XP: 14 hour car ride... any other ideas??

[Deleted User] · May 2014

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djm31012 · May 2014

are you sure in a confined car she wouldnt watch a show? we did 2 hours the other day and watched about 3 episodes of the bubble guppies. worked like a charm.

JENandJEH · May 2014

We do 11 hour trips fairly regularly and our youngest hasn't been a fan of the car for the majority of his life.

A lot of what you listed that you're taking for entertainment would instantly get chucked and then my LO would be screaming because he threw it and couldn't reach it. We take some books, the travel MagnaDoodle, the iPad and some Matchbox cars and that it. We take some snacks but he makes such a mess with them that I limit what he can have in the car. Always have a water bottle or sippy of milk for him though. Even if she won't watch shows at home, strapped in a car seat she may totally be more interested.

There were some trips that we just had to power through and listen to him fuss for a bit. I always make sure he has his blanket and paci (he only gets it in the car and to sleep) and we move along. I will also say that I try not to make it a habit of over entertaining him so that he doesn't expect us to do that for every trip in the car. We can't sit next to him because we have captains chairs and DS1 is next to him but I probably wouldn't either way. My niece is 4 and her mom or dad has to sit in the back with her for every car trip now because that's what they always did and she doesn't know how to entertain herself now.

[Deleted User] · May 2014

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nuttycoconut · May 2014

I literally got home yesterday from a 12 hour ride with my 16 month old twins. And we drove allllll the way through. We left at 2pm so we would only have 5 hours of "awake" time. They took a nap right away for about an hour and a half. We drove from 2pm-5pm and then stopped for a 2 hour dinner in which we fed them, let them run around, changed diapers and put on pjs. Then we put them back in their seats, gave them milk sippy cups, and put on their bedtime lullaby CD and gave them their blankies. They slept on and off until we reached our destination (about 3am).

I had absolutely no entertainment but we would pull over and I'd get in the back with them when it was really bad. At one point I was giving puffs and just talking/ playing with them. The timing worked perfectly for us, unless you want to pull an all-nighter and drive through the night. My twins were so happy to sleep the rest of the night in their cribs though. The next day was a little rough but I threw in an extra nap and they were as good as new.

It was better for us to sit in the front and go back there when necessary or else they would be too wound up to nap or sleep.

What I'd recommend for the ride - extra clothes (we had 1 poop blow out and 1 pee blow out), snacks, water, milk, blankies, garbage bag, lots of wipes, small stuffed animal and favorite toy. We brought the DVD player but didn't bother with it. They are rear facing and I haven't figured out how that would work unless I held the DVD player the entire time.

I don't blame you for saving $ driving. We took a plane ride with our twins in March and driving was wayyyy better because at least you could always pull over!

ashiscute · May 2014

I hate to suggest shows when you don't think that will work but that would be my first choice. I would buy a cheap portable DVD player and go rent some movies/cartoons whatever from the library. We did a 4 hour drive over the weekend and do an 11 hour drive each summer. Shows work in the car.

The magna doodle thing also can be a hit. So can teethers. Other than books most of the things you listed would not last more than 5 mins or so. And I agree with sitting up front and only moving back if she needs you. Good luck.

JENandJEH · May 2014

I would also caution against bubbles (this just sounds incredibly messy in the car to me...sticky and wet and it's not like you can contain them to just her plus I wouldn't want bubble solution getting sticky and gummy on car seat straps) and I have an issue with glow sticks/necklaces because my oldest was playing with one of the necklaces around Halloween and it burst when he went to bend it a bit (he wasn't being at all rough or bending it farther than it should have been).

[Deleted User] · May 2014

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[Deleted User] · May 2014

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=Lee=B · May 2014

We do a 7hr drive a few times a year. We will be going again in 2 weeks. My 14month old is rear facing. We've found that if I push the front passenger seat all the way forward and remove the head rest then I can comfortably sit in back. I have tons of leg room and have a clear view out the front window (removed head rest).

My daughter is happy to have company and is easier to calm. She sleeps for part of the ride and we just entertain each other the rest of the time. She likes books and toys. We stop once or twice for a food/bathroom/moving break.

=Lee=B · May 2014

My niece is 4 and her mom or dad has to sit in the back with her for every car trip now because that's what they always did and she doesn't know how to entertain herself now.

That's ridiculous! At age 4 it is a learned behavior and if they wanted to change it they would train her to entertain herself...by leaving her to be miserable alone in the back until she starts to entertain herself.

The expectations for a toddler should be much different than a 4 year old. Not sure how old the OP's child is but I assume under 24months. There is no harm in sitting with them for a 14hr car ride. They will learn quickly it was a special thing when mom/dad don't sit with him the next car ride.

JENandJEH · May 2014

=Lee=B said:

My niece is 4 and her mom or dad has to sit in the back with her for every car trip now because that's what they always did and she doesn't know how to entertain herself now.

That's ridiculous! At age 4 it is a learned behavior and if they wanted to change it they would train her to entertain herself...by leaving her to be miserable alone in the back until she starts to entertain herself.
The expectations for a toddler should be much different than a 4 year old. Not sure how old the OP's child is but I assume under 24months. There is no harm in sitting with them for a 14hr car ride. They will learn quickly it was a special thing when mom/dad don't sit with him the next car ride.

I agree it is ridiculous and that a 4-year old is perfectly capable of riding in the back by herself and entertaining herself. I agree that the expectations are different for a 4-year old and a toddler, however, I do think it's overkill to sit in the back to entertain even a toddler. I pointed it out because I think it can be an easy thing to slip in to because "it's easier to keep them happy when I'm sitting back there with them". If you only take a long trip once a year, it's easy to say "well, it worked great when I sat back with her last year so let's just do that this year".

Anyhow, good luck OP. I know long trips can be stressful especially with a child who doesn't like their seat. DS2 is still rear-facing but got so much better in the car around 18-20 months old. We have a DVD player in my van but he can't see it being rear-facing so he does entertain himself without the help of shows (and he can't hear them either because DS1 wears headphones). Books, cars, MagnaDoodle and snacks have all been lifesavers for us. If you're traveling during part of her bedtime as well, that should help. We usually leave around 5pm, stop for dinner around 6:30 and then change them into pajamas and DS2 is usually asleep by 7:30-8pm. We just transfer him over when we get where we're going (usually my parents) and if it's morning, MeMe and Pops play with the boys while DH and I take naps.

dufferoo · May 2014

I think everything you've listed is good; it's the stuff I would want to do, but wouldn't get around to organizing. The only thing I'd add would be more shows. No just joking

I realize that's not what you want. But my kids were always quieted easiest with baby/toddler music. I 'd pack several CDs (Raffi, Wee Sing, Silly Songs, etc.) for when you get to the point that you are going to go postal if you have to hear The Ants Go Marching one more time!! Other than that, I would just put on your game face, and know that no matter what happens, Saturday will eventually come and you will no longer be in the #%€@$& car!

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XP: 14 hour car ride... any other ideas??

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