Car trips
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: Toddler Times
Forum Description: Is bubs growing up and getting into everything? How do you train them to use the potty? When do you start feeding solids? Share your tips and advice here!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34210
Printed Date: 06 August 2025 at 6:26pm
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Topic: Car trips
Posted By: JessDub
Subject: Car trips
Date Posted: 22 June 2010 at 12:24pm
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I have a four hour car trip with DS soon. It's just me and him this time so no passenger to help distract him.
We make this trip to see family a few times a year and each time it is ok first half as DS naps. Second half after a pit stop, he screams bloody murder for couple of hours. Not only is it unpleasant for him and me, it's a distraction whilst driving. We don't have a DVD player but I'm thinking of investing. Ideas? Breaking the trip into two days is not an option. And most favourite toys/books/snacks get swiftly rejected when he's over it. Do I just get earplugs and try to ignore? ------------- 
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Replies:
Posted By: tishy
Date Posted: 22 June 2010 at 1:00pm
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We've travelled Welly - Taupo and Welly - Tauranga around when the girls were about 22 months.
We found leaving first thing in the morning immediately after breakfast the best time to go and their mood was generally good for the rest of the time. We had The Wiggles on repeat on the cd player, anything else just didn't seem to amuse them Oh and stop at McDs so DS can play in the playground  .
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Posted By: Mum2ET
Date Posted: 22 June 2010 at 1:06pm
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DH has just recently put a couple of DVD's on his phone that Ella watches while she is in the car- is it possible to do that with your phone instead of getting a DVD player? ------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 22 June 2010 at 1:44pm
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food ...
when we did wellington over to two days we packed lots of food to hand to the kids and a bag with toys and books in it. i had potato chips in a container, sandwiches, fruit... you could sing songs and the best thing i found was to talk about the things you saw... oohhh wow look at those cows, arent those sheep high up on the mountain, was that a horse?? oh and maybe give him a map and ask him to help. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: JoJames
Date Posted: 22 June 2010 at 3:17pm
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We found it was easier to leave a good hour before his nap because then he was generally happy to play in his seat for a while, have a snack, talk, then eventually he would go to sleep and wake close to when the trip was over. I filled a box with toys and put it next to his seat so he can pick things out as he wants to play with them. Stickers are also a welcome distraction. The trick is to have things to keep handing him as the trip goes on. ------------- http://www.alterna-tickers.com"> 
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Posted By: JessDub
Date Posted: 22 June 2010 at 4:59pm
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Thanks, some good tips. I like the idea of leaving a good hour before nap time, JoJames, that should help.
And since I've been thinking about it, a small bottle of milk if he gets grumpy might cheer him up. (He only has one bottle at night but would drink milk all day if he could.) -------------
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Posted By: kandk
Date Posted: 22 June 2010 at 8:04pm
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I often do a four hour trip too, but I leave after his tea and bath, so he has the first part of his night's sleep in the car. Usually transitions okay at the other end. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Mama2two
Date Posted: 22 June 2010 at 10:24pm
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I second food! Lots of snacks seems to be all that works in our car
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Posted By: tictacjunkie
Date Posted: 22 June 2010 at 11:56pm
| Food definitely! Get a map & find out where the playgrounds are & allow half an hour for them to run around. We (normally just me & kids) often travel from Taranaki to B of P, waikato, & Akl, the kids love stopping at Piopio, cool playground! Break it into steps too- eg. first lets find a playground, now a petrol station, McD's, etc. Sometimes I've got them to find things to take photos of- sheep, horses, dragons etc. The more predictable the better, they will get used to it, =) |