farily short time since he was in the car last (like 2-3 days max), and that he's been sleeping somewhere new, etc.
maybe plan to make the "to" trip in 1 day, but allow an extra day or half-day on the return trip in case you need to stop for the night?
Thank you for the suggestions! We are planning to break up the return trip to visit some friends in Ohio.
Jess - thank you for the rest stop suggestions. We're headed to Flint so just a bit further than Detroit. I'm glad to hear that one day is doable.