How do you survive....

[kemdupuis]

12.5 hours in a car with a 1 y/o?! We're headed to NC on Friday and the longest B has ever been in the car is 5 hours. Help me!

[pghtruelove]

Jul 13, 2016 16:15:14 GMT -5 kemdupuis said:

12.5 hours in a car with a 1 y/o?! We're headed to NC on Friday and the longest B has ever been in the car is 5 hours. Help me!

Do you have an iPad or something you can put videos to distract him with? That was awesome for us.

[Deleted]

We did 12 hours in a car driving from northern Cali to salt lake and I'm not gonna lie the last 3 hrs were hell. For me I start as early as possible at around 530 or 6am and I drive the first leg for as long as possible without stopping unless she is screaming. So if she is happy or asleep we drive. We stopped for lunch at around 12. Then the last leg we stopped every 2-3 hours cuz she was losing it.

I would recommend breaking the drive into first day 7 hours next day 5 hours if you can

[kemdupuis]

No iPad or tablet, unfortunately. He'll watch videos of himself on my phone, but that only keeps his attention for a few minutes.

@poppyc8 We are breaking the drive up- driving 5.5 hours on Friday (we are leaving after DH gets out of work at 5). And then 7 on Saturday.

I did buy him a few new toys, and plan on bringing snacks and music to listen to, but I just think he's going to lose his shit for a good chunk of the ride. He used to be fine in the car seat, but recently started complaining about it even on short trips around town. I am planning on keeping him as busy as possible on Friday during the day- we're going to the pool and playing outside all day. Hoping he'll be exhausted and put himself to sleep quickly!

[kemdupuis]

Jul 13, 2016 16:31:54 GMT -5 @hazeldublin said:

Can you drive through the night? I've seen that suggestion on parenting before.

I don't think DH would go for this. Plus, we can't check into our beach house until 3pm on Saturday. ETA: it is a very good/valid suggestion, though

[Deleted]

kemdupuis if you are breaking it up you'll be fine. Sorry thought you were doing a 12 hour in one day thing!

[Deleted]

bring snacks. Crackers, new toys he has never played with before

[jillywilly]

Jul 13, 2016 16:34:05 GMT -5 kemdupuis said:

No iPad or tablet, unfortunately. He'll watch videos of himself on my phone, but that only keeps his attention for a few minutes.

@poppyc8 We are breaking the drive up- driving 5.5 hours on Friday (we are leaving after DH gets out of work at 5). And then 7 on Saturday.

I did buy him a few new toys, and plan on bringing snacks and music to listen to, but I just think he's going to lose his shit for a good chunk of the ride. He used to be fine in the car seat, but recently started complaining about it even on short trips around town. I am planning on keeping him as busy as possible on Friday during the day- we're going to the pool and playing outside all day. Hoping he'll be exhausted and put himself to sleep quickly!

Our vacation in May was around 13 hours each way. The first leg we broke it up like you're doing, and he was a champ. On the way home we went all day and he lost his shit at the end, so definitely recommend the breaking it up strategy.

Also, like others have mentioned snacks, new toys, and plan on a lot of stops. H and I basically took turns driving and sitting in the back with DS to help rotate toys, sing songs, etc.

[heartofglass]

I think breaking it up you will be fine. We did 13 days in a row from 6-8 hours each. Sometimes he's going to scream and you've either got to stop and give him a break or just deal with it. We started as early as we could. We A woke up, we got in the car and rolled. He was normally happy for a bit, then took his first nap of the day.

Car rules: if the baby is happy or sleeping you don't stop. Pee before you leave and gas up the night before. We carried snacks, drinks and sandwiches in case we got hungry and couldn't stop.

I kept a huge box of toys in the back seat with us to hand over every time he got tired of one. He ended up loving the piece you can take off of the walker the best along with a empty water bottle. I put coins in there for him to shake. Also snacks, all the puffs and Cheerios!

I wish you could get a cheap tablet, but I understand. The iPad with the Baby First TV app was our saving grace when he was just done.

Oh and I nursed A while riding so I didn't have to get him out and stop.

ETA: when you do stop, plan to stop for an hour or so so B can get out and roam around and play.

[pghtruelove]

Oh we also read lots of books to J in our long trips when she gets really fussy. If he has any interactive or favorites those are the best.

[jessila]

kemdupuis, Have you ever been to the OBX before? I just want to make sure you know about the insane traffic to get on the island. If you arrive at the bridge after 11am it will add another 2-3 hours to your trip.

[billyhorrible]

We've done a couple long trips, from 7 hours to 15 in one day. And next month we'll do another.

We leave early in the day, stop every 2-3 hours for food/playtime (which is why the trip takes so long).

Bring lots of snacks.

One of the things my friend does is map out fun/unusual playgrounds along the way using yelp.

[blueskiessmiling]

Following because we're doing exactly the same next week. heartofglass How did you manage nursing while riding? I've never attempted, but that's the only sure fire way to calm DD when she's just over it.

[heartofglass]

Jul 13, 2016 19:33:24 GMT -5 blueskiessmiling said:

Following because we're doing exactly the same next week. heartofglass How did you manage nursing while riding? I've never attempted, but that's the only sure fire way to calm DD when she's just over it.

It was....interesting. Luckily A only nurses one side at a time. So basically I just climbed on the seat in the back and leaned over his seat (we have a bench seat in the back). One side makes you feel literally like a cow and the other try's to dislocate a rib or two. But like you said it was the only way to calm him down sometimes along with allowing us to keep driving.

[blueskiessmiling]

Jul 13, 2016 19:45:20 GMT -5 heartofglass said:

Jul 13, 2016 19:33:24 GMT -5 blueskiessmiling said:

Following because we're doing exactly the same next week. heartofglass How did you manage nursing while riding? I've never attempted, but that's the only sure fire way to calm DD when she's just over it.

It was....interesting. Luckily A only nurses one side at a time. So basically I just climbed on the seat in the back and leaned over his seat (we have a bench seat in the back). One side makes you feel literally like a cow and the other try's to dislocate a rib or two. But like you said it was the only way to calm him down sometimes along with allowing us to keep driving.

Pretty much as I imagined then! I'm REALLY not looking forward to this. I keep reminding myself it's just 12 hours...

[heartofglass]

Jul 13, 2016 19:46:53 GMT -5 blueskiessmiling said:

Jul 13, 2016 19:45:20 GMT -5 heartofglass said:

It was....interesting. Luckily A only nurses one side at a time. So basically I just climbed on the seat in the back and leaned over his seat (we have a bench seat in the back). One side makes you feel literally like a cow and the other try's to dislocate a rib or two. But like you said it was the only way to calm him down sometimes along with allowing us to keep driving.

Pretty much as I imagined then! I'm REALLY not looking forward to this. I keep reminding myself it's just 12 hours...

If you think you might try it, I recommend bringing along a small couch pillow. Something firm that you can lean an elbow on.

[mrsmonogrammed]

We leave on a 10ish hour ride (plus stops) on Friday at midnight/1AM. We will basically do as much driving as we can while hoping C sleeps until her usual 6am. Once she wakes we'll stop for breakfast and then hit the road again stopping every hour and a half or so. I went to the dollar store and grabbed some new toys she's never seen before- books, play necklace, stuffed baby doll, etc. also bought her a new interactive book that will hopefully keep her busy for awhile! Snacks will also be heavily rotated in with the other distractions. Good luck!!

[carolyngrace]

With her first, my sister used to lean over the car seat with her boob hanging down to nurse him. But... She went a bit nuts when he cried.

ETA: this would be on short car rides, when he was a newborn.

[kemdupuis]

Jul 13, 2016 17:57:16 GMT -5 jessila said:

kemdupuis, Have you ever been to the OBX before? I just want to make sure you know about the insane traffic to get on the island. If you arrive at the bridge after 11am it will add another 2-3 hours to your trip.

Yes, I have. I know- it's completely insane. I'm just trying to think positively ha!

[kemdupuis]

carolyngrace and heartofglass nursing while riding sounds insane! You are a champ!!

@blueskiessmiling could you pump and bottle feed? That's what I did on long trips when B still wanted to nurse frequently

[jessila]

Jul 13, 2016 21:39:39 GMT -5 kemdupuis said:

Jul 13, 2016 17:57:16 GMT -5 jessila said:

kemdupuis, Have you ever been to the OBX before? I just want to make sure you know about the insane traffic to get on the island. If you arrive at the bridge after 11am it will add another 2-3 hours to your trip.

Yes, I have. I know- it's completely insane. I'm just trying to think positively ha!

We're going in 2 weeks. It's about 8 hours from us. We did it when O was 10 weeks old because I took off extra time at the beginning of the school year. We left around 6 am but it was after labor day so past peak season. I think we'll try to leave by 5am this year to avoid the ridiculousness.
We ALWAYS leave and drive through the night on the way home. We did it last year and left around O's bedtime. He slept the whole way home and H let me sleep while he drove. There was zero traffic. If that's an option for the way home, do it.

[hannahl201477]

We haven't been on a ride that long before but out 7 hour drive we would stop once he woke up. Then once back in the car give puffs while I was in the back with him.

No real help, but good luck!!

[blueskiessmiling]

Jul 13, 2016 21:46:09 GMT -5 kemdupuis said:

carolyngrace and heartofglass nursing while riding sounds insane! You are a champ!!

@blueskiessmiling could you pump and bottle feed? That's what I did on long trips when B still wanted to nurse frequently

Sorry, just seeing this now since my tags are wonky. DD is definitely just nursing for comfort at this point, so I'm not sure bottles would do the trick. She always hated them, but luckily has taken well to straw cups. We'll just have to power through...and I'm also seriously considering ear plugs.