ROAD TRIP!!!! 1st with kids 5,3,1 leaving tomorrow!

[Laurabearz]

We are headed to the wonderful sity of Columbus Ohio TOMORROW.

Normal ride 6 hours... with kids I am figuring 8 (at rest stop, I pee, dh pees, girls say they dont have to pee, 15 minutes later one has to pee, the other still says she doent have to pee, 10 mintues later, other girl needs to pee, 20 minutes after that boy poops....) Okay so maybe 9 hours! LOL

I have some new books, crayons and coloring books, I bought a DVD player for the car and a couple of new movies.

Lots and lots of snacks....

What else.... How can I amuse the boy (1 yo) What else can I bring to amuse the girls.

We will be leaving around 4 tomorrow and will hit traffic, but leaving later puts us in Ohio way past midnight.... so no real choice there....

I am thinking about starting them off with nothing, for the first hour. Just talking and singing... then when that wears off, Then feed them.... then when they are done.... toss some coloring books at them.... and so on... until they are about to kill each other then I will whip out the DVD player (a surprise for them)

I really want to take a lot of road trips with them.... DH is worried to the point of freaking, but gosh there is so much to see and do within 8-10 hours of here, I want my kids to be as good at road trips as they are flying.

Sooooooooooo top tips for road trips with littleones!

Thanks bunches!

 

[ahutton]

We did the Austin-Orlando run in June. Something that worked well for us - when we stopped for food we picked a place where the kids could play. DH and I ate while they played. Then they ate while we drove. And I pushed that break off until we HAD to stop, so everyone would do their thing!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

When my youngest was 2 years old we got braver about taking road trips...that and 6 airplane tickets plus a rental van got really expensive! One rule that we have when making rest stops is that everyone has to go potty. At least sit on the potty and try. It eliminates (pun intended) too many extra stops.

We also checked out where all the McD's and Burger Kings were along our route that had playgrounds and let the kids run around while we ate. We then brought food with us for them (really just my youngest, my older ones are past the "playing" stage) to eat in the car. Of course you need to be aware of the choking hazards and do this only if you are comfortable having them eat while you are driving.

We always bring a barf bucket since you never know when motion sickness will set in or a virus will take hold. Boy, did it ever take me a long time to learn this. YUCK!

We make great time with the kids and our drive time usually is the same as the mapquest estimate, unless we hit heavy traffic. We drive with the flow of traffic and mapquest assumes the speed limit.

With any luck the kids, especially your baby, will sleep in the car. That helps!

If you have time you can hit the dollar store today to see if they have any little toys for the kids to play with. Maybe bring a ball to kick around at a rest stop. Or bubbles for your little one to chase (at the rest stop unless your car needs to be cleaned!).

Have fun and remember that the pain will be over with quickly and then you can have fun at your destination!

T&B

 

[meandtheguys2]

It sounds like a good plan! We alsways take a ball for the kids to kick at the rest stop. (DH's job!)

We always take an hour before I start entertaining, also. I think it is good for them! I also stretch snacks out, a bit at a time. Have fun! We are heading to Columbus on Thur.!

Michelle

 

[Pinnie]

Looks like you have the trip going down pat..

NOW...what about the trip HOME?

In all seriousness, I think you will be fine. I am a veteran of many trips from MI to TN with 2 DSs. Thank goodness for GoBots. Transformers and He Man figures!!!! Now I look back and MISS those days. DH and I are flying out to Denver tomorrow andthe boys have to stay home to work. Enjoy them while you can!!!!!

pinnie

 

[Kitty 34]

The longest trip I ever did with a little one was when I moved from Colorado to Michigan with my oldest DS who was then 2 years old. He actually did very well with frequent stops!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Aaaagggggghhhhhh!!!!!


But seriously, you are going to be SO glad that you brought that DVD player. Six hours of Spongebob can be mindnumbing, but who says that's a BAD thing???

Have a great trip-good luck!

 

[helenabear]

Good luck Laura!! I've made that trip from here to Chicago more than once! I hope you have safe travels and good luck with teh family. I hope it isn't as bad as you think, and will wind up being as good as my drives out there!