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Road Trip Tricks

KarlieeAnneKarlieeAnne
in August 2011 Moms

I also posted this in Babies 9-12, sorry if you are there also and it's just a repeat for you but...

My SO and I are going on a mini vacation this weekend with his sister and husband, it's only about a 1.5-2 hr drive, but that's the longest DD has been in a car seat, taking the 20 min to the grocery store sometimes gets her antsy. Just wondering if you had any tips on how to make this the most pleasant drive possible, AND what can we take for her at the beach, other than the usual umbrella, sunscreen, extra swimming diapers etc..have you found something that was fun for your LO in the sand/water??

 

Also, my SO and his BIL are going to be staying Friday night, and then leaving us girls Saturday/Saturday night for a girls retreat, how can I make their drive home easier since I will not be there? Not saying he won't be able to manage, but like a lot of men, he gets frustrated very easily when DD is in the car screaming... :( 

 

Any tips would be appreciated, and maybe a packing check list that you found helpful for your LO if you have stayed away from home base, and in a foreign place.
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Re: Road Trip Tricks

  • +Jasha++Jasha+ member
    We took a 12 hr road trip with DS when he was about 9 months old.  The best thing that we did was leave at night so DS was sleeping for the majority of the trip.  Not sure if that is an option for you, but it seriously saved us.  Perhaps if you planned the drive during her nap time?  DS is usually perfectly fine in the car and is somewhat used to 'longer' 45 min to an hour drives.  We've always got toys in the car, but we bought a couple of new ones just for the trip so he would have something new/more exciting to play with. 
    As for the stay I would make sure that you have something that she is used to being/sleeping in for bed time (We used our PnP which he is used to playing in), and all of his blankets.  We use crocheted blankets and he loves them so it was comforting for him to have those with us.
    Good Luck!  I'm sure it will be an awesome time!
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  • NotSharknadoNotSharknado member
    imageKarlieeAnne:

    I also posted this in Babies 9-12, sorry if you are there also and it's just a repeat for you but...

    My SO and I are going on a mini vacation this weekend with his sister and husband, it's only about a 1.5-2 hr drive, but that's the longest DD has been in a car seat, taking the 20 min to the grocery store sometimes gets her antsy. Just wondering if you had any tips on how to make this the most pleasant drive possible, AND what can we take for her at the beach, other than the usual umbrella, sunscreen, extra swimming diapers etc..have you found something that was fun for your LO in the sand/water??

     

    Also, my SO and his BIL are going to be staying Friday night, and then leaving us girls Saturday/Saturday night for a girls retreat, how can I make their drive home easier since I will not be there? Not saying he won't be able to manage, but like a lot of men, he gets frustrated very easily when DD is in the car screaming... :( 

     

    Any tips would be appreciated, and maybe a packing check list that you found helpful for your LO if you have stayed away from home base, and in a foreign place.
    Lots of snacks! Toys. Leave for trip around her first nap so that ups the chance of her sleeping in the car. Do not, I repeat, do not have anybody sitting next to her in the car that doesn't normally sit there. A water bottle. DD loves it. We are outside getting wet anyway so who cares if it spills everywhere. Lots of towels and blankets. Bring a chair for her rather than a stroller. Strollers suck in the sand. If you have portable tv/ DVD player, bring it. Did I mention large amounts of booze? Also when headed home bring pjs so she could be placed right on crib when you get home(assuming you arrive home on or passed her bed time). Hope this helps.
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  • +Jasha++Jasha+ member
    imageshanado:
    imageKarlieeAnne:

    I also posted this in Babies 9-12, sorry if you are there also and it's just a repeat for you but...

    My SO and I are going on a mini vacation this weekend with his sister and husband, it's only about a 1.5-2 hr drive, but that's the longest DD has been in a car seat, taking the 20 min to the grocery store sometimes gets her antsy. Just wondering if you had any tips on how to make this the most pleasant drive possible, AND what can we take for her at the beach, other than the usual umbrella, sunscreen, extra swimming diapers etc..have you found something that was fun for your LO in the sand/water??

     

    Also, my SO and his BIL are going to be staying Friday night, and then leaving us girls Saturday/Saturday night for a girls retreat, how can I make their drive home easier since I will not be there? Not saying he won't be able to manage, but like a lot of men, he gets frustrated very easily when DD is in the car screaming... :( 

     

    Any tips would be appreciated, and maybe a packing check list that you found helpful for your LO if you have stayed away from home base, and in a foreign place.

    Lots of snacks! Toys. Leave for trip around her first nap so that ups the chance of her sleeping in the car. Do not, I repeat, do not have anybody sitting next to her in the car that doesn't normally sit there. A water bottle. DD loves it. We are outside getting wet anyway so who cares if it spills everywhere. Lots of towels and blankets. Bring a chair for her rather than a stroller. Strollers suck in the sand. If you have portable tv/ DVD player, bring it. Did I mention large amounts of booze? Also when headed home bring pjs so she could be placed right on crib when you get home(assuming you arrive home on or passed her bed time). Hope this helps.

    I want to 2nd this!  SO sat next to DS for the last 1-2 hours of our drive there.  And it was the WORST thing we did.  DS just wanted out of his seat and kept throwing his arms up to daddy to save him, but SO had to just sit there and talk to him to try to keep him calm.........

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  • DKM2006DKM2006
    We're just returning from an 8 (turned 10)-hour road trip. One activity that got us a good 10 minutes of fun was bubbles. I'd blow them from the front seat back at my son. He loved it. Bonus: Bubbles are also fun at the beach!
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  • melissa0726melissa0726 member

    I completely agree with Shanado and Jasha about staying out of the backseat!  I made this mistake once and DD was one P.O.'d little girl because she could see that I was right there, but I wouldn't rescue her.

    We make a 1.5 hour car drive every couple of weekends, and it's not too bad, even though DD also gets antsy on a 20 minute drive around town.  The key is to give her a good breakfast, fill up her belly, and then hit the road about a half hour before she would want to take her first nap.  If we wait until too close to naptime, and she is cranky when we put her in the seat, she actually takes longer to fall asleep.  So a half hour before naptime works for us for a departure. 

    As for the beach, we didn't take any toys.  DD was perfectly happy to just crawl around and pick sticks and shells out of the sand and examine them.  I was glad that I didn't bother, it was that much less to carry.

    For sleeping away from home, we always bring our white noise machine.  It helps DD feel comfortable in a strange place, we don't leave home without it!

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  • EmSue412EmSue412 member

    imageshanado:
    Lots of snacks! Toys. Leave for trip around her first nap so that ups the chance of her sleeping in the car. Do not, I repeat, do not have anybody sitting next to her in the car that doesn't normally sit there. A water bottle. DD loves it. We are outside getting wet anyway so who cares if it spills everywhere. Lots of towels and blankets. Bring a chair for her rather than a stroller. Strollers suck in the sand. If you have portable tv/ DVD player, bring it. Did I mention large amounts of booze? Also when headed home bring pjs so she could be placed right on crib when you get home(assuming you arrive home on or passed her bed time). Hope this helps.

    The bolded sentence is hysterical!  I was just reading along, taking in all the good tips, then I read that.  Bahahaha.  Just letting you know you gave me a good chuckle, shanado.  :) 

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  • Monsieur_et_Madame_HaMonsieur_et_Madame_Ha member

    My parents live a little over 2 hours away, and I always plan our drive according to DD's naps. I suggest you do that (and your SO, too). Might save you a headache :)

    As for what to take at the beach, I'll go with toys that are easy to clean. Keep in simple, too. Plastic cups are great for playing with water and/or sand. Cars are fun, too, if your DD is into them. Also, pack an extra hat, just in case. 

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  • NotSharknadoNotSharknado member
    imageEmSue412:

    imageshanado:
    Lots of snacks! Toys. Leave for trip around her first nap so that ups the chance of her sleeping in the car. Do not, I repeat, do not have anybody sitting next to her in the car that doesn't normally sit there. A water bottle. DD loves it. We are outside getting wet anyway so who cares if it spills everywhere. Lots of towels and blankets. Bring a chair for her rather than a stroller. Strollers suck in the sand. If you have portable tv/ DVD player, bring it. Did I mention large amounts of booze? Also when headed home bring pjs so she could be placed right on crib when you get home(assuming you arrive home on or passed her bed time). Hope this helps.

    The bolded sentence is hysterical!  I was just reading along, taking in all the good tips, then I read that.  Bahahaha.  Just letting you know you gave me a good chuckle, shanado.  :) 

    Glad to know I made you smile:)
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