I am a child passenger safety advocate who has worked with thousands of families on vehicular safety. My very-strong advice would be NOT to turn your toddler forward-facing. While a few children do better with motion sickness when forward-facing, it doesn't make a lick of difference for the majority of children. Additionally, forward-facing children generally have more complaints about the car because sleeping isn't as comfortable, their legs fall asleep, and they can't prop their legs up as easily. Most importantly, however, forward-facing is far-less safe.

Do you have a second adult who can take care of the children during the day so you can sleep and then can drive all night?

I'll be that person- unless you are moving, going somewhere for life-saving medical treatment or literally to see a dying relative, YOU SHOULDN'T BE GOING ANYWHERE. We are about to enter some of the darkest months in American history. Stay home. Again, if it's one of those three things I'm sorry and good luck.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drive 8 pm - 2 am each day. He sleeps the whole way. Earlier if you can swing it.

When is she supposedly sleep? 3-6am then what does she do all day with the kids? My advice. Fly.

Did you read the post?

Yes. You can ship your cars.

I will second (or third/fourth, whatever it is) that turning my kids around to face forward made road trips significantly more manageable. I am absolutely convinced it is far safer for kids to be faced forward than to be faced backwards in a car whose driver is going nuts from constant screaming.

Pp here. I wouldn’t break up the drive over 2 days. Just with covid it’s harder and I didn’t want to stay at random hotels. Also, when you’re driving at night make sure you know that a lot of gas stations are closed now at night. I’ve done the drive by myself too. I’d let my kid scream and just ignore it. Surely he couldn’t scream for hours?

We’ve done this often and are setting off tomorrow with a 24 month old. We leave at 5pm. The kids watch movies on their iPad and then fall asleep by 7pm. We drive through the night. Usually I fall asleep around 8pm and then Dh wakes me at 1am. I will drive the 1-6am stretch. It’s super easy. I chug coffee and eat pretzels (eating a tiny bit every 15-30 min keeps me awake) and listen to books on tape. By 6am I can’t do it anymore and the early commuters are out and zipping past and i wake Dh. Last month we pulled in and both slept 6-8am then woke up and drive some more.

Have you turned your puker around? We had to flip my daughter at 3 because she was always puking. I have tons of activities for the kids: iPads, water wows, etch a sketch, and little electronic books. My 4 year old is obviously easier to entertain.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drive 8 pm - 2 am each day. He sleeps the whole way. Earlier if you can swing it.

When is she supposedly sleep? 3-6am then what does she do all day with the kids? My advice. Fly.

Did you read the post?

Anonymous wrote:Drive 8 pm - 2 am each day. He sleeps the whole way. Earlier if you can swing it.

When is she supposedly sleep? 3-6am then what does she do all day with the kids? My advice. Fly.

That sounds like hell for everyone! I wouldn’t go.

When will you make this drive?
Any chance your 22 mo will be 2 yrs old (or generally big for his age) by the time you need to travel and therefore can technically get away with forward facing car seat (at least this 1x to get you through bloody murder screaming and puking....poor thing)? It will help with motion sickness. And the big "change" will be a novelty for him.

I would do it over three days and drive at night if you can. Don't drug your kid.

Drive 8 pm - 2 am each day. He sleeps the whole way. Earlier if you can swing it.

Can you give him meds for motion sickness?? Poor baby.

Well he sleep if you drive at night? How does he react to benadryl?

I need to do a 12 hour drive with me 22mo and 3yo. Some of it on mountainous roads and the 22mo both hates the car generally and gets car sick. He starts rage screaming 15min into a drive and doesn’t stop ever. He cries until he pukes and then cries more. I can do the drive over 2 days.

How would you split the drive up and any tips for the younger one? The older one will happily watch his iPad the whole time. We are moving so not doing the drive isn’t an option.