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Entertaining a 17 month old in the car on a long trip

BP607BP607 member
in Working Moms
Any tips for entertaining my DS on a road trip at the end of this month?  It will be about 9 - 10 hours of actual driving time but we are planning at least two stops so he can get out to stretch his legs work off some energy. 

TIA
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Re: Entertaining a 17 month old in the car on a long trip

  • thedashthedash member
    Do you let him watch TV yet? We have the headrest holder for the iPad and our regular long car trips got so much better when we started letting DS watch shows and movies. I also try to give him a new toy when he's getting super restless. Machbox cars are usually a hit.

    He will play with Scout for a long time in the car - it's a leapfrog interactive toy dog. We bring cd's of kids music and sing together. One of us sits next to him and reads books for a while.

    We also bring his favorite blanket from home to help him take a good nap!
    DS: 2/17/11          DD: 9/4/13
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  • BP607BP607 member
    He doesn't sit down per se and watch TV but if its on he may watch for a couple minutes depending on what it is...I was considering doing the headrest holder for the iPad and watching a movie.  He has a Scout so maybe we will bring him along - Yes, DS LOVES books I was already planning to pack a few..Thanks!
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  • jasminelorraine20jasminelorraine20 member
    Books, My Pal Scout, I'll sing to him or have convo's, sometimes I call my Mom and she'll talk to us through the speaker. I never drive more than 6 hours alone with him, so that usually gets us through, factoring in the 1 1/2-2 hours of sleep he gets on the ride.
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  • jf198400jf198400 member
    We just took a long trip, DS was happier when I sat next to him. I got him one of those magic ink coloring pads he really liked it. We also watched movies on the kindle.
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  • preggersin2011preggersin2011 member
    If it is a 9-10 hr drive I would leave at dinner or bed time and drive through the night. I did 16+ hrs each way with LO at that age (not by choice) and did what we could at night. During the day LO read books and we sang songs with our CDs. We had a little 'laptop' type of toy that played music and talked to you when you pressed different shapes. That's all I brought plus her favorite blanket and animal to sleep in the car with. Honestly when I drive 2+ hrs, I only stop for a 15 min pit stop for gas&potty. I use the overnight diapers on longer car rides so LO is more comfortable. I know it sounds cruel but I found that when I let LO get out and run around, she screams for over an hour when she gets back in the car. I tried it several times and regretted it each time... Same thing happened when we had to change planes. At that age they think they are done and don't realize there is more.  LO ate every meal in the car, plus snacks. i packed a bunch of empty sippy cups and a camping thermos (24hrs cold) of milk, a cooler of packaged coffees and yogurts(i filled my own pouches) cheese, fruit. On the way back, I found restaurant that does curb side to go style not too far off an exit and ordered dinner from there rather than stopped at a fast food joint for food for everyone.
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  • emberlee3emberlee3 member
    Sit in the back with him, lots of snacks, time it with naps or night-time sleep if possible, fun music, lots of stops, sing songs.  Some sort of electronic entertainment is definitely worth a shot.
    DS born 8/8/09 and DD born 6/12/12.
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  • AEBlair06AEBlair06 member
    If you belong to Pinterest, search that site. There are some really great ideas for keeping the little people busy on car trips!
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  • rubber_chickenrubber_chicken member
    We've never tried a cartrip of that length, but we have done several 4 hour trips.  We leave at bedtime, she sleeps in the car, and is generally easy to move to the bed when we get there.  Its the only way it doesn't completely f--k up her schedule.  And the older she gets, the less she wants to be in the carseat :(
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  • tbmadeamistaketbmadeamistake member
    Magnadoodle.  Totally worth the money.  Kept our 15 month old busy for over an hour on our way home from Canada this summer (she's 18 months now).  It was awesome, especially when we were stuck in awful traffic at the border.  GL!

    Married DH 7/30/11

    CSC arrived 5/7/12 

    CHC arrived 6/2/14

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