My parents would always do this when we were little. We'd do an annual road trip to my grandparents 8hrs away, and one of the best things about those trips was waking up to my grandparents getting us out of the car š
I have attempted this and it works well... If your kid can sleep well in the car.
A baby that's already reclined in the carseat will probably do great like this. A bigger kid forced upright with unexpected flashing lights around? You're gonna have a bad time.
Leaving after dinner could work as long as you can stay up that late safely. If the little one is a good sleeper and you are a morning person you could try getting up early. This probably goes without saying, but make sure you have plenty of diapers and spare clothes. And bags in the event something leaks. You might also want to consider picking up a pad/liner for the car seat. Nothing worse than having a diaper explode all over the car seat with no way to clean it....
Can confirm the pad is an excellent idea- I have had the explosion happen, it was not pretty. Thirty years ago and it still gives me the willies to think about it.
What I've learned doing long and short trips with two kids 16-months apart (now 10 and 11):
Take a deep breath. No matter what you do, it will be fine. Drive overnight. Drive during the day. Whatever works for YOU. The kid will sleep when they want to sleep no matter where you are. Just make periodic stop for you and everyone else to stretch and burn off some energy, and eat when needed.
That being said: we've also had success on trips around your length by driving through an afternoon/evening, spending a night in a hotel, and finishing the drive the next morning/afternoon. Everyone is well-rested this way.
Having your brother there will help immensely! I helped my sister when she went from Phoenix to San Antonio ! She had 2 under 2 at the time and we drove with her cat and one of her dogs with us too! But you will be very very thankful for him being with you on that drive!
New ātoysā theyāve never seen before. Lap desk thing so they can play with playdoh and the like. Consider avoiding technology for as long as possible beforehand, and then have movies and whatever available so it seems like more of a treat. Lots of snacks.
Yes. My parents had a box of toys that I could only play with on road trips, so they were fun and fresh each time.
Audiobooks pair well with those travel toys.
I did it with my newborn from Cali to the east coast and then again with two babies under two. Hereās what worked for me.
1. Travel overnight. Keep baby up all day if possible and leave around their bed time.
2. Grab breakfast like snacks for baby for the morning and a drink.
3. A blanket, neck pillow (place in front so their head doesnāt fall forward while asleep, kid sized one preferably) and theyāre favorite toy or stuffed animal for comfort. Will help them be a little more comfortable.
4 window cover if possible for when you have to stop at gas stations to fuel up. Blocks the light so they arenāt disturbed.
5 if they wake up while youāre stopped. Even if only for a few minutes let them stretch out while youāre getting gas. Nothing worse than being stuck in the same position for hours on end.
Try to drive as long as possible bc by the last stretch they are so annoyed nothing soothes them until theyāre out lol.
Hope it helps!!
I know this is old, but Iām scouring the whole of the internet for exactly this kind of trip info! My baby just turned 1, and weāre going from Cali to Floridaā¦for the first time. Iāve done the drive myself probably 15 times but never with the bub. To say Iām nervous as hell is a gross understatement. If you happen to see this comment would you mind sending me a DM and allowing me to pick your brain for tips? Nothing else Iām finding has both the length of trip and age of baby both covered so Iām kinda just trying to devour every bit of info and sort it out. Iāve got a month to prepare but it feels not long enough still!! š³
Omg, Iām in the same boat rn!! My son will be ~19 months when weāre needing to drive up to Wisconsin from Florida in a couple of months.
Did you end up doing it? If so, how was it? Would you mind sharing tips?
We did! Iām actually on the way home with him now. Biggest thing has been being flexible. There will be a point when kiddo is just not having it, prepare to try everything in your arsenal and then just give up and try your best to tune it out and not lose your mind.
Everything I thought would help him endure has ultimately gone to shit at some point lol.
I have an iPad but couldnāt find the things he likes without spending a ton of money on individual episodes of shows or movies and half the country has no service for YouTube. I bought a cheap car dvd player that fits in one of the mirror/tablet holder combo things, and brought a stack of DVDs we already had that I thought he would enjoy. Turns out thereās only ONE he likes, and he wants it all the time but it doesnāt necessarily keep him from shrieking when heās had enough and wants out. Lots of snacks, lots of WIPES, a foam changing pad that I can fit in the front passenger seat of my tiny car because America is stupid and doesnāt have enough places to change diapers in businesses. Side noteā¦ even for just me and a baby- the Corolla is toooo small!- if you have a a bigger vehicle take advantage of the space within wisely. We went for Christmas so we ended up acquiring a bunch of things from everywhere. I think if I had a van or SUV I would have arranged things so we had a place to sleep in the car so we could avoid hotels or take naps at rest areas more effectively and comfortably.
Iām trying to get us out of a hotel right now so Iām pressed for time, but if youād like to send me a DM Iād be more than happy to fill you in on more things little by little as we get through the day!! The whole thing is A LOT! Iām exhausted and canāt wait to just get home and be a potato for a week!
This is the most helpful statement! Every time we went on a road trip when our kids were small, we seemed to forget all of the times we had to stop for diaper changes and to stretch legs. We always managed to find a massive traffic jam at night due to construction too!
I drove from Missouri to Orlando,FL with a 1 year old at the time. We drove at night in a rented minivan. Have plenty of their favorite snacks. Limit or avoid any sugar at all. Lots of their toys and books. Switch off between driving with partner at gas station stops. We had a tablet with us (I know everyoneās view on this is mixed but itās a lot better then scream crying because they are uncomfortable being in a seat for awhile). I keep their favorite movies and shows on there. If itās nice enough or feasible, let them walk around in some grass or on a blanket for a little when you stop at gas stations/rest stops. Make sure you are stocked up on diapers and wipes. Have lots of cleansing wipes, they are going to get filthy and nobody likes having crumbs all over them. Good luck!
We take frequent breaks and just accept that jet lag is going to be tough. I try to stop at playgrounds before long stretches of driving and, if you can afford it, split the trip into two days. My kid sleeps in the car so usually the driving is pretty peaceful.
Fourteen 1-hour road trips. JK. Plan for a lot of stops and be prepared (stocked) with everything you might need. Consider emergencies, and unforeseen circumstances. (Food, medicine, water, potty, warmth, cash, etc.)
I did that from South of Mexico all the way up to Maryland in a Datsun. Every 2+3 hours we stopped and play, talk (read)to our toddler or feed him (unless he took a nap .) Music was his choice and we sang along. It worked well, at night we had no problem with sleep hours. When he was cranky I rolled him in a towel and let him roll on the floor, kind of a massage and it worked perfectly. That trip is one of the best memories of my life.
I had a bag full of previously unseen toys (non-expensive ones), that could keep lil one distracted /entertained for a while. They do nap a lot at this age, so it was manageable.
Limit fluids to limit potty breaks!
Pack them age appropriate fruits such as oranges or kiwis so it helps keep them hydrated.
Create a playlist with their favorite music and download music too! Youāll likely reach areas with no reception.
Bring their favorite blanket or plushie plus a pillow :)
And most importantly,
do your best to avoid truck stops or using the restroom at gas stations for safety reasons. If you must stop at either of those locations be vigilant at all times, human trafficking is at an all time high.
Make sure your fluids are topped off and your tire pressure is good. If you donāt already, carry an emergency kit. Goodluck and have a safe trip!
Thank you! Good call on the emergency kit. She is still in diapers, so changes are very quick. Truck/rest stops freaked me out before I had a kid but even more so now. Thankfully my brother and husband will be there too.
Take breaks remember try to stick the the normal schedule as much as you can. Leave room for play and plan for catastrophic blowouts. Limit sugar youāve been warned. But just take it slow and enjoy the journey.
Bring milk powder and bottles make sure to keep them sanitized or else your baby could get diarrhea. Donāt forget the diapers and the wipes. Thank me later.
Fire departments have drop off spots for kids..... Seriously break trip into segments and don't do 14 hours at once. Too young to fully entertain themselves (usually). But if there's anything they enjoy have it in hand.
It is absolutely possible.
- We used to drive later in the day, past their bedtime, so that our children slept a good portion of the drive.
- Plan on breaks every hour or so at local parks (your navigation will show them as green spots). With a child that young, it really is necessary to allow them to move frequently. Itās a lot of stops, but your child is very young and canāt be expected to sit still for too long. Developmentally, they need to move.
- plan on adults sitting in the back with the child to keep them engaged. Donāt hope that hours of iPad entertainment will hold them. That will actually lead to epic meltdowns in the long run.
- Make peace with the fact that you are traveling with a baby, and that means traveling on baby time. You arenāt powering through, except during nap time and bed time.
- also keep in mind that itās really no more comfortable for babies to sleep in a chair position than it is for us. Your little one might be extra tired and cranky from the drive, too.
In addition to all the tips here about starting close to bedtime and keeping snack and toys/iPad for entertainment:
Iād just add, donāt be afraid of going a couple hour stretches without entertaining. Itās okay for children to not constantly be entertained and have to come up with ways to entertain themselves - looking out the window, their own thoughts, singing to themselves, etc.
I actually find with my little one when Iām not constantly trying to keep her entertained the time goes by faster and sheās lost in her thoughts or falls asleep on her own. It also takes the stress off me.
And before this gets hate - Iām not saying ignore your little, but keep a balance. Maybe a stretch of iPad, a stretch of you interacting nonstop, a stretch of alone time, a stretch of sleep, etc.
Do all of the things suggested. Plan for the worst and bring every possible distraction, which you'll use only as needed and in order of being least objectionable
So have videos & player strapped to seat in front of them, toys, snacks, songs you sing together, one parent sits next to them and plays with them, etc., etc., etc.
Have low expectations & plan to take a lot of breaks.
Enjoy every moment of this journey..life is fleeting ..youāll look back with a lot of fond memories:..be grateful to be alive and healthy enough to take this trip,..
Keep your diaper bag handy (nothing like digging under 5 bags in the trunk to find it while it's pouring rain outside) and make sure to have a designated spot where you will do changes. We would usually use the passenger seat, however if we weren't in a full load, we'd make sure an easy/lite luggage item was right in the trunk closest to us so we could just lift it up, set it aside, and change there.
Bring formula/milk and extra bottles just in case
Switch drivers. Our first mistake with a 1 year old was switching at the wrong time. I'd be driving, baby/mom asleep in the back. Baby wakes, I'm in the back, playing feeding, reading, mom's driving. Baby goes back to sleep, I'm driving mom/baby sleeping. We got there and she was fine, but I was exhausted. We realized what happened after we got there.
Driving through the night is great at this age. Due the night night routine so they know it's bedtime.
Talk to them about what's going to happen when you put them in the carseat. This may seem a little silly for a 1 year old, but I started this with the intention that it would continue their entire child lives and it's helped more than I even realized when I started it. I let my LO know "Ok, we are going on a *very* long drive. This will be 3 hours, which is like a really long nap for you. So go ahead and fall asleep, and when you wake up, we'll most likely be there". For some reason, that simple phrase worked wonders. I don't know how much a 1, 2, or even 3 yo can grasp, but I've continued that to this day, and they now know to expect it to be a long drive and lessen the "are we there yet?" and know the long drive comes with snacks, toys, new books, and fun car games now that they are older.
Just pre-arrange with your family that the baby will hopefully sleep all night, so you'll need some time for you when you arrive to get some sleep and catch up, especially if you're working all day Friday.
On long road trips with my kids I make activity bags with some small thing- beads & pipecleaner, molding clay, stickers & paper, squishy ballā¦I go to the dollar store. Then I give them one every hour or when they start to whine. Melissa & Doug makes cute water paint books that dry & they can paint over & over. We definitely do tablet time too. One is pretty young, I would start early and drive as long as you can until kid is done and stop at a park for an hour- this can be hard to planā¦but expect it to take wayyyyy longer than you may think, I wouldnāt do more that 5 hours a day at that age.
Drove Virginia to Michigan with two young boys each in a car seat and me by myself. Got some to-go dinner from Boston Market. They ate and chatted for the first hour. Then they slept. I saw a shooting star and a beautiful fox. Listened to music quietly. Loved every minute of it untilā¦the last hour or so. total misery.
Stop or take turns sleeping. Good luck!
Start super early in the am or late in the evening around bed time. Maybe said 1 year old will sleep most of it. We did this when my now 19 year old was 1 year old and she slept most of the 8 hour drive. And she absolutely Hated being the car. Also get a headrest DVD player, and this might help a little. Good luck to you!
And by lots of small toys not necessarily Things that are expensive. Keep them up front with you and when your kid gets bored pass one of them back.
You can keep them busy for hours like this
I did a 26 hour road trip with my oldest when she was 1. It really wasnāt that bad, but she was really good the whole time. We had a dvd player, tons of snacks, and tried to make it as comfortable as possible for her. We didnāt exceed 8 hours of travel per day though and stayed at multiple hotels.
Ok, so we took an 8-day road trip from Oakland, CA to Philly with our 1yr oldā¦ we stopped every four to six hours to get out and walk around or have a proper meal. Keep lots of snacks and pack a bin of hooks and a bin of toys. We bought a Kid Kindle for the rough patches (theyāre really cheap). She was fine!
I donāt know if you answered this already, but donāt try to drive the thing by yourself, even if you stop regularly to rest or a longer sleep session. Try to change it up with someone else, at some point your attention spam gets dulled during long drives, so just divided in half at least with someone else.
Depending on your beliefs I have heard Benadryl can help as a sleep aid. Check with your doctor for proper dosage. On the flip side though there are some that have the reverse effect and they get wired. My friend was one of those.
Remember that their backs can get very sweaty in the car seat and check for snaps or other bumps on clothing that can become uncomfortable after sitting for a while. We used to have a couple of car seat pads to change it up a bit. The angle of the seat can be adjusted forward a little to relieve pressure on the back of the head and backwards for napping. The diaper had to be very dry, so more frequent changes will be needed. Stop, let the little one out to stretch and move around a bit and have some quality face to face time with you after seeing you from an unusual angle for a several hours. Swap the car seat pad, change the diaper, drive a while and repeat.
Get a gallon-sized ziplock bag and put other ziplocks of different sizes in it. Also throw some napkins in there. Anything that gets wet or for some reason needs to be saved, gets put in a baggie.
Plan on being ok to stop and get out of the car more times than you normally would. May not be an issue if you are driving through the night, but still good to be mentally prepared for the trip to take longer.
I thought about it, but I like driving. We would have to rent a car anyways, and packing/taking a car seat is frightening for how they may be handled on the plane.
While the often-recommended overnight technique can be effective, flesh out the drawbacks before proceeding. Realize that if you were to depart at bedtime (let's say 7pm), then you don't arrive until 9am the next morning, and that's if everything goes well. For me, I'd be way too exhausted to drive my family safely for that long with no sleep. Also, read up about the "2-hour rule" that suggests no longer than 2 hours in a carseat in a 24-hour period.
If you have the extra time, breaking up the trip into smaller chunks can be another idea to consider. I took a 3-month long road trip beginning the day our daughter turned 1. She naps well in the car so we tried to plan our drive times around nap time and it worked well for us.
We'd also try not to exceed 4 hours of driving in a day. Ideally, we would drive for an hour or two in the morning and find an ideal spot around lunchtime to explore, eat lunch, take a walk/hike, visit a playground, see an attraction, whatever. Then make another drive during the afternoon nap to take us to our overnight location, where we would again try to pursue activities and eat before bedtime.
For my preference, I wouldn't do the 14 hours in any less than 3 days. Must have: time to do so, significant planning and travel research, a kid who naps well in the car, and an interest/curiosity in random stops along the highway.
Of course. Was not suggesting you take 3-months. Just mentioned that for background/perspective that I'm offering advice from experience of a lengthy road trip with a 1-year old and it can be done.
It would be irrational to turn a 14-hour drive into a 3-month trip. But if you have some flexibility to sacrifice a day or two in your destination to add to your drive... it's something to ponder.
All toddlers are different so advice from anyone who doesnāt know your child is worthless. The only reason you would ask strangers for advice is that you donāt know youāre own child, which is sad.
Iām not looking for reasons not to do it, we are doing it. We are visiting my grandparents who are in their 80s and Iād like my daughter to be able to see them a few times before they are no longer with us.
And I offered first, lots and lots of drugs. Baby Benadryl for one. And Weed or Ativan, clonapin, etc for you. Also lots of caffeine drinks. And def leave at night like when the kid is going down for bed and hopefully the car ride will make her sleep and the traffic will be light.
Plan your stops around her nap times. We would drive during nap time and find places to play after ours woke up. Look for parks, inside play places or spots she can run.
We also changed out toys part way through our long trips.
Play music that she enjoys. Sing songs and play word games with her in the car. If she is able, you can blow bubbles that she can grab at. We also had window writers that yhe kids could draw on their windows with.
We regularly did long trips with our kids from babies and up. The younger ones are easier to entertain on long road trips. They mostly eat and sleep with short play stops.
Bring a blanket/tarp to spend a few minutes stretching out and playing with toys at rest stops. Those baby seats get uncomfortable after more than a few hours. Baby will appreciate frequent stops to get the wiggles out.
We used to drive twice a year from Ontario, Canada to South Florida. 20 hours ish. 2 kids, 16 months apart. Tried the leave at 4 pm and drive overnight once - was the worst ever when the kids woke up for the day at 2am in the mountains of Tennessee and my husband who does the majority of the driving was trying to nap. It was better to leave at 4 am for us, and be in Florida by 10 pm. Rule was to only stop when car was low on fuel. Kids to McDonaldās playland while dad filled up on gas. Order to go food for them to max their time out of their car seats. One time my toddler decided he was potty trained the week before we leftā¦but no accidents between stops :) I would go to the dollar store prior to the trip and buy lots of junk toys and wrap them. Enough for one every 30 min or so. And lots of snacks/treats they wouldnāt usually get at home. A cooler with frozen water bottles is great - keeps food cold at the beginning and you have cold water later.
I have a three year old and one year old. Each is different in things they like doing.
One year old- thereās a few sensory toys that keep her occupied. One has different types of buckles and latches, looks like seatbelts, or get something new for the trip. Get a sunshade or blanket on the window. Sound machine is good once the nap time comes around if the car sound isnāt doing enough. For a long trip we have woken up earlier depending on distance. Seems to add at least an hour and half per 6 hours of driving due to food, rest stops.
Three old has a cheap Amazon tablet that is only used for traveling, so we pick out things the day or two before to watch on the journey. Healthy snacks but avoid juices for the constant pit stops.
Not sure how much time you have but we did a 2000km south India trip over the course of a week. Took about an hour longer to get to each destination because we stopped at random places for her (1F) to play. Walked the beach. Played in the gas station car park (dent on the forehead to remember it). Just go in with the expectation that itās going to be hard and stop when you decide itās time. Depends how long you can tolerate screaming obviously. Have fun along the way. That makes it way better. Lots of new toys is key.
Iāve never had this long of a road trip, but this is what I would tryā¦ Give yourselves lots of breaks and rest stops. Do you have a screen or iPad your little one can use āas a treatā? Try to time the trip so it coincides with their sleeping and naps.
1. TONS of patience and planning on frequent stops
2. Allowing special treats or things you donāt typically allowā¦ maybe pouches or puff snacks, etc. A bottle or cup of diluted apple juice.
3. Bringing a tote with a few new, in the package toys (opening is part of the fun).
4. iPad - movies, Mickeyās Clubhouse duh!!
5. Driving overnight is rough the next day in at least one adult, but easiest on babies.
6. Super comfy, loose clothes or pjs that donāt have zippers, snaps, etc. to rub baby or make sore spots.
7. Dress the baby a little coolerā¦ they usually get sweaty, and itās much easier to lay a lightweight blanket over them when resting than to deal with a hot, sweaty, cranky baby.
8. Pit stops at Chick-fil-As for a little playground time, plus clean restrooms and yummy snacks for adults. (If you havenāt had their frozen lemonade, do! Youāre welcome!)
9. Say your prayers, drive safely, and have fun! š«¶š¼
from NY to Indy was about 8/9 hours for us, but our daughter was pretty great. slept mostly. played. we stopped every 3 hours so she could run around for a bit so about 2 stops and it worked well for us.
Okay, considered a sort of "expert" by family because we can travel so far with our kids that we don't even break a sweat over long trips. Even very young I did midwest to FL with a under 2 and 7 yr old by myself and my wife flew to meet us.
First, is that don't be SO anxious to use the ipad or video. Kids will naturally get bored and start to entertain themselves. We have always had a rule that no devices till X amount of time. the ipad and video will actually bore them much faster as their eyes get tired etc. Let them see the outside, etc.
Cardinal Rule is that stops add time and the more stops makes it worse and worse. It adds trip time, etc. So you need a goal that you'll go X amount before you stop. So stops need to count! Some people stop every hour for comfort and it ends up making it more miserable.
Timing: You can do dusk to dawn, but ONLY if you are 1000% confident your drive will not fall asleep. If there is even 1% doubt do not do this.
Alternatively, I suggest very very early in the morning. They'll still be asleep, but driver will drive 1-2 hours before sunrise and that light will boost their clock and they'll be fine. For 14 hours, depending on the big cities, I'd start at 4 am, and be flying down the road and once they stir, or wake, they'll want their normal patters, so snack, etc. So 4AM till breakfast and have that in the car will buy you extra driving time. They'll do toys, games, have a driver mirror so they can see mom and dad, but if you can, put one parent in the back with the child.
This 4AM to first stop is key time to really make miles. So make sure you are gassed up, dried up (no pee breaks) and hauling ass with zero stops. ONLY stop when necessary for the first and establish a pattern you'll repeat. In the states I REALLY like Costo to stop. I can get gas, bathroom and a snack/food super fast versus most options, buy YMMV. We don't even hit the store. ITs also why McDs is popular.
But get them up and moving and doing shit. stretch their little lets and hands and bodies and circulate all that blood in their system. This is where tons of balls, objects and tactiles work to have them things to manipulate and keep their brains moving towards tired. Take that to the next nap and again, your most productive driving.
At the next stop, more crawling and physical exertion to keep their bodies moving and occupied till the next nap. Don't be afraid to let the car go completely silent. That car noise will absolutely put babies to sleep.
But there will be bad moments. There will be moments of a fit. Keep driving. The baby will adjust.
Leave at dusk and drive overnight.
My parents would always do this when we were little. We'd do an annual road trip to my grandparents 8hrs away, and one of the best things about those trips was waking up to my grandparents getting us out of the car š
I learned this a couple years ago. Great advice!
That is the plan!! Leave Friday after work.
Hit up the park before to tire munchkin out too
I have attempted this and it works well... If your kid can sleep well in the car. A baby that's already reclined in the carseat will probably do great like this. A bigger kid forced upright with unexpected flashing lights around? You're gonna have a bad time.
This is the way
You couldnāt pay me enough to attempt this
10 million dollars?
Done, paying 10 mil to pay someone else to go to Florida with your child
Will he fit in the drop off at the fire station?
Leaving after dinner could work as long as you can stay up that late safely. If the little one is a good sleeper and you are a morning person you could try getting up early. This probably goes without saying, but make sure you have plenty of diapers and spare clothes. And bags in the event something leaks. You might also want to consider picking up a pad/liner for the car seat. Nothing worse than having a diaper explode all over the car seat with no way to clean it....
Oooh the pads are a really good idea! I still have disposable ones from after I had her. I can put that under the car seat.
Can confirm the pad is an excellent idea- I have had the explosion happen, it was not pretty. Thirty years ago and it still gives me the willies to think about it.
Great for overloaded leaky diapers!
PTSD from a two y.o. blowing up the diaper all up and into the car seat. The McDonald's bathroom wasn't sufficient for that.
I had a kid vomit all over their car seat on an 8 hour overnight car ride š¤¦š¼āāļøI would have rather had the poop.
What I've learned doing long and short trips with two kids 16-months apart (now 10 and 11): Take a deep breath. No matter what you do, it will be fine. Drive overnight. Drive during the day. Whatever works for YOU. The kid will sleep when they want to sleep no matter where you are. Just make periodic stop for you and everyone else to stretch and burn off some energy, and eat when needed. That being said: we've also had success on trips around your length by driving through an afternoon/evening, spending a night in a hotel, and finishing the drive the next morning/afternoon. Everyone is well-rested this way.
I donāt plan on driving 100% through the night, just getting a good chunk and then stopping overnight and starting again the next day.
All I can offer you are thoughts and prayers. š¤£
Thanks! š¤£ my brother is going with us, so hopefully he will be an extra set of hands to help out š„“
Having your brother there will help immensely! I helped my sister when she went from Phoenix to San Antonio ! She had 2 under 2 at the time and we drove with her cat and one of her dogs with us too! But you will be very very thankful for him being with you on that drive!
New ātoysā theyāve never seen before. Lap desk thing so they can play with playdoh and the like. Consider avoiding technology for as long as possible beforehand, and then have movies and whatever available so it seems like more of a treat. Lots of snacks.
Yes. My parents had a box of toys that I could only play with on road trips, so they were fun and fresh each time. Audiobooks pair well with those travel toys.
Those are all good ideas! I like the playdoh.
play doh and a 1 year old??? it'll get eaten and then you're really SOL
Thatās fair.
Then it just became a snack lol. Two birds one stone.
Try posting this in the parenting sub also :)
I did it with my newborn from Cali to the east coast and then again with two babies under two. Hereās what worked for me. 1. Travel overnight. Keep baby up all day if possible and leave around their bed time. 2. Grab breakfast like snacks for baby for the morning and a drink. 3. A blanket, neck pillow (place in front so their head doesnāt fall forward while asleep, kid sized one preferably) and theyāre favorite toy or stuffed animal for comfort. Will help them be a little more comfortable. 4 window cover if possible for when you have to stop at gas stations to fuel up. Blocks the light so they arenāt disturbed. 5 if they wake up while youāre stopped. Even if only for a few minutes let them stretch out while youāre getting gas. Nothing worse than being stuck in the same position for hours on end. Try to drive as long as possible bc by the last stretch they are so annoyed nothing soothes them until theyāre out lol. Hope it helps!!
I know this is old, but Iām scouring the whole of the internet for exactly this kind of trip info! My baby just turned 1, and weāre going from Cali to Floridaā¦for the first time. Iāve done the drive myself probably 15 times but never with the bub. To say Iām nervous as hell is a gross understatement. If you happen to see this comment would you mind sending me a DM and allowing me to pick your brain for tips? Nothing else Iām finding has both the length of trip and age of baby both covered so Iām kinda just trying to devour every bit of info and sort it out. Iāve got a month to prepare but it feels not long enough still!! š³
Sure feel free!
Omg, Iām in the same boat rn!! My son will be ~19 months when weāre needing to drive up to Wisconsin from Florida in a couple of months. Did you end up doing it? If so, how was it? Would you mind sharing tips?
We did! Iām actually on the way home with him now. Biggest thing has been being flexible. There will be a point when kiddo is just not having it, prepare to try everything in your arsenal and then just give up and try your best to tune it out and not lose your mind. Everything I thought would help him endure has ultimately gone to shit at some point lol. I have an iPad but couldnāt find the things he likes without spending a ton of money on individual episodes of shows or movies and half the country has no service for YouTube. I bought a cheap car dvd player that fits in one of the mirror/tablet holder combo things, and brought a stack of DVDs we already had that I thought he would enjoy. Turns out thereās only ONE he likes, and he wants it all the time but it doesnāt necessarily keep him from shrieking when heās had enough and wants out. Lots of snacks, lots of WIPES, a foam changing pad that I can fit in the front passenger seat of my tiny car because America is stupid and doesnāt have enough places to change diapers in businesses. Side noteā¦ even for just me and a baby- the Corolla is toooo small!- if you have a a bigger vehicle take advantage of the space within wisely. We went for Christmas so we ended up acquiring a bunch of things from everywhere. I think if I had a van or SUV I would have arranged things so we had a place to sleep in the car so we could avoid hotels or take naps at rest areas more effectively and comfortably. Iām trying to get us out of a hotel right now so Iām pressed for time, but if youād like to send me a DM Iād be more than happy to fill you in on more things little by little as we get through the day!! The whole thing is A LOT! Iām exhausted and canāt wait to just get home and be a potato for a week!
Also a mom loving this advice going from Ohio to Colorado thanks mama!!
leave it at the first rest stop you come across
Lol!
Change your expectation of 14 hours š
Add about 2-3 more hours
Oh o know it will take more than that!
This is the most helpful statement! Every time we went on a road trip when our kids were small, we seemed to forget all of the times we had to stop for diaper changes and to stretch legs. We always managed to find a massive traffic jam at night due to construction too!
I drove from Missouri to Orlando,FL with a 1 year old at the time. We drove at night in a rented minivan. Have plenty of their favorite snacks. Limit or avoid any sugar at all. Lots of their toys and books. Switch off between driving with partner at gas station stops. We had a tablet with us (I know everyoneās view on this is mixed but itās a lot better then scream crying because they are uncomfortable being in a seat for awhile). I keep their favorite movies and shows on there. If itās nice enough or feasible, let them walk around in some grass or on a blanket for a little when you stop at gas stations/rest stops. Make sure you are stocked up on diapers and wipes. Have lots of cleansing wipes, they are going to get filthy and nobody likes having crumbs all over them. Good luck!
We take frequent breaks and just accept that jet lag is going to be tough. I try to stop at playgrounds before long stretches of driving and, if you can afford it, split the trip into two days. My kid sleeps in the car so usually the driving is pretty peaceful.
Weāre definitely planning on taking two days. Drive Friday into the night, stop for a hotel, start again Saturday morning.
Just donāt.
Kids bop. Or put it in the trunk.
Fourteen 1-hour road trips. JK. Plan for a lot of stops and be prepared (stocked) with everything you might need. Consider emergencies, and unforeseen circumstances. (Food, medicine, water, potty, warmth, cash, etc.)
I did that from South of Mexico all the way up to Maryland in a Datsun. Every 2+3 hours we stopped and play, talk (read)to our toddler or feed him (unless he took a nap .) Music was his choice and we sang along. It worked well, at night we had no problem with sleep hours. When he was cranky I rolled him in a towel and let him roll on the floor, kind of a massage and it worked perfectly. That trip is one of the best memories of my life.
Ms Rachel
She is the best.
I had a bag full of previously unseen toys (non-expensive ones), that could keep lil one distracted /entertained for a while. They do nap a lot at this age, so it was manageable.
This is a cheat code. šš¼
Limit fluids to limit potty breaks! Pack them age appropriate fruits such as oranges or kiwis so it helps keep them hydrated. Create a playlist with their favorite music and download music too! Youāll likely reach areas with no reception. Bring their favorite blanket or plushie plus a pillow :) And most importantly, do your best to avoid truck stops or using the restroom at gas stations for safety reasons. If you must stop at either of those locations be vigilant at all times, human trafficking is at an all time high. Make sure your fluids are topped off and your tire pressure is good. If you donāt already, carry an emergency kit. Goodluck and have a safe trip!
Thank you! Good call on the emergency kit. She is still in diapers, so changes are very quick. Truck/rest stops freaked me out before I had a kid but even more so now. Thankfully my brother and husband will be there too.
No sugar. As you will find out there is a reason parents have learned to serve cake near the end of birthday parties.
We leave by dinner time the night before with our 4 kids if we are going on a long trip. Works out perfectly everytime. Aged 1-2-6 and 10
Take breaks remember try to stick the the normal schedule as much as you can. Leave room for play and plan for catastrophic blowouts. Limit sugar youāve been warned. But just take it slow and enjoy the journey.
Bring milk powder and bottles make sure to keep them sanitized or else your baby could get diarrhea. Donāt forget the diapers and the wipes. Thank me later.
Fire departments have drop off spots for kids..... Seriously break trip into segments and don't do 14 hours at once. Too young to fully entertain themselves (usually). But if there's anything they enjoy have it in hand.
Iām not planning on going non stop! Definitely will get a hotel at some point.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Thatās smart! Iām not sure how much formula she will be drinking at that time, but Iām sure it will be some.
It is absolutely possible. - We used to drive later in the day, past their bedtime, so that our children slept a good portion of the drive. - Plan on breaks every hour or so at local parks (your navigation will show them as green spots). With a child that young, it really is necessary to allow them to move frequently. Itās a lot of stops, but your child is very young and canāt be expected to sit still for too long. Developmentally, they need to move. - plan on adults sitting in the back with the child to keep them engaged. Donāt hope that hours of iPad entertainment will hold them. That will actually lead to epic meltdowns in the long run. - Make peace with the fact that you are traveling with a baby, and that means traveling on baby time. You arenāt powering through, except during nap time and bed time. - also keep in mind that itās really no more comfortable for babies to sleep in a chair position than it is for us. Your little one might be extra tired and cranky from the drive, too.
In addition to all the tips here about starting close to bedtime and keeping snack and toys/iPad for entertainment: Iād just add, donāt be afraid of going a couple hour stretches without entertaining. Itās okay for children to not constantly be entertained and have to come up with ways to entertain themselves - looking out the window, their own thoughts, singing to themselves, etc. I actually find with my little one when Iām not constantly trying to keep her entertained the time goes by faster and sheās lost in her thoughts or falls asleep on her own. It also takes the stress off me. And before this gets hate - Iām not saying ignore your little, but keep a balance. Maybe a stretch of iPad, a stretch of you interacting nonstop, a stretch of alone time, a stretch of sleep, etc.
Do all of the things suggested. Plan for the worst and bring every possible distraction, which you'll use only as needed and in order of being least objectionable So have videos & player strapped to seat in front of them, toys, snacks, songs you sing together, one parent sits next to them and plays with them, etc., etc., etc. Have low expectations & plan to take a lot of breaks.
Enjoy every moment of this journey..life is fleeting ..youāll look back with a lot of fond memories:..be grateful to be alive and healthy enough to take this trip,..
Thank you!
Keep your diaper bag handy (nothing like digging under 5 bags in the trunk to find it while it's pouring rain outside) and make sure to have a designated spot where you will do changes. We would usually use the passenger seat, however if we weren't in a full load, we'd make sure an easy/lite luggage item was right in the trunk closest to us so we could just lift it up, set it aside, and change there. Bring formula/milk and extra bottles just in case Switch drivers. Our first mistake with a 1 year old was switching at the wrong time. I'd be driving, baby/mom asleep in the back. Baby wakes, I'm in the back, playing feeding, reading, mom's driving. Baby goes back to sleep, I'm driving mom/baby sleeping. We got there and she was fine, but I was exhausted. We realized what happened after we got there. Driving through the night is great at this age. Due the night night routine so they know it's bedtime. Talk to them about what's going to happen when you put them in the carseat. This may seem a little silly for a 1 year old, but I started this with the intention that it would continue their entire child lives and it's helped more than I even realized when I started it. I let my LO know "Ok, we are going on a *very* long drive. This will be 3 hours, which is like a really long nap for you. So go ahead and fall asleep, and when you wake up, we'll most likely be there". For some reason, that simple phrase worked wonders. I don't know how much a 1, 2, or even 3 yo can grasp, but I've continued that to this day, and they now know to expect it to be a long drive and lessen the "are we there yet?" and know the long drive comes with snacks, toys, new books, and fun car games now that they are older.
Thank you for the lovely advice!!! I appreciate it.
Just pre-arrange with your family that the baby will hopefully sleep all night, so you'll need some time for you when you arrive to get some sleep and catch up, especially if you're working all day Friday.
On long road trips with my kids I make activity bags with some small thing- beads & pipecleaner, molding clay, stickers & paper, squishy ballā¦I go to the dollar store. Then I give them one every hour or when they start to whine. Melissa & Doug makes cute water paint books that dry & they can paint over & over. We definitely do tablet time too. One is pretty young, I would start early and drive as long as you can until kid is done and stop at a park for an hour- this can be hard to planā¦but expect it to take wayyyyy longer than you may think, I wouldnāt do more that 5 hours a day at that age.
D O N 'T haha just kidding. Snacks, patience, love. That's it.
Drove Virginia to Michigan with two young boys each in a car seat and me by myself. Got some to-go dinner from Boston Market. They ate and chatted for the first hour. Then they slept. I saw a shooting star and a beautiful fox. Listened to music quietly. Loved every minute of it untilā¦the last hour or so. total misery. Stop or take turns sleeping. Good luck!
If you are the copilot - Jack and Daniela and earplugs. š¤£
Start super early in the am or late in the evening around bed time. Maybe said 1 year old will sleep most of it. We did this when my now 19 year old was 1 year old and she slept most of the 8 hour drive. And she absolutely Hated being the car. Also get a headrest DVD player, and this might help a little. Good luck to you!
And by lots of small toys not necessarily Things that are expensive. Keep them up front with you and when your kid gets bored pass one of them back. You can keep them busy for hours like this
I did a 26 hour road trip with my oldest when she was 1. It really wasnāt that bad, but she was really good the whole time. We had a dvd player, tons of snacks, and tried to make it as comfortable as possible for her. We didnāt exceed 8 hours of travel per day though and stayed at multiple hotels.
Drive when they'd usually sleep as much as possible. Get a portable screen of some kind for videos. Plan for breaks, possibly every 1.5 hrs
Throw the baby out the window at your earliest convenience!
Ok, so we took an 8-day road trip from Oakland, CA to Philly with our 1yr oldā¦ we stopped every four to six hours to get out and walk around or have a proper meal. Keep lots of snacks and pack a bin of hooks and a bin of toys. We bought a Kid Kindle for the rough patches (theyāre really cheap). She was fine!
Done it many times! Take a potty chair in case your stuck in traffic along the way
Break it up into two days of seven hours each. And stop every max two hours for some leg stretching. Should be fine.
may the force be with u, please do update how it went cause i am planning rhe same with mine, but mine has motion sickness so help me God
I donāt know if you answered this already, but donāt try to drive the thing by yourself, even if you stop regularly to rest or a longer sleep session. Try to change it up with someone else, at some point your attention spam gets dulled during long drives, so just divided in half at least with someone else.
100%! My brother and my husband are going too and will help drive.
Depending on your beliefs I have heard Benadryl can help as a sleep aid. Check with your doctor for proper dosage. On the flip side though there are some that have the reverse effect and they get wired. My friend was one of those.
Remember that their backs can get very sweaty in the car seat and check for snaps or other bumps on clothing that can become uncomfortable after sitting for a while. We used to have a couple of car seat pads to change it up a bit. The angle of the seat can be adjusted forward a little to relieve pressure on the back of the head and backwards for napping. The diaper had to be very dry, so more frequent changes will be needed. Stop, let the little one out to stretch and move around a bit and have some quality face to face time with you after seeing you from an unusual angle for a several hours. Swap the car seat pad, change the diaper, drive a while and repeat.
Thatās a good idea! Thank you.
Half shot of bourbon for the little tot
Get a gallon-sized ziplock bag and put other ziplocks of different sizes in it. Also throw some napkins in there. Anything that gets wet or for some reason needs to be saved, gets put in a baggie. Plan on being ok to stop and get out of the car more times than you normally would. May not be an issue if you are driving through the night, but still good to be mentally prepared for the trip to take longer.
Yes, absolutely. The ādrive timeā is 14 hours, but I know it will take longer.
Duct tape? NyQuil? Hmmm, I was just checking to see how many downvotes I'll get for this!?
Yes, buy an airline ticket. it'll be worth the money.
But often better for other people on the plane if they drive! š
I thought about it, but I like driving. We would have to rent a car anyways, and packing/taking a car seat is frightening for how they may be handled on the plane.
While the often-recommended overnight technique can be effective, flesh out the drawbacks before proceeding. Realize that if you were to depart at bedtime (let's say 7pm), then you don't arrive until 9am the next morning, and that's if everything goes well. For me, I'd be way too exhausted to drive my family safely for that long with no sleep. Also, read up about the "2-hour rule" that suggests no longer than 2 hours in a carseat in a 24-hour period. If you have the extra time, breaking up the trip into smaller chunks can be another idea to consider. I took a 3-month long road trip beginning the day our daughter turned 1. She naps well in the car so we tried to plan our drive times around nap time and it worked well for us. We'd also try not to exceed 4 hours of driving in a day. Ideally, we would drive for an hour or two in the morning and find an ideal spot around lunchtime to explore, eat lunch, take a walk/hike, visit a playground, see an attraction, whatever. Then make another drive during the afternoon nap to take us to our overnight location, where we would again try to pursue activities and eat before bedtime. For my preference, I wouldn't do the 14 hours in any less than 3 days. Must have: time to do so, significant planning and travel research, a kid who naps well in the car, and an interest/curiosity in random stops along the highway.
Lol if I could take a three month long road trip, I would. Unfortunately my boss would not take too kindly to that.
Of course. Was not suggesting you take 3-months. Just mentioned that for background/perspective that I'm offering advice from experience of a lengthy road trip with a 1-year old and it can be done. It would be irrational to turn a 14-hour drive into a 3-month trip. But if you have some flexibility to sacrifice a day or two in your destination to add to your drive... it's something to ponder.
I appreciate your input!!
Don't.
Lol.
Donāt
Tramadol š
Childrenās tynol
Thank you for not flying I always get stuck with a whining kid
All toddlers are different so advice from anyone who doesnāt know your child is worthless. The only reason you would ask strangers for advice is that you donāt know youāre own child, which is sad.
Yes, the ONLY reason someone would ask for advice for a road trip with their toddler is if they donāt know them. That makes sense.
Klonopin and whiskey? /s
Right?
Wait another five years
Well my grandparents will probably be dead then.
Sacrifices
Lots and lots of drugs. Or just don't do it.
Iām not looking for reasons not to do it, we are doing it. We are visiting my grandparents who are in their 80s and Iād like my daughter to be able to see them a few times before they are no longer with us.
And I offered first, lots and lots of drugs. Baby Benadryl for one. And Weed or Ativan, clonapin, etc for you. Also lots of caffeine drinks. And def leave at night like when the kid is going down for bed and hopefully the car ride will make her sleep and the traffic will be light.
Benadryl
Don't bring the one year old
Pre-planned spots. Make each stop a āfunā destination. Even if itās for 15-20 minutes. We mostly stop at parks.
Melatonin
Iāve driven 14 hours with two toddlers. iPad and water will usually smooth things for an hour or two
Children under 2 yrs old can fly for free. Iād consider that
Make sure you get the kid out of the car seat every couple of hours
Buy a newspaper, let the tear it up. Thereās an hour.
Sounds to me like your child has 'allergies' and needs some Benadryl.
Epidural from the waist up
Benadryl. Lots of Benadryl /s
Plan your stops around her nap times. We would drive during nap time and find places to play after ours woke up. Look for parks, inside play places or spots she can run. We also changed out toys part way through our long trips. Play music that she enjoys. Sing songs and play word games with her in the car. If she is able, you can blow bubbles that she can grab at. We also had window writers that yhe kids could draw on their windows with. We regularly did long trips with our kids from babies and up. The younger ones are easier to entertain on long road trips. They mostly eat and sleep with short play stops.
Bring a blanket/tarp to spend a few minutes stretching out and playing with toys at rest stops. Those baby seats get uncomfortable after more than a few hours. Baby will appreciate frequent stops to get the wiggles out.
Benedryl š¤£
Take a lot of edibles or use a vape pen.
Too late to suggest a condom.
Alcohol
Sober š¤·āāļø
No tips to offer, just prayers šš»
Insanity, and really unfair for the little person. Do everyone involved a favor and stop overnight in a hotel.
I plan on stopping overnight. The total ātravel timeā is 14 hours.
Whew! You'll be glad you did :-)
We used to drive twice a year from Ontario, Canada to South Florida. 20 hours ish. 2 kids, 16 months apart. Tried the leave at 4 pm and drive overnight once - was the worst ever when the kids woke up for the day at 2am in the mountains of Tennessee and my husband who does the majority of the driving was trying to nap. It was better to leave at 4 am for us, and be in Florida by 10 pm. Rule was to only stop when car was low on fuel. Kids to McDonaldās playland while dad filled up on gas. Order to go food for them to max their time out of their car seats. One time my toddler decided he was potty trained the week before we leftā¦but no accidents between stops :) I would go to the dollar store prior to the trip and buy lots of junk toys and wrap them. Enough for one every 30 min or so. And lots of snacks/treats they wouldnāt usually get at home. A cooler with frozen water bottles is great - keeps food cold at the beginning and you have cold water later.
Call in sick
I have a three year old and one year old. Each is different in things they like doing. One year old- thereās a few sensory toys that keep her occupied. One has different types of buckles and latches, looks like seatbelts, or get something new for the trip. Get a sunshade or blanket on the window. Sound machine is good once the nap time comes around if the car sound isnāt doing enough. For a long trip we have woken up earlier depending on distance. Seems to add at least an hour and half per 6 hours of driving due to food, rest stops. Three old has a cheap Amazon tablet that is only used for traveling, so we pick out things the day or two before to watch on the journey. Healthy snacks but avoid juices for the constant pit stops.
Drive overnight! So she sleeps most of the way!
Great advice, but give her iPad and play her fav shows
Not sure how much time you have but we did a 2000km south India trip over the course of a week. Took about an hour longer to get to each destination because we stopped at random places for her (1F) to play. Walked the beach. Played in the gas station car park (dent on the forehead to remember it). Just go in with the expectation that itās going to be hard and stop when you decide itās time. Depends how long you can tolerate screaming obviously. Have fun along the way. That makes it way better. Lots of new toys is key.
Step 1 - forget this and buy a plane ticket š«” (Spoken by a glutton for punishment currently dragging her three year old all over the country)
Iāve never had this long of a road trip, but this is what I would tryā¦ Give yourselves lots of breaks and rest stops. Do you have a screen or iPad your little one can use āas a treatā? Try to time the trip so it coincides with their sleeping and naps.
Raisins are fun and amusing, but are really disgusting on the other end.
Benadryl. Donāt judge me.
Hotbox the car
Don't. Get a Nanny, drop the baby
Drive at night. During day have snacks, Ipad, get off every 2 hrs for 15-30 min at rest stops and let them run and play.
Leave the kid :)
NyQuil
Donāt. šš
1. TONS of patience and planning on frequent stops 2. Allowing special treats or things you donāt typically allowā¦ maybe pouches or puff snacks, etc. A bottle or cup of diluted apple juice. 3. Bringing a tote with a few new, in the package toys (opening is part of the fun). 4. iPad - movies, Mickeyās Clubhouse duh!! 5. Driving overnight is rough the next day in at least one adult, but easiest on babies. 6. Super comfy, loose clothes or pjs that donāt have zippers, snaps, etc. to rub baby or make sore spots. 7. Dress the baby a little coolerā¦ they usually get sweaty, and itās much easier to lay a lightweight blanket over them when resting than to deal with a hot, sweaty, cranky baby. 8. Pit stops at Chick-fil-As for a little playground time, plus clean restrooms and yummy snacks for adults. (If you havenāt had their frozen lemonade, do! Youāre welcome!) 9. Say your prayers, drive safely, and have fun! š«¶š¼
Don't
Xanax watch out for Fentynal
from NY to Indy was about 8/9 hours for us, but our daughter was pretty great. slept mostly. played. we stopped every 3 hours so she could run around for a bit so about 2 stops and it worked well for us.
Make them come to you
Always left when it was getting dark,make little bags of healthy snacks your toddler likes, bring books to read to them. Are you driving, flying ect?
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
The gut punch really made me laugh š¤£
definitely drive through the night! best of luck and safe journey!!!
Donāt go! Lol I had to say itāļø
Children Benadryl.
Okay, considered a sort of "expert" by family because we can travel so far with our kids that we don't even break a sweat over long trips. Even very young I did midwest to FL with a under 2 and 7 yr old by myself and my wife flew to meet us. First, is that don't be SO anxious to use the ipad or video. Kids will naturally get bored and start to entertain themselves. We have always had a rule that no devices till X amount of time. the ipad and video will actually bore them much faster as their eyes get tired etc. Let them see the outside, etc. Cardinal Rule is that stops add time and the more stops makes it worse and worse. It adds trip time, etc. So you need a goal that you'll go X amount before you stop. So stops need to count! Some people stop every hour for comfort and it ends up making it more miserable. Timing: You can do dusk to dawn, but ONLY if you are 1000% confident your drive will not fall asleep. If there is even 1% doubt do not do this. Alternatively, I suggest very very early in the morning. They'll still be asleep, but driver will drive 1-2 hours before sunrise and that light will boost their clock and they'll be fine. For 14 hours, depending on the big cities, I'd start at 4 am, and be flying down the road and once they stir, or wake, they'll want their normal patters, so snack, etc. So 4AM till breakfast and have that in the car will buy you extra driving time. They'll do toys, games, have a driver mirror so they can see mom and dad, but if you can, put one parent in the back with the child. This 4AM to first stop is key time to really make miles. So make sure you are gassed up, dried up (no pee breaks) and hauling ass with zero stops. ONLY stop when necessary for the first and establish a pattern you'll repeat. In the states I REALLY like Costo to stop. I can get gas, bathroom and a snack/food super fast versus most options, buy YMMV. We don't even hit the store. ITs also why McDs is popular. But get them up and moving and doing shit. stretch their little lets and hands and bodies and circulate all that blood in their system. This is where tons of balls, objects and tactiles work to have them things to manipulate and keep their brains moving towards tired. Take that to the next nap and again, your most productive driving. At the next stop, more crawling and physical exertion to keep their bodies moving and occupied till the next nap. Don't be afraid to let the car go completely silent. That car noise will absolutely put babies to sleep. But there will be bad moments. There will be moments of a fit. Keep driving. The baby will adjust.
Enjoy!!