How to occupy a rear-facing toddler on a long road trip

[O-Jo]

18 months old
2 days, about 10 hours each, then return trip too

I know I can turn him forward-facing now, but before I consider doing that I wondered if anyone had any btdt suggestions.

Thanks!

 

[RedPanda]

Our daughter's 2 and still rear-facing. For long trips, our bag of tricks includes

• MagnaPro
• Leaptop (from Leapfrog)
• Puffball toy (bought by MIL at Cracker Barrel; amazing how long it keeps her entertained!)
• Plastic slinky
• CD of Sesame Street songs -- works better than any other music we've found

She got an Aquadoodle for her birthday that we're saving to try out on the next trip, too.

 

[MSSANDRA]

for keeping your child in the safest position! I looks like you have an slightly older child, perhaps they can be a great help in keeping you child happy, or if you have a third seat arrange seats so that you or DH can sit by her.

 

[lgjjp]

We just drove straight thru (17hrs) with a 2yo(3 in a few weeks) and a 17month old, both rear facing. we used books, small toys, snacks, and our saving grace a portable dvd player. we watched toy story 3 about a thousand times i swear but it kept them entertained. and they both did great. we left at night and they slept a good part of the way. On the way back we left in the morning and drove all day, they still did great. we just made sure to stop every few hours and let them both run around a little and burn off some energy

 

[SweetTeaMaker]

Happy to hear if another mom who has her 18 month old RF still. I'd recommend a DVD player that has dual screens and can play either the same DVD or something different than the other one. We got a set like this for 150 at Sams Club and baby can watch baby einsteins while the older kids use headphones and watch their show.
Trying to stick to his regular nap schedule can help. You can try to keep him awake and entertained until nap time and even have a rest stop right before it's nap time.

 

[growinupdisney]

When we drove to WDW and my dd3 was rear facing I sat in the backseat with her. That way I could occupy her we also had a DVD player for her my older kids had watched the one that was installed the car with head phones.

I always bring her crayons, coloring book, whatever she is interested in at the time. This year she will have her leapfrog!

On the way down we always leave around 9pm so once we get in the car the kids go to sleep and don't wake up til we get there. But, on the way home is when we have to entertain.

 

[tlbwriter]

When my DD was rear-facing I sat in the back with her - it's SO much easier to entertain them that way, since they're facing you and you don't have to try to turn around from the front seat. I read books to her, and we hung one of those chains made of the big plastic links from the ceiling (using a paperclip inserted into the roof liner) and dangled favorite toys from that (though she was younger than your child, so that may not be a good option). Felt boards are a lot of fun too.

 

[O-Jo]

We will have DVD's playing but he won't be able to see them! And every toy just ends up on the floor. So yes, maybe me sitting in the far back is the right thing to do. I could pick them up easier.

 

[knitster]

First of all, excellent job keeping her rear facing!

I second the suggestion to sit in the back. It's always been so much easier for me to do that rather than to keep turning around and picking up toys.

 

[Minniemouse07]

I also recommend a dual screen DVD player. We attached one to the headrest behind the driver for our older child and the other on the rear passenger headrest for ds when he was younger.

Our two kids are 4.5 years apart and dd was always a HUGE help amusing ds when they were younger...now that they are 9.5 and 5yo...they amuse each other!

I would also pack board books, DoodlePro (magnadoodle), magnet sets, character sets from the Disney Store, etc

 

[mjohnson96]

I wish I could have kept DD rear facing but she is a very large baby and she ended up cramped We have an IPAD and got the holder to attach it to the back of the headrest. This way she can watch movies but it will work for both the rear facing headrest and now the forward facing one.

The only other thing we have done in the past is drive at times when the kids sleep. Last year we got up and started driving at 4am and was able to get a good amount of travel in before kids got up and were hungry for breakfast around 9am.

 

[knitster]

I also recommend a dual screen DVD player. We attached one to the headrest behind the driver for our older child and the other on the rear passenger headrest for ds when he was younger.

Our two kids are 4.5 years apart and dd was always a HUGE help amusing ds when they were younger...now that they are 9.5 and 5yo...they amuse each other!

I would also pack board books, DoodlePro (magnadoodle), magnet sets, character sets from the Disney Store, etc

Yeah, my 9.5 and almost 5 year olds entertain each other, too...by screaming and fighting!

I wish I could have kept DD rear facing but she is a very large baby and she ended up cramped We have an IPAD and got the holder to attach it to the back of the headrest. This way she can watch movies but it will work for both the rear facing headrest and now the forward facing one.

The only other thing we have done in the past is drive at times when the kids sleep. Last year we got up and started driving at 4am and was able to get a good amount of travel in before kids got up and were hungry for breakfast around 9am.

This is neither here nor there, but if you would like car seat recommendations for your daughter, I'd be happy to give them to you! We kept my daughter rear facing until she was 4 years old and 45lbs. You just need the right seat! Children under the age of 2 are 4 times more likely to be fatally injured when forward facing.

 

[SoonerSarah]

We have all sorts of things to entertain with, various toys and books and a travel magna doodle. For the night time, some light up toys are always a big hit as well. We also will likely put a DVD player in there for her, in case she ends up getting too bored.

We have a Minivan, my two oldest girls are in the back row and my baby is in the middle, so there is an empty seat next to her. this works best for our family becasue we do a lot of long road trips and it's easiest to have an adult sitting with the kids to help with snacks and drinks and toys.

 

[brymolmom]

We will have DVD's playing but he won't be able to see them! And every toy just ends up on the floor. So yes, maybe me sitting in the far back is the right thing to do. I could pick them up easier.

Ask around - I'm sure a friend would have another DVD player that could be right on the 18 mon old's lap and you could borrow it. ESPECIALLY if he will be able to hear the other DVD playing - I wouldn't not have one for him too.

 

[Minniemouse07]

Ask around - I'm sure a friend would have another DVD player that could be right on the 18 mon old's lap and you could borrow it. ESPECIALLY if he will be able to hear the other DVD playing - I wouldn't not have one for him too.

I definitely would NOT use a portable DVD player that isn't intended for use in a vehicle (it needs to come w/ a way to attach it to a headrest SECURELY).

Otherwise a player that just sits on someone's lap could become a serious projectile in a crash situation.

All the items that we bring in the car for trips are small and somewhat lightweight. I think the largest item we bring is the Leapster or DS and both are secured back in their carry bags when not being actively used.

 

[Minniemouse07]

Yeah, my 9.5 and almost 5 year olds entertain each other, too...by screaming and fighting!

LOL!

Amazingly, other than a mild argument every now and then, my two get along really well and don't fight.

Although I know it won't last forever, they have actually never raised their hands to each other! The older one does try to manipulate the younger one from time to time (choosing to share only the tv shows she wants to see as options when it is his turn to pick, etc) but that won't last much longer as ds is starting to read now!

It wasn't anything special that we did...they just really get along. Ds idolizes his older sister and she adores him ... I'm guessing that their temperaments just mesh better than my siblings' did w/ me!

 

[brymolmom]

I definitely would NOT use a portable DVD player that isn't intended for use in a vehicle (it needs to come w/ a way to attach it to a headrest SECURELY).

Otherwise a player that just sits on someone's lap could become a serious projectile in a crash situation.

All the items that we bring in the car for trips are small and somewhat lightweight. I think the largest item we bring is the Leapster or DS and both are secured back in their carry bags when not being actively used.

Portable DVD players are portable for the fact that they're intended for use anywhere. Most items in a vehicle for a long trip can and will turn into projectiles in a crash situation - coolers, cans of drinks, luggage, pencils, box or bag of 'stuff' including games. But if you're worried about it I'm sure it could be secured to the headrest or other with bungee cords. We have a case for ours that flips up and the bottom of that casing could be secured. There are ways to do it.

 

[Minniemouse07]

Portable DVD players are portable for the fact that they're intended for use anywhere. Most items in a vehicle for a long trip can and will turn into projectiles in a crash situation - coolers, cans of drinks, luggage, pencils, box or bag of 'stuff' including games. But if you're worried about it I'm sure it could be secured to the headrest or other with bungee cords. We have a case for ours that flips up and the bottom of that casing could be secured. There are ways to do it.

The thing is that they sell DVD players that have the ability to be secured to headrests built right in... so it is better to opt for one of those over one that doesn't have it built in.

Dh actually purchased our dual DVD system for the family one Christmas as a surprise. When it was opened Christmas morning my first concern was if we could safely use it in the car!

And yes anything you bring into your vehicle can become a projectile. We don't have cans of drinks (use small, light water bottles) in the passenger area of the van. All luggage and coolers are in the back behind the seating area and are large enough that they cannot "fly" over the seats.

Toys are kept small and light (dd likes to bring her Littlest Pet Shop characters, ds is more into small Hot Wheels cars or Disney Store character sets) other than their electronic games. Both kids will have DS' for our next trip which are small...yes they can also become a projectile but they are significantly smaller and lighter than a DVD player and are secured in the game's carry bags (that are also lightweight and have some padding around the storage area) when not in use.

My general rule is ...Am I willing to wing this object at my child w/ all my strength?...if the answer is yes, then it can come in the car...otherwise it is packed in the suitcases.

 

[knitster]

LOL!

Amazingly, other than a mild argument every now and then, my two get along really well and don't fight.

Although I know it won't last forever, they have actually never raised their hands to each other! The older one does try to manipulate the younger one from time to time (choosing to share only the tv shows she wants to see as options when it is his turn to pick, etc) but that won't last much longer as ds is starting to read now!

It wasn't anything special that we did...they just really get along. Ds idolizes his older sister and she adores him ... I'm guessing that their temperaments just mesh better than my siblings' did w/ me!

Ours are the other way around, my almost 5 year old tries to manipulate my 9 year old. Poor thing still hasn't figured out that her brother, by default of age, is smarter than her! lol

I have to say, though, we lucked out and those two get a long way better than my sibling and I did, and way better than most 5 year old girls and 9 year old boys do. It's just something about travel that brings the screaming on. I think it's the fact that the 5 year old is strapped down in a 5pt harness and it drives.her.crazy. that her brother has a bit more freedom of movement in his seat belt. She can't stand for him to have anything that she doesn't have. lol

 

[robinsegg]

Hi!
Anytime we take a *trip* with a rear-facing child, I sit in back with the child. It makes dealing with any issues *far* easier

Ok, things to do:
1. I make up a 3-ring binder for my children with coloring pages, dot-to-dots, fun things to look at, etc. This includes a pencil bag with colored pencils (don't leak, don't melt & don't write on the car).
2. Snacks. Try lots of different types of finger snacks with different shapes, colors, textures and flavors.
3. Drinks. I use sippy cups for smaller ones, straw cups (like from a gas station with a good lid) for older ones.
4. Toys. Do you still have chain links? These are great for attaching lots of different toys to, and toddler can't throw them all the way onto the floor I like a lot of the suggestions given, but have you considered wikistiks or bendaroos? They can be great for imagination, mold like playdough snakes, are colorful and such. You could also look for colorforms or magnet books.
5. Do you have a Cracker Barrel nearby? If so, you could look there for some interesting ideas on travel toys.