https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 22 May 2026 02:36:35 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929388 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 14:49:50 +0000 Smurfette 1929388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: Could you borrow one? Or make him leave it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929379 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 14:46:49 +0000 JoJoGirl 1929379@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH is going to have the iPad :( Boooooo. But I did just buy a Magna Doodle from Amazon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929353 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 14:33:38 +0000 bunnylove08 1929353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I said yes you should go. Start preparing by taking some long drives where she is sitting on her own and see how that goes. DH survived a 3 hour trip with DD LOL I'm sure you can do too.</p> <p>We give her the ipad and bought Frozen for trips. We put all apps in folders and have hers on the front screen, she use to delete out apps LOL </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929341 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 14:29:23 +0000 littlebug 1929341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I woudl also recommend keeping toys and snacks handy that you can pass back. Even for short drives, I keep a toy handy for when D gets bored. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929338 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 14:29:04 +0000 birdofafeather 1929338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: One of my favorite HB tips is guided access. Game changer. <a href="http://support.apple.com/en-us/ht5509" rel="nofollow">http://support.apple.com/en-us/ht5509</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929317 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 14:23:44 +0000 babynumber1 1929317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: Not available on Kindle fire :( I have researched extensively. The best you can do is download a kid app that locks her out of other things. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929307 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 14:18:09 +0000 blackbird 1929307@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LuLu Mom: @Smurfette: Is this function available on a kindle fire!??!? I swear i spend more time "helping" her play on the kindle than her actually playing with the damn animals! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929297 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 14:16:02 +0000 Smurfette 1929297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LuLu Mom: @birdofafeather: tell me more about this guided access. Right now R only watches Mickey on the ipad, but she will come running to me when I am trying to cook cause she pauses it and or presses the button so Siri pops up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929289 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 14:13:24 +0000 birdofafeather 1929289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Same as @Smurfette: iPad for sure. We never sit in the back with her unless she's spazzing out. We got a iPad case she can grip and set up guided access so she can watch a movie without turning it off accidentally. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929282 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 14:10:39 +0000 LuLu Mom 1929282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh totally doable, just use your ipad/tablet and download a couple movies, just lock it with guided access and she can hold it at 18 months old. (Yes, screen time overload but it makes our trips so much better!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929262 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 14:02:09 +0000 JoJoGirl 1929262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jetsa: Solidarity, sister :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929258 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 14:01:04 +0000 jetsa 1929258@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: ahh darn, I still think it'll be fine. I'm going 6 hours again next weekend, it is what it is to me lol. My gpa is 76 so I have no choice :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929249 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 13:56:56 +0000 JoJoGirl 1929249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jetsa: Unfortunately we'd have to stay in a hotel to do that....no budget for that :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929245 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 13:55:29 +0000 JoJoGirl 1929245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Haha yeah. Basically I'm in New England, they are in DC, and the cruise is out of NYC. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929241 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 13:54:48 +0000 jetsa 1929241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Blackbird had a good suggestion about driving the night before DS does so much better when we do that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929239 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 13:54:19 +0000 looch 1929239@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: oh snap, I didn't realize 4 hours was halfway! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929238 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 13:53:37 +0000 JoJoGirl 1929238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Haha my parents already looked into doing that!!!! But they'd have to fly up here (we don't live in the same city - meeting halfway for this) to drive down with me which would put them out like $700. um, no. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929224 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 13:49:35 +0000 looch 1929224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd probably ask my dad to come and pick me up so we could drive together. But I am a spoiled brat about driving, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929223 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 13:49:09 +0000 blackbird 1929223@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've never done 4 hours on my own, I know I can go about an hour before she gets whiny, but I'd make it work for a free fun cruise (with parental help!!!!). And i would plan to leave extra early (could you drive down the night before? That would be ideal for us....i could leave at 5pm and E would sleep for half the long drive). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929205 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 13:46:22 +0000 jetsa 1929205@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It'll be fine, I've done 6 hours multiple times alone with DS. I'd plan to stop halfway for 30 mins - 1 hour so that she can stretch her legs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929178 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 13:36:00 +0000 illumina 1929178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, but LO always sits in the back on her own with DH and I upfront so she's used to it. I guess you need to weigh up the fun of the cruise vs having a possibly cranky toddler for a few hours. I'd do it but have some snacks, new toys on standby to throw back there. Also plan to stop a couple times to break it up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929166 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 13:33:31 +0000 Smurfette 1929166@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: No, but if you put a movie on, that gets you an hour or two. We have something so it hangs from the headrest. </p> <p>I haven't done a long drive solo, but I keep a little backpack with toys. I can easily grab one and hand it back to her, still RF, while driving if I have too. </p> <p>Also, we got R a Magna Doodle for our beach trip. She played with it for 2 hours on the way there. Never before has something held her attention that long. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929148 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 13:29:33 +0000 JoJoGirl 1929148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KT326: Oh that's a smart idea. Books are her all-time favorite thing at the moment so handing a new one back every half hour may work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929142 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 13:28:05 +0000 KT326 1929142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've driven a few hours by myself with DS at various ages. At that age I would have an arsenal of toys/books next to me in the front seat and give him one when he started to get bored. It's amazing how long measuring cups can keep a toddler entertained... </p> <p>I also had snacks easily accessible, if all else fails I toss him food. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929136 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 13:24:05 +0000 JoJoGirl 1929136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: Your LO can play with her iPad by herself?</p> <p>@edelweiss: Ouch, sounds really painful!! She can sleep well in the car, but not until noon or so. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929134 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 13:22:38 +0000 Smurfette 1929134@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>ipad to the rescue! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929103 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 13:08:12 +0000 edelweiss 1929103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i would vote both if i could. we took a 4-hour road trip with LO around 18 months for thanksgiving. the way there was fine. the way back was really bad for an hour. i know that doesn't sound long, but he was screaming from being so tired for an hour straight, no break at all. </p> <p>BUT i think the benefits of a little getaway cruise with your LO will outweigh any hardships on the road. plus, i should add that my LO has never slept well in the car, and it might be completely different for your LO.</p> <p>ETA: when i'm driving with LO and he starts to get cranky, in some ways it's better than when i sit in the back with him because it's like sorry bud i can't do anything i'm driving. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-alone-with-a-toddler#post-1929077 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 12:56:43 +0000 JoJoGirl 1929077@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH is going to be away next weekend, and my parents offered to pay part of my way for me and LO to join them on a 2-night cruise! Awesome, except it would mean driving 4 hours each direction alone with my 18-month old.</p> <p>We've made car trips that length a ton of times, but always with one of us sitting in the back with her. Would you do it alone? Any tips?</p> <p>ETA: I have to be there by 1pm, so unfortunately can't drive during nap time. </p>