I've timed my 1.5 year old in the car with this. He has played for 20 minutes straight, on multiple trips. I don't see the appeal, but it is a hit.

Melissa & Doug Peek-a-Boo House Wooden Baby and Toddler Toy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007Y9NX04/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_Uxo5zb8E6Q1TX

This has kept my kids engaged for a surprisingly long amount of time, starting around that age. They have smaller versions too:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071GPG973?psc=1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street. Seriously, long car trips are boring for anyone, let alone a one year old. A few episodes of TV won't break the toddler.

I tried this, but at 15 months my kid was just not that interested in TV yet--I don't think he had the attention span. So have a few other tricks up your sleeve.

Yes. Our twins were not really interested in watching TV in the car until about 2.5. They would watch at home, but in the car, they would watch maybe 5 minutes and then get bored and would fuss. It wasn't worth the effort to setup and all for that amount of time. We just kept a large bag of toys in the space on the floor between them and my wife would just cycle the toys back and forth between the kids and the bag. If enough time had gone by, the toy from 15 minutes ago was new again.

Things that worked for us at that age:
Skwish
Winkel
Travel Aquadoodle
board books
squeeze toys (toys like rubber ducks that make sounds when you squeeze them)
VTech nursery rhymes book (annoying as it is, it kept my twins occupied a long time)
Alphabet links
Toy phone with music and lights
Masking tape in various colors (Michaels has a big selection in many colors)

Anonymous wrote:Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street. Seriously, long car trips are boring for anyone, let alone a one year old. A few episodes of TV won't break the toddler.

I tried this, but at 15 months my kid was just not that interested in TV yet--I don't think he had the attention span. So have a few other tricks up your sleeve.

Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street. Seriously, long car trips are boring for anyone, let alone a one year old. A few episodes of TV won't break the toddler.

Bring one of those muslin blankets and play peek a boo for as long as you both can stand it.

Also, using a small stuffed animal to play peek a boo. Hiding all over the place and popping out. Hanging from the ceiling, popping up from behind the head rest.

Count the piggies on her toes about 700 times.

That got us through about 90 minutes of a car ride with a one year.

Also, feed her one goldfish at a time very slowly over the course of like an hour.

This toy is golden: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0043G4JOA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Granted, your kid probably won't be able to do and undo the clasps, but that doesn't mean s/he won't be entertained by it. And it's quiet. My kid wasn't really entertained by the etchsketch things at 15 months for more than a minute. Bring favorite books (maybe a new one?) and some painters tape (like stickers but endless, plus you can use it to babyproof at your destination).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anything new, and with lots of variety. Shapes, letters, flip books, regular books, etch-a-sketch, finger puppets, mirror(s), toy radios/musical toys that can be held in one hand, colorful bracelets, toy keys, stackable cups and bowls, stickers, anything you can build a story around, etc etc.

Are you actually a parent? You would subject yourself to 8 hours of musical/radio toys in a small car? Oh heck no.

You sound on edge... Who said anything about having it/them on for 8 hours? The Baby Einstein radio was a big hit with my son in the car when he was this age and we traveled by car to New York. As for endless entertainment, I actually like my kid and interacting with him. I wish I could do more of it, but I work a lot, so I can't. I understand that doesn't make me a cool mom. That's ok, I never was.

Anonymous wrote:Anything new, and with lots of variety. Shapes, letters, flip books, regular books, etch-a-sketch, finger puppets, mirror(s), toy radios/musical toys that can be held in one hand, colorful bracelets, toy keys, stackable cups and bowls, stickers, anything you can build a story around, etc etc.

Are you actually a parent? You would subject yourself to 8 hours of musical/radio toys in a small car? Oh heck no.

If you really need toys, please get soft fabric books and the like. The etch a sketch is a hazard in the car. Don't start the cycle of endless and constant entertainment. The people the child loves are in the car and the outside view is constantly changing ~ set up the future for good travelers by keeping things simple. Have fun!

Anything new, and with lots of variety. Shapes, letters, flip books, regular books, etch-a-sketch, finger puppets, mirror(s), toy radios/musical toys that can be held in one hand, colorful bracelets, toy keys, stackable cups and bowls, stickers, anything you can build a story around, etc etc.

Do a search on here for toys for a plane ride -- I got done great suggestions from here. The Water Wow and cloth books with little pockets and things to put in them

Maybe a flip book of the alphabet?

We have an 8 hour car ride in front of us. We are going to time it with her second nap, stop for dinner and then head out again for bedtime. That said, she'll be up for a bit in the car. Any suggestions for good toys? I'll sit in the back with her and hand her something new every once in a while. We are going to stock up on a few new things. Thoughts?