We're taking dd on her first trip over Labor Day. She'll be about 14 1/2mths. then. It's a 6-7 hr. drive without kids, so I know it will take longer with her. We've never traveled very far with her before. Any suggestions, hints, or tips? We're staying in a somewhat small mobile home with my grandma. Anything will be appreciated since we're totally GREEN!!! TIA

By Mrsheidi on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 04:07 pm:

We've taken Connor on over 9 flights, but I can imagine that the car is just as difficult. We bought a collapsible cooler to put drinks/snacks in. Gallon ziploc bags are good for dirty diapers. If you are traveling by car, I would put in some kid friendly music...DS likes our baby signs CD.
I would bring some childproofing things like outlet plugs, etc. And, of course, some new toys...or toys she hasn't seen in a while. (I hide toys for 2 weeks and cycle them out so he gets so excited when he sees them again!)

Sunshades for the windows if needed. Sunscreen, stroller, pack n play, sippy cups, change of clothes for a quickchange. And, of course, Tylenol, Benadryl, thermometer, diapers, wipes, etc.

By Trina~moderator on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 04:36 pm:

Patience, be sure to bring lots of patience. If you or your DH are stressed the baby will feed off it. Don't be in a rush to get there. Stop at least every 2 hrs., more if you need to, and let the baby out to run around, etc.. I'm echoing Heidi... drinks, snacks, large ziplock bags, extra clothes, diapers and lots of wipes. Musical CDs are great and so are story tapes. Definitely hide some new/different toys and pull them out when she gets antsy.

By Amecmom on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 04:38 pm:

We made an eight hour drive with my son at 11 months. It became 10 hours. We traveled at night, when he would normally be sleeping. This way, he slept the whole trip and his routine was not unduely disrupted.
enjoy your travels.
Ame

By Reds9298 on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 07:53 pm:

Ame - We thought of that but worried that WE would be so tired the next day we couldn't enjoy ourselves. Did you share the driving?

Thanks also to Heidi and Trina...I know we will be taking a million things but wondered of anything unusual that we wouldn't think of. Trina, I think you're soooo right about the patience, so I hope I remember mine! Dh is much better at that than I am in general. We have tons of music cd's so I know that will help.

Thanks everyone!

By Pamt on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 09:02 pm:

We traveled in 12 hour car trips from the time our first son was a few months old. I would actually recommend NOT stopping very frequently. Once they remember how free it is not to be in the carseat it is hard to get them back in. I would plan to leave about 1-2 hours before naptime. She'll be easy to entertain that long, then maybe stop and eat let her run around and then get in and drive as long and hard as you can. She'll sleep for awhile and then be entertained for awhile. I really think you should stop no more than twice. Once for lunch, then for a potty break. Bring a couple of new toys that she's never played with, kids' CDs, and both of my boys LOVED to look at toy catalogs like "One Step Ahead" and anything else that had lots of pictures of toys, babies, and toddlers. These had the added benefit that it didn't matter if they were abused during the trip. Have fun!

P.S. Oh and I would have the parent not driving sit in the back with her to sing, play, read stories, etc.

By Reds9298 on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 09:29 pm:

Thanks Pam- I think you're right! Once she realizes how fun it is to be out of that carseat she will NOT be a happy camper getting back in. Thanks for the great suggestions!

By Trina~moderator on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 10:12 pm:

I guess it depends on the temperament(s) of the child(ren) as to whether to make frequent stops or not. My parents have always lived 8-10 hrs. away. DS did OK in the car but DD screamed almost non stop while en route. Nothing would calm her but stopping. It was absolutely necessary to stop at least every 2 hrs. because we were all frazzled. Gosh, I'm SO glad those days are behind us! By all means, if you can keep driving, go for it. LOL!

By Heaventree on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 11:43 pm:

We always travel at night. We leave at 4 pm and Matt will have a short nap in the car. Once he awakes we stop for dinner, around 6 pm. Then we drive the rest of the way we usually arrive around 11 or 12 pm so were are not all that tired the next day. It shortens the time for us as Matt sleeps the entire way. If we drove during the day we would have to stop much more frequently and it would increase our travel time, which would then make me cranky .

By Reds9298 on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 01:03 pm:

That's another good idea Heaventree! I was always thinking of leaving in the morning and driving all day, or leaving at dd's bedtime....never thought of just going after work, then we wouldn't be too tired the next day and dd will sleep half the trip. I'm going to talk to dh about that tonight. The ride there is what worries me the most...afraid of her getting irritated about being in her carseat all day. I agree Trina, and since we've never taken a long road trip before I guess we'll just be learning the hard way!

My other main worry is that she'll be weirded out about sleeping in her pack 'n play and in a new place combined. She'll be in the same room with us. I'm going to try and make it as comfortable for her as possible, and put the same stuffed toys in as she has in her crib.

By Heaventree on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 08:07 pm:

We went away not long ago and I had the same concerns about the pack and play. I made sure he had his blanket (we call it a dou dou) and his polar bear which he sleeps with each night. We had no problems.

I think sometimes it's easier when you're away because they are so over stimulated from the new environment and activities, not to mention they usually go to bed later than normal that they just crash when it's time.

Enjoy your trip, it's good to be prepared but try not to worry too much about things that haven't happened yet.

By Mrsheidi on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 08:13 pm:

It sounds strange, but when we went to Florida, it helped to put his pack n play in the bathroom. That way, he really didn't realize he was in it because he couldn't *see* much because it was so dark. It *really* made him sleep better. Like I said, we've done a lot of traveling and the pack n play was so difficult for him to sleep in. But, once it was pitch black, he slept for even LONGER than he normally does at home. And, of course, he had his blankee and pacifier.
You might want to bring some VHS or DVD videos too. (Depending on what your grandma has.) If you are visiting, you might not be able to be out and about like most toddlers want to be. Your grandma might not be in the mood to go shopping, etc.

By Kaye on Saturday, August 13, 2005 - 08:56 am:

I have always lived at least 5 hours from grandparents. The key here is if you plan on doing this, you set the tone for future trips! She is old enough to play alone and listen to music and handle the trip, give her the chance to be successful!. Like Pam, we don't stop extra for the same reason, I found that it takes my kids 20-40 minutes to calm down and get their groove in the car (not from crying, but just shuffling, talking etc), but once they get going they are good. You have some great ideas. I always sat up front with hubby, I guess if it got bad we would have switched, but we don't usually. I also don't drive at night because I don't want to be tired the next day, also I found when we left late and my baby slept from 7 to 11 and then was awake, she didn't go back to sleep when we got there very easily. Take plenty of drinks and snacks for her, it is an easy distraction. I took things like cheerios, but not gummy or big things. Most kids do just fine if you make sure you are prepared. My 3 kids only my middle one struggled and that was only until he was forward facing. We regularly took 5 hour trips and then moved to 16 hour trips. My biggest suggestion is just go, expect to have a good time and then keep going! My kids grew up in the car, it is common place, they are 7,9 and 11 and we don't have a tv because they have plenty of other things to do. Oh favorite car toy, small size magnadoodle!

By Imamommyx4 on Saturday, August 13, 2005 - 12:32 pm:

I know a lot of moms may jump my case, but I have found the dvd player to be wonderful. Dd doesn't watch it for 8 hours straight, but she will watch a movie, then look at books or watch out the window or sing or play with toys or draw or play with her Leap Pad or whatever. I keep her bag handy to her and she does what she wants. We load a dvd carrier with her movies and she picks thru and finds what she wants. It just seems to make the trip go easier.

We only stop to eat, gas, and potty and usually try to make multi use of any stop.

By Vicki on Saturday, August 13, 2005 - 06:02 pm:

No jumping here... I think the dvd players in the car are the greatest thing since sliced bread!! LOL

By Amecmom on Saturday, August 13, 2005 - 07:37 pm:

Sorry Deanna - didn't see your question until now. Yes, we share the driving. My husband would come home early that day, and take a nap. Who ever was feeling most awake would start the trip. The other would sleep and then we'd switch off.
It worked well for us. Good Travels!
Ame

By Amecmom on Sunday, August 14, 2005 - 09:54 am:

Deanna,
Start putting her in her Pack n Play for naps now. It will take a few days, but she'll get accustomed to sleeping there.
Ame