Advice please!dd 3 on 1st long road trip

[zendisney]

My dp and I decided that I would drive ahead with dd 3 from Houston to Orlando.
Any tips beyond bringing the fisher price DVD player, snacks, plenty of water, stops to walk a little, fun sing -along cds????
I thought about doodle pro, books, and favorite blankets and toys... What else is there?
Thanks in advance

 

[Peanut&Piglet'sMom]

My kids have done the 19 hour drive from NJ to FL since the oldest was only 9months old! We've used all the things you've listed as means of entertainment but what we've found to be best was to drive while they sleep!!!

If at all possible, leave around bedtime and take turns driving through the night.

If that's not possible...don't stress. It'll be fine. You might be surprised on how well she does.

 

[zendisney]

I am the only one driving to Florida. My dp is taking a plan because she has to work until Friday afternoon. So driving at night is not an option.
I think she will end up taking long naps on the car ride. She rarely naps but when we get in the car it is like magic. Poof! She's out. That's how we get her to nap on weekends.

 

[Peanut&Piglet'sMom]

I wish my kids would nap in the car during the daytime!

OK then...how about a game of I Spy???

Simple ones like "I spy a number 7" which can be found on speed limit signs....stuff like that? and have her find it!

Make sure you have simple snacks and toys.

 

[abouley]

My DD is 2.5 and my DS is 5. Both really like to play with the Leapster and both have little laptop computers that they find fun. My kids will also color and play with sticker books in the car. They both have a sticker book, a drawing book and a little case of pens/crayons. Doodle pro is good as well especially if you aren't sure what they might do with pens! Our main savior though is the DVD player and snacks!!!!

Are you planning to stay overnight somewhere or drive straight? What is it about 14 or 15 hours? My kids are pretty burnt of the car after 7 hours or so but we're usually just driving straight with maybe one potty/stretch break! I think we'd have to plan more and longer stops if we were driving that far!

 

[Steph9072]

In 07' and this year we will leave shortly after dinner. Letting our kids watch a movie then off to sleep. Dh and I will take turns driving through the night. We have like a 14-15 hour drive. We will stop and get breakfast when the wake and change their clothes. While they are awake they will watch DVD's, read, draw and I also throw in a few toys/games that are new and good for travel.

 

[ChillyWilleys]

We've done the 24 hour drive yearly since DD was 2. The DVD is a life saver as are snacks. I also had one of those 3D viewer things that show pictures. I saved that for a bored moment and pulled it out as a surprise. Another good thing was one of those car tables (can't remember the brand but its sturdy enough to write on but is soft enough that I don't think its dangerous) with that she could use the color wonder markers. Between sleep and the DVDs a lot of time gets taken up. Another thing good would be a portable CD player or MP3 player.

 

[WillowBelle]

We have a 13 hour drive. When our oldest DD was 3.5 we made our first drive straight through to WDW. We left at 2:00 in the morning - she went back to sleep once the car started moving.

I had planned a picnic at the FL welcome station and she was really excited about that. It also gave her time to get out of the car and run around. We grabbed a bunch of flyers from the main building so she had some cool stuff to look at.

Eventually, signs start popping up along the interstate - that gets 'em super psyched.

Do like everyone else said with the dvd, games, etc. One thing I do is get movies that they've never seen before. That will really hold their attention better than a movie they've seen a zillion times already.