Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months

Driving Tips for Vacation

Hi! So I planned a vacation for Ocean City MD in August with our 17 month old and 5 month Old..My mother is telling me this is a bad idea and they are too young for the drive.  Its is about 7-8 Hours from NY...

Should I listen to my mom and cancel the trip?  If not if anyone can provide driving tips that would be great:) Leave at night etc.

 

Thank You from a nervous mommy...

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Re: Driving Tips for Vacation

  • KatFCoKatFCo member

    We've been taking 12-hour road trips a few times a year since DD was a year old. Will you be  the only adult? That can make it rough, especially with 2 kids.

    Have one adult sit in the back to entertain  the kids.

    Lots of snacks and favorite toys. Maybe throw in some newer ones. Hot wheel and magnets on a cookie sheet are fun.

    Get the most bang for your buck. If your kids sleep late, leave early in the morning. We sometimes leave as early as 5.

    Take active toys for rest area stops, and plan for about 20 minutes for every 2 hours of driving. Take a mat for the baby to play on. You could also check out what fast food places along your route have play places. Some have spaces set aside for toddlers.

    If you and your DH are able to sleep in the car, then by all means do a night drive. We never have because I can't sleep in a car.

    Make sure you have spare pacifiers, paper towels and wipes. If you use bottles, have them filled with water beforehand so you don't have to stop when the baby is hungry.

    Good luck!

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  • I took DD on a 14 hour road trip when she was 7 months old. It worked out fine. If you can, drive through the night when they sleep or start the trip when they usually go down for a nap. Then they will sleep a lot of the way. We just brought some small toys and lots of snacks/drinks. We stopped for all meals so that she could stretch her legs. If she started to get really restless, then we would pull over for 15 minutes or so. It gave time for a diaper change and for LO to be out of her car seat. It really wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be!
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  • I had to drive 18 hrs with LO last minute because I couldn't get a plane ticket. Just put them in the car at bedtime and start the drive. i live near albany ny and had to drive to SC with LO. It is a very easy drive to get to MD
  • We have taken our LO 6-7 hours to where our parents live ever since he was an infant (and that is when it was easiest.) We try to leave later in the afternoon/night so that he sleeps at least half the way. I have found that if I crack a window when he's fussy he'll calm down or fall asleep. As he gets older that deosn't work as well. I would prep for the 17 month old more than the 5 month old...he/she will probably sleep most of the way...the older child will want/need entertainment on occasion.  New apps, movies, or a radio with songs and some toys are great. A quiet book or books in general to look at may help too.  If you're travelling at night, take a nightlight in case one of them wakes up.  LO freaked out on a trip when it was dark...I realize the east coast is more populated so that may not even be a problem...but travelling from CO to NM is all desert with not many cities with lights along the way. We just used one of those portable push lights.

    McDonald's or Chick-fil-A with a play area may be a good place for a meal so that your older child can run around. Good luck! :)

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