We road trip thousands of miles a year with 3 kids and have never had this and choose not to get it in our new car. They have a travel backpack with a magnadoodle, a few toys/books that they pick, and some things I add. By now, (1, 5, and 7) they sort of have their routine of what they do and know what they want to pack in the bag. I don't think you can ever go back once you start.

Anonymous wrote:DVD? I don't follow. What is that?

Exactly. I wouldn't get it because DVDs will be extinct sooner than later.

My husband and I were JUST discussing this. We will be getting a van soon and he is wary of getting one with built in entertainment.

I want it because we do do long car trips and I want the option. But he is worried that our son will demand shows on every trip.

Anonymous wrote:DVD? I don't follow. What is that?

Don't be dense.

DVD? I don't follow. What is that?

We have a minivan with the built in DVD player. We didn’t start using it until our twins were 4. We only have DVDs in the car for long trips and the kids get to choose which ones. We don’t have DVDs in the car otherwise. We also have always made the kids use the headphones, so they have no idea that it would be possible for them to hear the DVD player without them. This preserves our sanity because we’re free to talk or listen to the radio while they watch movies.

We take 3+ 7 hour car trips a year. My kids get car sick with the ipad. We have the infotainment in our current car. You need to establish rules and stick with them.

Examples:
Only if there is luggage in the car. I know a family that lied to their kids and said it did not work unless there was luggage in the car

It does not go on until you are on the highway for the trip (or out of your home state).

We need to alternate music / an audio book with videos.

We leverage the great resources from the library - downloading audiobooks, borrowing music and DVDs.

Meh. I have it. Love it. Have never looked back.

Anonymous wrote:We listen to audiobooks on long trips. Would that hold his interest?

Possibly, what are some good titles for the three year old set?

We listen to audiobooks on long trips. Would that hold his interest?

DS is 3 and we also have 4-5hr drives to grandparents’ house. We allow the iPad during these trips. If the screen was constantly there and built-in it I have a feeling he’d ask for it much more often, I guess “out of sight, out of mind” applies. I never liked the idea of just having a tv in the car and the kids watching it constantly just out running errands or to/from school. Not judging people who do, of course, but for us iPad works well for those trips. I also admit I’ve given him my phone to play if we’re stuck in traffic because he’ll get really antsy.

I worked for a couple of families as a nanny who had the dvd set up in the back or allowed iPads - the kids always begged for them.

In your case, it could be fine if he knows that he only gets to use them when he's going to grandma, or it could turn each car trip into a bargaining session... Maybe you could do a short stop before the last hour to stretch his legs, etc? Or get him a special treat/little gift when you see he's flagging?

PP again, meant to mention, the kids don’t ask for it on regular trips. Even some longer drives, they ask to listen to music instead sometimes.

We just use an iPad and download some shows on it before the trip.

DS is three. We just moved to DC and plan to do some driving 5-6 hours to grandparents 6x per year. He does ok in the car...we just did a five hour trip but the last hour was rough. I'm looking at a car with rear seat entertainment but worry he'll whine for it on regular car trips. Do you like this feature, and if so, how do you regulate it? I'd like for him to retain the ability to self-entertain in the car.