7 hour car ride for a 10 month old -- tips?

[Anonymous]

We're driving 7 hours with our 10 month old. Any tips? Toys that help to pass the time? Thanks so much!

[Anonymous]

Assuming you have someone else other than the person driving, have another person sitting in the back so the child has someone to interact with, adjust any kind of visor to keep the sun out of the baby's eyes, etc.

[Anonymous]

Plan on it taking 9 hours. It's all about expecatations.

Take frequent stops at rest areas. Let you baby "stand" up in the carseat to stretch legs. Everyone get out and get some fresh air.

Bring snacks and pack your own lunch. You can eat faster and better than any restaurant on the road.

Accept that there will be periods of crying at some point. Again, it's all about expectations. You and your spouse can have a contest as to who can think of the silliest song to sing to baby. Take a classic and change the lyrics. Do whatever it takes.

[Anonymous]

no tips, just commiseration. we have an 8 hour car ride coming up. fingers crossed for us both!

[Anonymous]

Travel at night

[Anonymous]

Travel at night or leave at 3 in the morning. Knock out 4 or 5 hours - stop and have breakfast somewhere, then finish the rest.

Even if your baby is up (one of ours would do that) he would be quiet because it is dark. If someone can sit in the back that is ideal as well. We have an itouch for car rides set up with infant arcade which they like. At that age, a movie wouldn't do anything for them.

[Anonymous]

We did 17 hours with a 11 month old.

We started at 5PM drove 3 hours with one in the backseat singing songs, playing with small toys, drawing, etc. we then stopped for dinner, got DC into PJs did note time routine (book, bottle, brush) and hit the road hard. The deal was 3 hours each one while the other slept so DH did the first stretch till dinner I did the second stretch. He was snoring so I just kept driving until he woke up. It was 11 hour later LOL

My suggestion is do night time routine and put baby to sleep in the car. Then drive 4 hours each one. You can even plan a stop and you both take turns staying in the car.

[Anonymous]

Night* not note.

[Anonymous]

We do the 7 hour car ride a lot because my ILs live that distance from us. At 10 months, DS was pretty good in the car, but we always timed it to coincide with a nap or got up super early (we left once at 3am and knocked out half of the trip before he woke up again). Plan your stops wisely. Do not drink too much water so you require a stop when your babe is sleeping. Expect that he will cry for the last 45 minutes or so back home, because that's just how it is.

I always sat in the back with DS -- or, I started out in front, but would move to the back for the last leg of the trip. Toys and books were only so helpful by the last few hours. Maybe puffs or something to eat would help pass the time and provide something to do. I played a lot of peekaboo from the back seat!

[Anonymous]

Wake up really early and try to get a bunch of driving done in the early morning while you child is still sleeping. If you leave the house at 4 am, your child will probably sleep until 8 am. By that time you are over half the way there.