we are leaving to visit my family in Indiana in about 3 weeks. it is about an 8 hour drive from where we are in missouri, depending on traffic etc...we have a 2 1/2 year old and 8 month old twins. we made the trip with my oldest when he was about 9 months old and drove at night so he slept the whole way there, no problem. Going out this time will be day time. I know he will dose here and there but he will be awake most of the time. we do not have a portable dvd player, or the means to purchase one before hand. what kind of things may be fun for him or at least keep him from going totally wonkers??? we will be stoping around St Louis to feed the twins. so we'll get oldest out to run a bit and eat. suggestions?? idea's??? stories?? TIA, ya'll are the best!!
@ Jo W.--- we go around ST LOUIS, we always get lost for some reason when we go through, lol...i forget the name of the highway we use to go around. but other than that, yep 70 the whole way.
unfortunately, 2 1/2 is not potty trained yet, bonus of going to stay with my mom is she said she'll help us get him potty trained, i know he is ready so i'm pretty excited!!! we'll have to stop a couple extra times for diaper changes for all the boys...thanks for all the ideas!!! I made my list of things to take with us today that way we dont get halfway there and be like oh crap we forgot the stroller..lol
If you can swing it, get a magna doodle from Target or Walmart.
They are around 10 to 15 bucks I think.
If you really want to take a DVD player with you, I have one you can borrow. I am in KC but Liberty schools so I could meet you at Target or someplace like that.
We did a three day drive with my then 15 month old...I was also five months prego.
Saving grace....Portable DVD PLAYER!!
And frequent pit stops...let kids run a bit...better chance they nap...even if it does tack on an extra hour...time well spent together.
make sure kids are kept fed...changed and happy and the trip wont be that bad.
Good Luck!!
-Lots of walking, running, stretching, playing ball, ... at pit stops!
-Snacks! (non crumbly, such as grapes, fruit leather, gerber yogurt melts, cereal, and sippy cups that don't leak)--a small insulated lunch bag for fruit or sippy cups helps.
-Small magna doodle
-Toy phone that makes noise or music when you push the buttons
-Board books for him to look at (some old favorites that he knows and a couple newer ones)
-Kids songs on CD (I copied them from the ones I got a the library--I know I wasn't supposed to, but awesome to have when the day gets long in the car) -- save them for the 2nd half of the trip when you'll need them so the adults don't go crazy listening to them the whole day...pump up mommy & daddy music to keep the driver awake.
-Pacifier (if you use one) and lovey, blanket
-Window shade screens
Is he potty trained? You didn't mention, but it was a concern for us on our 10 hr drive this summer. We put a Pottete Potty Plus in the truck with us so we could just do the potty thing quickly. Or, put a waterproof pad/piddle pad in his seat, or just put him in a diaper.
I don't know the area, but I'd try to get the longest stretch of driving first. What we did is had the car packed and ready to roll, then pulled the kids (2 and 3 yrs old) right out of bed (around their normal wake-up time) still groggy and in PJ's and then let them eat breakfast in the truck on the road (zippy bags of rainbow O's cereal and a sippy cup, and freeze dried yogurt). We went 2.5 hrs in the morning before stopping for fuel.
You CAN do it w/o a DVD player. Have a safe trip!
Get a cd with kids songs and do a sing a-long.
If you can read in the car and there's room in the back seat, sit with your son and read him a story. You can also try books on tape.
A magna doodle so he can draw pictures.
Hit the local library for kids tunes and kid books on cd!
I am guessing you are coming in via 70? Do you know where exactly you are going to stop in StL?
If it makes you feel better I get lost sometimes when I cross the river. I have lived here all my life. Oh my daughter goes to Xavier in Cincinnati so I go that way a lot.
If you don't stay on 70 in StL you probably go down 40. Lord there is a mess of construction right now, not to scare you. I just know it is easy to get turned around.
Well if you go down 40 you may want to stop in Chesterfield. Boone's Crossing has a Bounce U but I don't know if you can just stop by. Nothing blows off steam like bouncing inflatables. :) There is also a haven of damn near every type of restaurant you can think of.
Anyway, message me if you want. I can try to find places. I live in south county so I am not overly familiar with the path you are taking.
i just did a 10 hour road trip with my 2 1/2 y/o daughter - by myself !! i went to the dollar store before i left and got some toys. i would let her have one at a time and stretched it out. i did have a dvd player but it was not working so not a big deal she was ok without it. when you stop let him out and run and stretch. also i found a book at a rest stop that has a pen (no ink in it) and when they use this certain coloring book then the colors magically appear (dont remember the name of it) but that worked good as well - at least she cant color on the car. also try a etch a sketch - they have a 2 pack at kmart for $5. i was suprised that she did really well - good luck with your trip
I'm going on a road trip soon and my daughter is 2 1/2. I found some cute toys that would probably entertain the 2 1/2 yr old. The 1st one I didn't know my daughter would get such a kick out of until we were at a friend's house and she was just fascinated with it. It's the fishing magnetic puzzle game you can put it in the Barnes and nobles search bar (the link won't work on my end when I tested it).
http://gifts.barnesandnoble.com/Toys-games/Fishing-Magnet...
http://www.buckleyboo.com/shop/productDetail.cfm?productI...
Buckleyboo's are awesome. What child doesn't love playing with buckles? lol.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dynex%26%23153%3B+-+Refurbish...
I saw this when I was looking a little while ago and thought I'd throw it in since it has such great reviews and cheaper than new ones :)
I would try to get some board books. From previous trips, we made it a point to let her get out every 1- 1 1/2 hours and run around for 15 mins or so at a local park. Our first trip I didn't stop but once and she wasn't a happy camper. We usually ask the gas station where the nearest park is :) He will not survive 8 hours on 1 stop, in my opinion purely based on my own 2 1/2 yr old lol. I leave after she has run around a bit at home and eaten something so she lasts longer in the car and doesn't get car sick (she never has but I took the precaution anyways).
With the 8 month olds I would try and get their fave toys and 1 or 2 new ones and bring it with. I actually bought a blue bucket tub thing at Target today for $2 so I could put all her toys in it and they wouldn't be all over the car lol. Good luck and Have a fun trip
We travel to Texas from MO, and it is about 10 - 11 hrs. When we were growing up we made 2 stops. ! for gas and one to eat. We would leave at 4 am and sleep the first few hours. Nothing to do but read books, lol sorry no DVD players or MP3 players. We played games of things like I spy and where is that car from..... Now when I travel we still play the games but I have enhanced them with card games from one of the home party plans that has books..... Usborne. They give you ideas of things to look for. I also pack lunch bags with fun stuff that I get from the dollar store. So, anything, chalk to use at the roadside stop, bubbles, we did jump ropes, coloring books, crayons, board books...... you get the picture and we packed these and got one out about every1 - 2 hours. We also bring lots of singing music and I did use the library for a lot of it. Yes and I copied a lot also. New stuff kept their interest. We also had a DVD player that we brought. Now the twins...... not sure what to do for them. We started traveling when one of the kids was a little younger and never had a problem except for car sickness.....but music and maybe some new small toys. Good luck and safe traveling.
