as anyone took a toddler on a long trip? like 10 hrs of driving?

Joanne - posted on 01/13/2010

Yes i have taken a 2yr old and a 18ths old on about a 7our road trip. Best advise is not to get stressed. We bought a portable dvd player,took lots of stops so they could run around and we planned the trip around there sleep times. Lots of healthy snacks helped to. Good luck.

Kym - posted on 01/13/2010

poratable DVD player and heaps of sticker books and a torch with different coloured cellophane. my 22 month old loves playing with the torch and cellophane when it gets dark so she can see all the pretty colours.

Amanda - posted on 01/13/2010

Go on with your bad self, Girl! And don't let potty training stop you. I've got 3 kids (6, 5 & 19 mo's) and we have traveled everywhere since the first was born. We always keep a portable kids potty in the van with us for those 'side of the road emergencies'. It also comes in handy when a child needs to vomit (carsick kids rock!)... Take that vacation, but don't get in a hurry during the drive!

Theresa - posted on 01/13/2010

My suggestion go when the child getting sleepy. Belive you can go with a toddler on long trip. Back in june i drove over 800 miles wih four children through four states. It was not bas as one would think. My husband was down in south carolina and he wanted to see the kids cause didn't them fkor awhile seen he working. soI drove , If yu plan to go with toddlers rememember snacks, suncreens(myrtle beach ) movies something to keep them busy. I know the the kids wkould be awale for a few more hours so i decisiced to leave for the trip. Shortly, four were a sleep. * Buy the portable potty , or yu have stop every sixty miles like i did have fun remember they get tired and bored fast if i can drive four states with four children i think that should be able to do with one children no problem have fun.

Debbie - posted on 01/13/2010

You know your kids - you know what they like. Pack some of their favorite things in a plastic shoebox that will fit under a seat or in a cranny somewhere. I allow 1 favorite toy plus a blankie for them to have for naps. I usually pack one small carryon type piece of luggage with favorite games, toys, coloring book & crayons, etc., along with 1 extra outfit for each of them. This is something I keep close at hand so I can get into it at a moment's notice - separate from the other luggage we bring for trips. Makes things MUCH easier to have it all in one place.

We've taken our 2 on a 5 hour trip before. Our oldest has always been an easy traveler compared to our youngest. I highly recommend the DVD player, books & hand held games, and planning a stop somewhere for an hour or so where everybody can stretch their games (think McDonalds Playland or something like it). Our youngest cannot stand to be strapped into her seat for long periods of time - and getting out to stretch is a lifesaver. Little snacks are great too - cereal bars, fruit bars, apple slices, cheerios, cheese sticks, pretzels, etc. Little things that keep their hands busy. =)

Lacy - posted on 01/13/2010

I have repeatedly with my son since he was an infant. At the toddler stage we always took plenty of toys and snacks. He loved it. If you keep him engaged it should be fine. A lot of the oh look at that and what is that, does wonders. Also, make sure and ask them if they need to go, if he is potty trained as they will get wrapped up in watching stuff go by and forget to say anything. My son would say no often when we were still driving, but if we went ahead and stopped before we asked, he would immediately say yes and proceed to march to the restroom. It seemed like he didn't want to make us stop driving to go. Trips can be great fun with kids as long as you remain flexible and understand that things may have to change to accomodate them, don't expect them to be perfect and go out of your way to entertain them and they will be great.

Arron - posted on 01/13/2010

We took my 1 1/2YR son and 3 yr old daughter from AZ TO WA... 25 hours straight! yes dvd player is the way to go... and toys books things that light up... and yummy snacks=)

Brittany - posted on 01/13/2010

I just recently took my 2 yr old on a 7 hour trip to ohio! she did great. no fussing until the last 30 minutes of the ride because she was tired & the fussing wasnt all that bad for her. She read books, played with toys, played with her laptop & watched out the windows!

Shannon - posted on 01/13/2010

Missy, you can get a Car charger converter for your DVD player...makes it much easier..hope it helps!

Missy - posted on 01/13/2010

My toddler son is well traveled. I agree with everyone that suggests a portable DVD player, but keep in mind that you will need a long battery life if you are unable to keep the DVD player plugged in. The player I have has an eight hour battery and it's an absolute life saver. When your son falls asleep, conserve the battery by shutting it off and you should have no problem making the 10 hour trip. When my husband and I flew to Hawaii with our son, we kept a small backpack with matchbox cars and action figures in it. Every couple of hours we would present our son with a new toy that would keep his interest for a couple of more hours. Small snacks and drink boxes are also a necessity. Hopefully this will be helpful to you. Enjoy your trip!

Jennifer - posted on 01/13/2010

as everyone said DVD player is always nice. can also do color wonder markers for the car if your worried about him marking everything. before any long trip in the car we make sure to put down a hand towel in the carseat just in case something happends. much easier to take out a towel and put into a bag then it is to take off the carseat cover and wash it. keep extra clothes handy as well. driving at night does make it easier but i wouldn't suggest it unless you have someone to look after kiddo once you are there, otherwise your gonna have hyper kid and really tired parents.

Jamie - posted on 01/13/2010

i took my daughter from NY to TN...and we had lots of snacks/juice, and toys and books, and when she got really cranky, we pulled over to a rest stop and let her run around for a few minutes, then packed her back in and off we went! worked like a charm

Chelsi - posted on 01/13/2010

We took our 5 yr old, 2 yr old and 4 month old on a trip that was 13 hours one way..It wasn't as horrible as i thought it was gonna be..It was actually alot of fun! I would just bring lots of books, snacks, toys, and things to keep him occupied!

Kaley - posted on 01/13/2010

I took my kids when they were two and two months old on an 18 hour drive to oklahoma to see my husband graduate from basic training. I sugest bringing a portable DVD player with you so that your little guy can watch his favorite movies or shows, and bring snacks along for the ride. Also stop every three to four hours to take him out of the carseat so that he can stretch his legs a little bit. If he has a favorite blanket or pillow bring it with you. I also found that driving at night helped so that my kids could sleep a portion of the drive there so they didn't get too restless.

Marie - posted on 01/13/2010

I have done it a few times...start your driving at night around 10pm-midnight that way they sleep for the majority of the trip. It makes the whole thing alot more peaceful. Plus you usually have less traffic to deal with.

Megan - posted on 01/13/2010

I actually took my son for our first family vacation to Myrtle beach, and he was about 2 1/2 at the time. We left really early in the morning so that he would sleep for a few hours yet and the only time we would have to make our first stop would be for breakfast, It took maybe an hour longer than we liked but he needed to stretch his legs after all he was in a car seat the whole time. Just pack a portable dvd player (preferably one that goes on the back of the head rest) the others are good too and just get some fun music nothing made my son happier than singing some songs and dancing.

Tabitha - posted on 01/13/2010

I took my 11 month old daughter and 5 year old son on a 12 hour car trip to Canada. They actually did pretty well. We made several stops so they could get out and stretch, run off some energy, etc. We also left very early in the morning so that they would sleep for a portion of the trip. We were traveling with my in-laws, and at each stop, they had a small "present" for the kids to unwrap and play with in the car.

Kathy - posted on 01/13/2010

We leave at night time, they sleep most of the way!

Carolyn - posted on 01/13/2010

Hi, we took our boy at 2 and a half, and again at 3 on a 9-10 hr drive, but over 2 days. (1 night stop over) It was a little bit easier at 2 and a half than 3 really, in that he slept in the car more. We had LOTS of good music for him, and I seem to remember the journey home, he listened to an audio of the book, Maisy's xmas eve, which had songs and actions it it too...
so in summary - you'll be fine, with entertaining music for him -plus sleepy music too! and snacks (we had crackers, apples etc) We stopped every coupla hours or so, and he ran around a park. Probably the hardest part was the last hour on each day if he was awake...so have some suprise entertainments up your sleeve - mayb a matchbox car or something like that? I recently took him 24hrs on a plane, and hidden pressies which came out every now and then were the trick!
Good luck and have fun

Alana - posted on 01/13/2010

I have always travelled well with children. It is best to sart at a young age. Either start early in the morning and have lots of breaks where he can run around and then sleep. Plan it so he sleeps when you travel

Kristi - posted on 01/12/2010

I drove from salt lake city ut to Omaha ne, with nothing but a couple of toys for my two year old daughter. 16 hours there and back, my husband and I drove through, and she slept 14 out of the 16 hours. It was great.

Alisha - posted on 01/12/2010

I just took my daughter on about an 8 hour flight for Christmas. She is 21 months now. She did wonderful. I had a binki to help with her ears but I also planned most of the flights to be around nap times so that helped. Last summer though we did take a trip that takes about 9 hours but it took us almost a day. We just stopped often to eat a stretch and play. It was fun to explore the world with her and show her all the fun things of nature even if they were just on the side of the road.

LaKeesha - posted on 01/12/2010

Hello, I am a mother of seven and I have taken my daughter who was a year and a half at the time on a 16 hr flight non- stop just this summer, I took plenty of coloring books, portable dvd player was great, and lots of snacks...Things to keep them busy works the best, and things they can do without much help from you....So they can entertain themselves...Hope this helps. Have a wonderful and very blessed trip.....

Yasmine - posted on 01/12/2010

My husband and I took our 2 month old and 2 yr old on a 13 hour trip. The DVD player helps and we also put my sons car seat up front while I sat in the back with my 2 month old. He thought he was the coolest ever riding along side his dad:) Good luck!

Tina - posted on 01/12/2010

I went with my family on a 1 month trip. We drove in a 15 passenger van with a trailer. At the time, my children were 7 months, 3years and 5 years. We were with my nieces and nephews 9 of them ranging in ages 1year to 12years. And 3 of us adults. So a total of 12 children all together and one on the way...my sister was pregnant and due that month. We traveled from Ohio to California (northern route). Camped for a week in the mountains then drove back the southern route...stopping in Atlanta for a few days then back up to Ohio. We kept busy with songs and games. We stopped every 3-4 hours and did a lot of driving at night. The children had a blast and keep asking if we will ever do that again. We did not have a DVD player, but we did have a computer lap top...but the only thing we watched on that was a video postcard from Yosemite Park. ( That was only because we arrived there at night and were not able to spend much time there.) As far as potty, we stopped and made everyone go. We modified our drinking and eating while we were out. When we were camping, I kept a potty seat in the tent with us...so we wouldn't deal with outhouses and spiders! (I think that was for me more than the children.) We survived. Oh...each child had their own bag that they kept under their seat with crayons and notebook paper...and a book to keep handouts from each state. My little one (8mos.) had little toys and those puff treats and dry cereal.

Kimberly - posted on 01/12/2010

I have to agree with everyone else!! Portable DVD players are a must with young children and travel...I took my daughter to Iowa from Chicago when she was 6 weeks old so that wasnt soo bad considering all she did at that time was sleep. But my Husbands family lives in Ohio so we travel out that way quite often. So I recomend DVD's and snacks for any long trip.

Ashlie - posted on 01/12/2010

In my opinion the best thing to take on a long trip for a todler is a portable dvd player and their fav. movies. It helps with my kids and I live in tennessee and at walmart they are about 50$.

Brittany - posted on 01/12/2010

well i got lucky... my son will be a year old the 29th of this month... my bf travels so we have driven from oklahoma to louisiana and back several times and he does GREAT... he sleeps most of the time but we also have dvd player in the back headrest so if he gets cranky turn on something for him to watch and he does fiine... you will never know how your child does until you try it lol! i was nervous about it too!

Melissa - posted on 01/12/2010

when i take longer trips with my 2 year old son i try to think of easy games for him to play with me along the way, such as asking what color cars he sees, asking him to find certain kinds of vehicles.(such as a truck or bus) i aslo stop about every few hours, to change him and let him run around. I agree with leaving at a time your chil will be asleep, and a portable dvd player will make the trip less stressful for everyone. I also burn cds of childrens songs, of course the bag of toys, and books...snacks and drinks. hope this helped. :D

Brittany - posted on 01/12/2010

My husband and I drove from Colorado to New Jersey with our son who was 21 months at the time in October. Its supposed to be a 27 hour drive and it took us about 30. He did amazing! He slept most of the time and only fussed a couple times. I would suggest bringing books and other things as distractions. Stop to strectch every couple of hours since they are strapped into the carseat they can't shift to get comfortable so its important to let them run and play alittle bit. my son doesn't really like to sit and watch movies so a DVD player doesn't help but bring snacks and lots of their favorite things. Let your kiddo ride in their pj's so its a more comfortable ride.

Gloria - posted on 01/12/2010

i have took my son on trips all the time... more than 2 hours trips. last summer we drove over 16 hours from maryland to wisc with my son and it went well. i kept him busy with his toys and soon ill be on another trip that is abt 15 hrs drive and i plan to buy dvd player so he can watch kid movies and have toys to play with. my opinion to be honest... going on any trips with kids ... road is easiest. i tried train... man that was tough. i tried airplane and that was even worse... and that time my son was only 8 months old. i would drive over any other methods for kids under 5 years old

Kirsty - posted on 01/12/2010

Hiya, I took my 2 year on a transatlantic flight and he was fine, as long as you have plenty of surprises that you can whip out when he starts getting restless, I made a playlist on my ipod that my wee boy listened, and had little bags that had a little snack and toy/book to keep him occupied. And we did the same during the summer when we drove WI to MI :) hope that helps x

Karissa - posted on 01/12/2010

Drive mainly at night.

Katia - posted on 01/12/2010

We took Matt to a 15h flight to Brazil (30h round trip). It was not fun... I thought I'd jump out of the airplane, especially when he kicked the seat in front of us and grabbed the man's har, yelling like a maniac... However, for the longest flights (Miami-Sao Paulo) he slept most of the time. He had to sleep on my husband's arms though and that itself was hard because he did not have too much space. Matt turns and tosses a lot during sleep. The flight was full.... normally, the flight attendents allow people w/ kids to occupy more seats if there are seats available... For those who wonder why we decided to go for a such long trip... My family is in Brazil and they had not met Matt yet... So, we took a deep breath and went for it knowing it would not be any easy... So, I don't advise anyone to do that, unless you can keep it cool and make the best out of it. We took different little toys and I'd bring one out at time. Also offered healthy foods, drinks and even diaper change time was a way to distract him...

Jennifer - posted on 01/12/2010

I have taken both my kids on very long trips a lot of times...at all different ages! Just make sure you have a few stops planned out, such as stopping at a restaurant for supper, stopping at a place where your boy can just roam freely in the car, or get in his snowsuit and play outside a bit. We go from Winnipeg to Edmonton and Vancouver a few times a year. When they were under two they didn't like it much (I'm assuming because we didn't stop enough), but now they don't mind it. Yes they still get cranky at times, you just have to make sure you can keep them occupied. On long drives kids will mostly sleep. During awake times, provide colouring such as Colour Wonder, bring books to read (if you aren't the one driving), my kids have a little Nintendo DS and a Leapster for long drives also. Portable DVD players are great for long drives as well. Lots of little snacks they can feed themselves keep my kids entertained. Just stay positive and it will go okay :)

Shannon - posted on 01/12/2010

When I drove from MI to NY we were stopped at an accident...401 was shut down for hours...I was in th farthest lane to the left so there were many lanes of traffic to my right so no exit for potty breaks. If you can just stop the car when he says he has to go...be it on the side of the road or at an exit...little boys don't have to squat...and think it is fun to pee on tires...since we were stuck so far in trafic, I gave my son a water bottle to pee in...he thought it was awesome!!!!

I also believe in lots of toys and LOVE my DVD player!!!

Felicia - posted on 01/12/2010

yes I drove from PA to GA with a 14 month old and 3 1/2 yro while being 4 months pregnant.I took things along on the trip since I was driving straight trough only stopped to pee and get gas. I brought a cooler with drinks and food plus some snacks some things for them to do in the car like color some small toys plus I got a dvd player put in. It wasnt too bad but they have their moments and fits. they were happy once we got to GA because they got to see daddy who was on a militay base so they were super excited to see the tanks and other cool stuff.

JoAnna - posted on 01/12/2010

we go to rocky point every october and took our 3 year old and 16month old. THank god for portable dvd players!! Also we left at 3 in the morning so they slept half way and in Mexico by the time they woke up and got breakfast

Haze - posted on 01/12/2010

i took my three year old on a long journey scotland to london took roughly ten hours and he was great, stopped at places for a munch and the toilet and he was great, he slept most of journey anyway .

Jennifer - posted on 01/11/2010

Leave at midnight!

BETH - posted on 01/11/2010

I TOOK MY SOON ON A 12 HOUR TRIP, I BROUGHT SNACKS FOR HIM BOOK AND HIS PORTABLE TV AND HE DID FINE!

Tonya - posted on 01/11/2010

I took my daughter who was 16 months from Portland Oregon to Las Vegas and L.A. I think the DVD player saved me and also a ton of breaks.

Lisa - posted on 01/11/2010

One thing you may want to consider doing is putting a pullup over top of his underwear, that way if there is an accident the car seat won't get wet and your son will still fee wet so there should not be any regression. I have 31/2 year old twins and I still travel with one of my potties in the car even just around town should their be an emergency pee break required. Good luck!

Ashley - posted on 01/11/2010

We took our 2 year old from KS to PA (18 hours) and a portable DVD player was a must, plus we traveled overnight so he slep for most of the trip. Make sure to also have plenty of snacks and drinks to keep them happy. Fruit snacks, crackers, Goldfish, and things like that seemed to go over well.

Carmen - posted on 01/11/2010

You're best bet is to travel at night. Bathe them before leaving and they will sleep through the ride.

Aarika - posted on 01/11/2010

We live in VA and visit our family in IN which is about a 12-15 hour trip. I have a 2 year old. She's not interested in the portable DVD player very much. I suggest coloring books and crayons depending on whatever your child likes to do. Or drive at night so they sleep.

Rebecca - posted on 01/11/2010

We took our 2 year old on a 10 hour trip to visit family over the holidays. We broke it up both ways into 2 days (stayed with a relative halfway). The portable DVD player came in quite handy. It's best to leave in the afternoon, around naptime. He was sleepy for a while and didn't complain in the beginning, passed out and slept for a little while, then by the time he woke up we were ready to stop for dinner. The worst part was near the end. The trip wasn't easy, especially because I'm hugely pregnant, but it is possible and we did it.

Lisa - posted on 01/11/2010

Last year we took our son on a road trip from Seattle to San Francisco. We were fortunate to have a DVD player in our mini-van. That kept him entertained for awhile, but I also packed a lot of snacks and juice as well as some of his favorite toys. We knew our food stops (lunch, dinner) would probably take longer, so plan on not always getting to your destination on time. The first time we took him on a plane, I made sure I had new toys to play with that. It seemed to work well since it was a non-stop flight from Seattle to Philadelphia. Those are some of the things that worked for us. Later on this year, we will be traveling back to Philadelphia first on a plane and then with a moving van. The only difference is that my first son will be almost 3 1/2 and our second son will be about 10months old. What an experience that will be. Just try to keep a positive attitude and be flexible.

Dayanara - posted on 01/11/2010

you need:

DVD player (if your child is interested on watching TV or movies at that age)
car seat toys
snacks
music (his favorites)
a "mostly" that worked very well in our case...schedule your trips very early so you can leave with your child still sleep (you save 2-3 hours) then nap time will be close if your child has a naptime schedule (will save you 1-2 hours more)
Hope it helps!!!

Charity - posted on 01/11/2010

I have a 3 yr old son and my family just took a trip to Disney World in Dec. 2009. It was about a 11 -12 hour drive for us. We took plenty of DVD's, Nintendo DS games and snacks for him. He did alot better than I thought he would, but I would not drive again with him! He constantly asked when were we going to be there and got bored easily even with everything we took. And he was extremely cranky not getting a full nap, cause of sitting in a booster seat, not comfortable on him. But you will never know until you try it, every child is different. Good Luck!