Long car trip - just toddler and driver

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I regularly travel solo with my twins and have since right before they turned 1. A few thoughts:

1. I 100% agree that the better schedule is to leave super early. I usually would just give them a pouch for breakfast while I change their diapers and get dressed, then let them have some very-un-chokeable finger foods in the car (like puffs cut in half) if they are old enough for that, or if they are too young I might do one of those mesh things with a hunk of apple in it for them to gnaw on. I just assume my car will need a thorough wipe and vacuum afterwards. We just drive and sing songs/listen to music until they start to get fussy/antsy (usually 45-90 min depending on age). Then we get out and go somewhere they can run around. Playground, indoor playspace, empty field, etc. I google online first and have options starting with a place 45 min away, then an hour, hour-and-15, etc. up to about 2 hours. We have a proper meal and some snacks during our playtime, then we get back in the car for naptime. Drive for as long as they sleep, then when they wake up we get out, have a little snack and some playtime (pack bubbles and just stop at a rest area or outside a target or something), then get in the car and do screen time the rest of the way. I like to do Aristocats as a first “real” movie bc it is full of animals and there are hardly any scary bits.

2. I actually think this is easier RF than FF the car seat bc you can toss a toy in their lap and it won’t immediately fall onto the floor. I also usually tie a few favorite soft toys to the headrest of the seat so it can’t fall too far away. And for little ones, I will take a thin blanket and tie a lovey or teether to one corner and then wedge the opposite corner between their back and the carseat, so their body weight keeps it close.

3. Other ideas for entertainment: I record some of their favorite books, stories, songs, finger plays, etc. in advance so I can turn on “Big Red Barn” or whatever they ask for at home. I also keep a bin filled with soft toys in the front seat so I can toss one back to them if we get stuck in traffic or they just seem to need something else. I also definitely have a headrest mirror for them and a rearview mirror for me so I can visually check on them, esp if I have decided to do some snacks in the car.

Thanks l'll check out Aristocats -- DD loves animals so that would be a good one. I also love the idea of a basket of toys in the front seat to hand back.

I would also take any recommendations of songs to put on a playlist!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, leaving early in the AM does not align with the destination, the ppl we are meeting or DDs schedule. We are going to a private cabin in a pretty remote area and meeting the people who own the cabin, who will be arriving late afternoon/early evening.

Also, DD wakes up early with lots of energy so I think better to have her go to playground at home 90 min or so before we leave. Then home for quick bath and lunch. She usually takes a 2-2 1/2 hour nap + which may allow me to make it half way there. She also is a good car napper.

I am curious about suggestions for movies (longer than a show) appropriate for her age so I can put it on and get some good distance before stop #2.

Most young kids are more interested in a movie that’s familiar then one that’s novel. I would bring her favorite episodes of her favorite shows. Not something she hasn’t seen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I regularly travel solo with my twins and have since right before they turned 1. A few thoughts:

1. I 100% agree that the better schedule is to leave super early. I usually would just give them a pouch for breakfast while I change their diapers and get dressed, then let them have some very-un-chokeable finger foods in the car (like puffs cut in half) if they are old enough for that, or if they are too young I might do one of those mesh things with a hunk of apple in it for them to gnaw on. I just assume my car will need a thorough wipe and vacuum afterwards. We just drive and sing songs/listen to music until they start to get fussy/antsy (usually 45-90 min depending on age). Then we get out and go somewhere they can run around. Playground, indoor playspace, empty field, etc. I google online first and have options starting with a place 45 min away, then an hour, hour-and-15, etc. up to about 2 hours. We have a proper meal and some snacks during our playtime, then we get back in the car for naptime. Drive for as long as they sleep, then when they wake up we get out, have a little snack and some playtime (pack bubbles and just stop at a rest area or outside a target or something), then get in the car and do screen time the rest of the way. I like to do Aristocats as a first “real” movie bc it is full of animals and there are hardly any scary bits.

2. I actually think this is easier RF than FF the car seat bc you can toss a toy in their lap and it won’t immediately fall onto the floor. I also usually tie a few favorite soft toys to the headrest of the seat so it can’t fall too far away. And for little ones, I will take a thin blanket and tie a lovey or teether to one corner and then wedge the opposite corner between their back and the carseat, so their body weight keeps it close.

3. Other ideas for entertainment: I record some of their favorite books, stories, songs, finger plays, etc. in advance so I can turn on “Big Red Barn” or whatever they ask for at home. I also keep a bin filled with soft toys in the front seat so I can toss one back to them if we get stuck in traffic or they just seem to need something else. I also definitely have a headrest mirror for them and a rearview mirror for me so I can visually check on them, esp if I have decided to do some snacks in the car.

Thanks l'll check out Aristocats -- DD loves animals so that would be a good one. I also love the idea of a basket of toys in the front seat to hand back.

I would also take any recommendations of songs to put on a playlist!

NP here (one of the OPs of the “give me car appropriate toddler toy suggestion” threads so I haven’t actually done the trip yet) and I’m planning to get the Peter Paul and Mummy album because I like folk music so I won’t mind the songs being played on repeat but it’s also kid friendly (Marvelous Toy, We’re Going to the Zoo, Puff the Magic Dragon, etc). I’ll report back next week how it goes.

[Anonymous]

My 20 mo old loves Baby Einstein Animals Around Me and the whole first season of Baby Einstein Classics. Buy the season on Amazon video and download. It’s a game changer for long car rides.

[Anonymous]

Good luck OP, this did not work with my toddler at this age. When we “got out early so he could go back to sleep” he just never went back to sleep. When we “drove through naptime so he could sleep 2 hours” he would just sleep 30 minutes and then inevitably be awakened by something loud outside, or slowing down at a toll plaza, whatever. Doing it solo is not for the faint of heart.

[Anonymous]

We recently drove from DC to CT so about 5-6 hours. We left after dinner. Put her in her pjs and left. Sucked for us but my toddler slept. On the way back, we tried to time it around afternoon nap and she did not sleep, and she always naps without fail! So I’m on board with driving at night.

[Anonymous]

Ha. I just did a four plus drive alone w my 2 year old. I think you can plan but it’s just not going to be fun. I actually didn’t give him the tablet bc I learned from another trip that it’s much worse if he has it and drops it. So I gave him his lovey and we sang and listened to music. He also sobbed for like an hour which was fun and we had to pull over and take a break. You’ll get through it.

[Anonymous]

Nighttime driving

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, leaving early in the AM does not align with the destination, the ppl we are meeting or DDs schedule. We are going to a private cabin in a pretty remote area and meeting the people who own the cabin, who will be arriving late afternoon/early evening.

Also, DD wakes up early with lots of energy so I think better to have her go to playground at home 90 min or so before we leave. Then home for quick bath and lunch. She usually takes a 2-2 1/2 hour nap + which may allow me to make it half way there. She also is a good car napper.

I am curious about suggestions for movies (longer than a show) appropriate for her age so I can put it on and get some good distance before stop #2.

Leave in the morning, I'm telling you. Leave at 4am. Get there and go the mall an hour out. Go to Panera. Target. Whatever. But leave at 4am, so she'll go back to sleep and it's not CRAZY early for you.

[Anonymous]

I do a TON of solo car trips and I have been doing this for seven years. I now travel solo with 3 kids.

Op:
Trust me, you need to leave early. Have the car running, move her from bed to the car, and drive. And hope to GOD she stays asleep.

I personally do not do any toys in the car, at all. I just don't. If they drop something, they shriek. They throw things. They can look out the window, or sleep. Not a lot of options for them.

Leave at 4am.

[Anonymous]

Hey OP-one thing I haven't seen mentioned....be very very sure your DC doesn't get motion sickness with electronic devices in moving vehicles. Mine did and it was a REALLY REALLY special experience. /s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey OP-one thing I haven't seen mentioned....be very very sure your DC doesn't get motion sickness with electronic devices in moving vehicles. Mine did and it was a REALLY REALLY special experience. /s

+1

[Anonymous]

Try audio books!

[Anonymous]

I would definitely do it early AM, no screens, stop somewhere with a playground, have music she likes and just focus on driving safely. She’s strapped in and you can drive safely even if she’s upset, but you can’t drive safely if you’re trying to cue up peppa pig or pick up dropped toys. Five hours won’t kill either one of you even if it’s miserable.

[Anonymous]

I agree with all posted here. No food as she could choke and you can’t do anything.

Op I know you have a schedule but you really need to listen to everyone on this thread. Drive to a 3 hr away destination and play for 3 hours and eat lunch. Then drive the rest of the way while your child naps.

You just do not want to be driving with an awake rear facing child without a passenger. Unless your child is totally totally different than my two and it sound like many others on this thread.