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

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.

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!

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.

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.