How do you keep your toddler busy? It seems I'm torturing him by going to 2 places in one session. And, he constantly wants his water/juice. I'm beginning to think it's more comforting than anything. And, I have to give him a tiny box of raisins just to get him in the car.
When we are doing errands, I let him walk everywhere with me. So, I'm just really at my wits end.
Do you keep toys in the car? He seems disinterested in toys.
I always have to have 2 sippy cups FULL of water/juice and 2 snack cups for an hours worth of errands. And, he always throws his cup on the floor which is driving me nuts.
Suggestions?

By Heaventree on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 12:00 pm:

Matthew doesn't complain about being out and about, we usually keep him in the stroller or a cart. He throws his cups as well, I saw a gizmo at Toys R Us that allows you to tie the cup to the stroller or cart, but I guess if he's walking that's not much help.

By Crystal915 on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 01:14 pm:

Bribes. When that doesn't work, I resort to "I'll call your daddy!!!!"

By Sunny on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 01:22 pm:

I turn the radio up real loud to drown them out when they complain.

I never had too much of a problem. It was always, 'Do you want to go bye-byes?' and the answer was usually, yes. Whenever they did start getting antsy, I point out things to them and try to distract them. When that didn't work, or I got really stressed or frustrated, I got strict. "This has to get done and you have to go along with it. We'll play when you get home." Lately, my 3 yr old and I have this thing where we drive past each of his brothers' schools and we say "hi". He gets a kick out of that.

By Boxzgrl on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 02:12 pm:

Kaitlyn loves the car and being out. I don't think she's ever been antsy or unable to please. I do keep her water bottle in the car and a few dry snacks just in case.
Maybe a story or sing a long cd to listen to?

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 02:24 pm:

Sarah loved going out, when she was a toddler! In fact, one day she cried because we had no where to go!

By Conni on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 02:25 pm:

I did a couple of things when my kids were little. Oh and I dont have toddlers anymore and we still take drinks and snacks with us!

1) I did alot of things when my ds was at Mothers Day Out.

2) I did child swaps with a friend. We still do this, just did it 2 weeks ago. I went on Thur to get my hair done and she kept B. The next day she brought G to my house and she went to get her hair done. Thats just one example.

3) It helped to get out and about early in the morning and get things done. And I always tried to combine my *business* with some fun. So if I drug B to a couple of places that I needed to go, then I would take him to the park on the way home or out for lunch somewhere that had a playplace.

Anything I can take care of over the phone or internet, is great!

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 02:29 pm:

Natalie also loves being out and about. I always have a full cup, an extra bottle of water, and snacks on hand. Usually she just wants the snacks during her normal morning snack time when we're out. I let her walk with me as much as possible, unless my hands will be full and there's a chance she can get away from me. She also doesn't mind getting in her carseat. We listen to A LOT of music, so she has a whole cd case that I burned for her in the car that's just her music. She really enjoys that, and generally sings and does the motions while she's in the car. She's pretty easy to please for the most part.

Sometimes if we've been out for a while running errands and she's getting tired, we play games in the car together which seems to settle her down. Today we were out all morning and by the drive home she was getting a little cranky. We got involved in singing ABC's and she was fine.

I always have link-a-doos on her carseat strap with a bendy toy and an ice teether. She's not cutting any teeth right now and she still likes to chew on that thing while she's in the car. We don't have any other toys than that in the car.

Good luck!! It's frustrating to run errands with a cranky little one, I know.

By Conni on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 02:31 pm:

oops I forgot to answer what B played with in car. He liked stuffed animals, toy cell phones, activity books, magnadoodles, etc...

By Hlgmom on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 02:41 pm:

Books are our saviour in the car! She reads the majority of the time and I also keep crayons and paper handy! We still use the stroller or the shopping cart if it is a longer trip...for a quick store I will let her walk if she wants! I save the snacks for in the cart or stroller and that keeps her happy there! I also always let her choose which toy/book etc she wants to bring when we leave the house! In the car there is a stash of books, and a few toys! HTH

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 03:10 pm:

I also don't give snacks in the car, but do give her a cup if she wants it.

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 04:09 pm:

I always kept spillproof sippy cups with water, dry snacks and teethers with me when out and about with the kids. Toting their special blankets along and playing musical tapes helped, too!

Keep in mind that loose objects can become dangerous projectiles. All toys and books in the car should be soft and squishy. Something you wouldn't mind throwing at your baby.

By Andi on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 04:21 pm:

Taylor looks at books and we sing songs in the car. I usually give her a sippy cup and some snacks. I don't let her walk when we are in a store because it take about 10 times longer to get anything done and she would get into everything.
I put her in a shopping cart and off we go. If we are at the store I usually get her a cookie while I do grocery shopping.

By Amecmom on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 04:21 pm:

Hiedi,
I know what you mean. Yes, keep taking the juice and the snacks. Try and fit your errands into a short time frame. Alone, I can do a bunch of stores. With the kids, I'm lucky if I get to two. Two short trips out each day are better than a long one, I've found.

I'll take Randy to school in the morning, come home, put Helen down for a nap, get some household stuff done, get Randy and run an errand. Then we'll come back for lunch. Helen will have another nap and then we'll run another errand or play.

Again, just try and stick to a consistent routine.

Ame

By Truestori on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 05:02 pm:

First, know that your not torturing him. LOL

In order to get the erands done quicker, I would opt to put him in a cart. It takes alot less time. Plus, you know where he is at all times.

I forget exactly how old he is, but I know that by the age of two my son loved color wonder markers. Does he have anything that makes noise, that he enjoys? Hmm. if I think of anymore suggestions I will post.
If all else fails daycare/preschool 2-days a week is an option.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 05:18 pm:

When Sarah was older, we would go to Burger King and she would eat and get to play on their play structure. McDonald's play area was still only outside and she wouldn't play in the balls, until after Emily was born. The structure at Burger King was something to climb on and had a slide. It was usually a popular place.

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 06:02 pm:

Crystal and Sunny, I love your answers. I always said and say, with parenting, a little bribery and manipulation goes a long way - and when they get a bit older, some guilt (which is, of course, also manipulation). Then, of course, you have kids like my youngest, who didn't manipulate worth a darn.

By Crystal915 on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 06:39 pm:

Sunny, I do that, too!!! When I'm sick of the bickering I just turn the radio up until they start complaining it's too loud. Then I tell them I'll turn it down if they'll BE QUIET!!!!

By Crystal915 on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 08:34 pm:

Heidi,
When I first posted here, I wasn't thinking about your husband being deployed. I actually didn't even realize what I said about threatening to call daddy until I was on the phone with Cori, that's how scatterbrained I've been! I'm very sorry for my insensitive remark, my brain has been functioning at partial capacity lately. I really, REALLY didn't mean anything by it, please don't hate me!

By Mrsheidi on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 09:41 pm:

Oh, Crystal, I never even thought twice about it! I actually laughed out loud!
No worries.
I think I'm going to have to resort to getting some kid friendly music...goodbye Coldplay, U2, 30 Seconds to Mars, and Aerosmith... *sniff*
And, I'll just keep bribing him. Today, I got him a balloon at a jewelry store in the mall. It seemed to work for a while anyway. I also think I need to take him outside to the park more...it's SO darned cold though!!! Brrrrr!!!

By Crystal915 on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 11:33 pm:

Honestly, I got my kids into my kind of music, by showing them how to bop their heads, or rock back and forth. We don't do the kiddie music in the car, but we did teach Shane to brush his shoulders off, and pop his collar, a la Jay Z. (Hrrible, I know!!)

By Amecmom on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 - 08:35 am:

Good for you. My 16 month old screams, 'I want Wiggles!" until I put on the kidstuff station on the satelite radio.

If the trip starts to get long, she points to the dvd screen and shouts, "I want Dora. I want Boots"

Ame

By Debbie on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 - 08:41 am:

You know, I think some kids can run errands and be fine and some just have a hard time with it. My oldest was great and would sit and go from store to store. Now, my youngest was the complete opposite. He was good for one store a day, so I just planned on one errand a day, unless I absolutely had to do more.

As far as music, my dks love the music I listen to, coldplay, the Killers, etc. However, I hate to admit that my youngest loves Tom Jones(dh bought his new cd) I was so embarrassed last week when his teacher told me he was singing what's new pussycat and you're a sex bomb while he was doing his work!!

By Truestori on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 - 10:00 am:

Now Crystal,
If your feel'in like a pimp, go on now Brush your shoulders off! LOL

Have your heard the new one "Grillz"? It is hilarious, my daughter downloaded that video and I couldn't stop laughing!

By Andi on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 - 10:30 am:

ANother thing that works for us is a DVD player int he car...have you tried that? When we are going to be driving for more than 30 minutes I usually put it on for the kids.

By Tink on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 - 11:03 am:

We were able to get our kids to listen to our music, too. I've probably got the only kid in her preschool singing along to G'n'R and Fall Out Boy. At least I know she's got company in preschools in other parts of the country! ;)

Heidi, my youngest never has been good about going for long car rides, even now. She's just a homebody and has seen enough after a store or two. It helps if she knows the last place we're going is somewhere she'll enjoy. Good luck.

By Mrsheidi on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 - 01:09 pm:

Thanks everyone. Andi, I was going to invest in one of those "over the seat" DVD players. Do they have to listen with earphones? I'm not so sure he'd be happy with those on his ears. How does Taylor like it?

By Reds9298 on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 - 01:29 pm:

We have to drive 30 min. to get to the grocery store!!

By Crystal915 on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 - 05:39 pm:

We have a portable DVD player, and can hang it on the seat. We turn our music to front speakers only, and the dvd player at a low, but audible volume, because we don't want to mess with headphones. Definitely one of the best inventions EVER!!

By Andi on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 - 05:56 pm:

We have an over the seat one and they love it! Earphones are optional and we never use them. I usually just turn the radio on so it's only on in the front and they listen to a movie in the back.
Now I think Target has one that plays two seperate movies at the same time on two different screens for around $300, I'm going to get that one when the price comes down a little more.

By Mrsheidi on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 - 10:03 pm:

What's the name of it?

By Truestori on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 - 10:40 pm:

We have the one from Target, and love it! We use headphones but you can defintly use it without.

By Andi on Thursday, February 9, 2006 - 12:24 am:

Go to Target.com and look at the portable DVD Players. The one I am thinking of is $350 and made by Kawasaki. You may be able to find it cheaper on Ebay.
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_2/602-1631516-2713405?%5Fencoding=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B0007X1KX6

You really only need one like the one we have with one screen since you only have Connor right now. You can get one of those for under $200 easily.

Good Luck!