Reforming Motherhood

Aug. 10, 2006 - Another question for the wise

So, I have this very, very active and physical 19-month-old boy.

We are planning a two-day driving trip next month and I am quite worried about what to do with this guy! I have a ton of plans and ideas for my other two boys, but all of these don’t work for the little one. Examples include disposable cameras, a family journal, alphabet games, and books on tape, etc. etc. But what to do with the toddler?! If you have any ideas for me --especially if they have actually worked for you please let me know! I have enough time to plan, purchase, or make whatever will work I just haven’t a clue what that is. Please help!

~Amy

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Aug. 10, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Rebeca

This is a cop-out but if you can borrow or buy a portable DVD player from someone it might help! We went on a trip to California when Peregrine was barely 2 and borrowed one and were so glad we did. It's especially good if they don't normally get to watch TV/movies very often.
Let us know what works for you!
Rebeca

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Aug. 10, 2006 - BENADRYL

Posted by PreschoolersandPeace

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Aug. 10, 2006 - I agree with both...

Posted by GenesisFamily

my pediatrician even recommended Benadryl ;). If you could borrow a portable dvd player it would be a life saver. We have no tv in our house, so the only time the kids can watch it is on trips. My 2 year old sat happily for a 15 hour road trip last week thanks in most part to a dvd player.
I also break a lot of rules during road trips- bags of chips, suckers, candy, slurpees. I figure loading them up with sugar isn't so bad when they have to stay strapped in the whole trip. Have fun!
Toni

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Aug. 11, 2006 - details...

Posted by bobby

How much time in the car per day?

When we drive to Chelan (a couple times a year, ~4 hours driving time, 5-6 hours total trip) we try to leave at around 10 in the morning (let 'em run around before we leave) then usually they "read" books happily until about lunch time, when we stop (usually at a park if we can) to eat and for a little bit of running around. Then back in the car at ~1:00, they usually take a nap (with favorite stuffed animal, of course) for one and a half hours.

Waking up from naps is generally the trickiest time; they often wake up crying or otherwise unhappy.

Have a snack sometime after naps (between 3 and 4) and more books. Sometimes one of us goes back to read stories to them, which they love but is pretty hard, physically, on us - lots of twisting and throats get sore reading over highway noise. Makes Rebecca carsick sometimes also.

We also have many many tapes to listen to - stories (Danny loves), goofy songs (they both love), plus ones with music I can stand but is also fun for them - I made a compilation tape with swing-style stuff, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, etc. Sometimes we sing songs together but it's hard on our voices.

That gets us through a 5-6 hour day of driving pretty smoothly; it would probably work for an 8-hour driving day also, though I wouldn't want to stretch it much beyond that.

But our boys are (almost) endlessly entertained by books; your mileage may vary.

One big thing is to try to keep them comfortable - if they're tired, we don't let them talk and we turn on a "bedtime" tape so that they get some rest, if they are hungry, we stop for a meal or break out the snacks - and to adhere to the regular schedule as much as possible - lunch at 11:30-12:00, naps between 1 and 3, dinner at 6, etc.

We've done that every spring and summer since before Mikey was born. I suppose we've trained them to some extent at this point. :)

Hope that helps

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Aug. 11, 2006 - DVD player

Posted by bobby

I don't know about the big E, but Mikey doesn't have the patience for more than about 20 minutes of TV at a time. So a portable DVD player would be wasted on him - though Danny would love it. ;)

Something to consider.

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Aug. 11, 2006 - what helpful comments Bob!

Posted by reformingmama

As for the details, according to yahoo we will be driving a total of ~13 hours over both days (of course that is if we do not stop) so we are looking at ~10 hour days I am thinking.
I am with you on the dvd player. We have one and will bring it for limited use, but our 3.5 year has just begun to enjoy watching a whole video and our 19 month old has shown zero intrerest! But I like your thoughts of keeping their schedule, keeping them comfortable, and eating meals at a park!
Do you know of any lap toys that have caputerd your guys interest?
~Amy

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Aug. 14, 2006 - lap toys

Posted by bobby

To confirm...

While Rebecca and Mercy were enjoying some time with you guys (jealous) I put on a video for the boys to watch while I got dinner ready - Danny was enthralled and didn't move during 30-40 minutes of Chicken Run while Mikey did something like watch for 5 minutes, wander around the house for 5 minutes, watch for 5 minutes, talk to me for 10 minutes, etc. ;)

We don't do a lot of toys in the car; don't know why. Sometimes Danny has his Woody and Buzz toys with him, they both like to have matchbox cars - but that's about it.

Also realized over the weekend that we do pretty much the same thing when we drive to Winthrop, which is about a 5.5 hour drive (plus stops). So now that I think of it, I guess it does work pretty well for a full day (8 hours) of driving.

Hope it goes well; let us know what works for you!

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