https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:50:56 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-with-a-16-month-old#post-2128970 Wed, 01 Apr 2015 07:25:46 +0000 looch 2128970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Snacks, books and electronics seem to make my son carsick, so we really limit those. I tend to sit in the back, with a bag full of other things that he's into, like stickers even play dough. </p> <p>I also always have a big trash bag and a towel in the car, just in case, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-with-a-16-month-old#post-2128765 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 20:02:34 +0000 matador84 2128765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You can do it! I've done several 4-6 hour road trips solo with my 1 and 2 year old at various ages. Lots of various books at that age, lift the flaps, push ones with different sounds in the story, snacks, and apps on the ipad. I found that age to be a great age to get into simple apps on the ipad. monkey preschool lunchbox might be a possibility or any of the toca apps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-with-a-16-month-old#post-2128734 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 19:35:08 +0000 Jess1483 2128734@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>(Disclaimer: Didn't read other responses. Sorry for repeats)</p> <p>We did a 12-hour road trip when LO was 18 months. We woke early (4-ish), drove 3 hours, stopped for breakfast, drove 3 hours, stopped at a park, drove 3 hours, stopped for lunch, drove 3 hours. It was a loooong day, but he was awesome.</p> <p>Things that worked for us:<br /> -We wrapped a TON of dollar store toys in paper. Whenever he'd start getting fussy, we'd tell him it was time for a present.<br /> -Lots of snacks. Like, way more than he usually gets.<br /> -We used screen time, but for the whole 24 hours of driving, probably only 2ish hours. We would use it when he was losing it but we were almost to a stopping point. That way, he didn't rely on it too long.<br /> -We used the "Water Wow" toys from Melissa and Doug--he loved those<br /> -We took turns sitting with him, but he also sat alone a lot of the time.<br /> -Starting super early in the morning meant he just slept through the first 3 hours. Add his nap to that and that was 5 out of the 12 hours. That was a huge help. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-with-a-16-month-old#post-2128698 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 18:44:30 +0000 kakimochi 2128698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lots of books, pen/paper, small toys, snacks. The car rides were<br /> not too bad, my daughter at 16 months, seemed to enjoy car rides, and<br /> could fall asleep easily while in the car. Once we were at our<br /> destination was an entirely different story, like at our motel and<br /> getting her to sleep was a nightmare, but car rides, weren't too bad.<br /> We did stop frequently--stretch our legs, getting gas, bathroom breaks, etc and<br /> that helped all of us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-with-a-16-month-old#post-2127943 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 10:49:01 +0000 Mama Bird 2127943@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We went on a couple long trips, maybe three to five hours each way, when DS was around two. We gave him a toy he really likes and let him put on the music before we buckled him in. On the short trip he slept most of the way anyway... something about his big boy car seat gets him every time :happy: On the longer trip, we stopped for a snack break in a picnic area, and his grandma was in the back seat with him. It was fine! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-with-a-16-month-old#post-2127942 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 10:48:26 +0000 Maysprout 2127942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Go when there will be a significant sleep stretch. My LO falls asleep in the car so she gets all wonky when she sleeps too long in the car and then needs to go to bed at night </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-with-a-16-month-old#post-2127892 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 10:23:15 +0000 sweetooth 2127892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@birdofafeather: I'll take a look at that endless alphabet app! I'm glad I'm not doing this drive alone - I bet I would use my digital devices more if I was.</p> <p>@Mamaof2: Yes to stretching our legs! We will definitely do that. But it's so hard when you just want to get there, you know? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-with-a-16-month-old#post-2127887 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 10:21:44 +0000 sweetooth 2127887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsRcCar: I'd definitely like to hear about the apps you have downloaded! We aren't opposed to using our digital devices and it will be helpful to have them all loaded up. And 2 hour intervals seems doable. That's what we did when he was 7 months old. It just makes for a LONG trip :)</p> <p>@Anagram: I'm hoping it turns out to be a great trip and he does just fine. I'm glad it's not our first long trip in the car with him. One good long meal with time to stretch his legs will be important for everyone I'm sure. Thanks for the tips!</p> <p>@avivoca: He's more of a crawler right now. I'd love for him to walk, but I don't think I ever envisioned him taking his first steps at a truck stop ;) I'm sure we'll still be on the road during his nap time, and maybe he will gift us with 2 solid naps :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-with-a-16-month-old#post-2127867 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 10:16:57 +0000 sweetooth 2127867@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: I feel like everything still goes in his mouth, so markers might go right in there too. I can't wait for markers though! Great idea on the new toy for the road. I'll definitely be packing his favorites, but it would be fun to have something new. // And as for limiting my water intake, that will be hard. I'm SO thirsty these days!</p> <p>@raintreebee: Oh my gosh, that sounds horrible! At 7 months and 12 months our guy has done great in the car. The 7 month trip was two days of 8 - 10 hours each. He slept a lot of it away. Do you download Sesame Street? I'm not opposed to having our devices loaded and ready!</p> <p>@brownie: Thanks for reminding me to have a playlist for him in the car. And we'll have to see what we can do to find a fun stop along the way. I used to do this drive so much on my way to college, but I don't recall many fun stops along the way :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-with-a-16-month-old#post-2127790 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 09:24:33 +0000 Mamaof2 2127790@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the best thing you can do is stop and take breaks - get out of the car. have lunch, stretch the legs, sitting in a car for hours upon hours isn't fun for anyone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-with-a-16-month-old#post-2127785 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 09:21:30 +0000 birdofafeather 2127785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Movies, shows, endless alphabet app. I drive a lot with DD alone and I could get through it without the iPad. If DH is there too we can do books, stickers, snacks, etc but I can't be reaching back to give her those things alone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-with-a-16-month-old#post-2127778 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 09:18:22 +0000 avivoca 2127778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We try to plan trips around her nap time and I take new toys and books to keep her occupied in the car. We also stop frequently, about once every two hours just so she can stretch her legs. If he's walking, I bet he will have fun running around when you guys stop and get some of his pent up energy out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-with-a-16-month-old#post-2127767 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 09:12:14 +0000 Anagram 2127767@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've done lots of car trips. A few to Toronto from NYC and one from NYC to Atlanta (that was a dumb idea since it was 2 days of driving 10 hours--we have flown every time since).</p> <p>One of us always sits in the back and we definitely drive around LO's nap time (that will take a couple of hours in the car). We have a "calming" CD that LO has always loved, so we play that during nap time, and give LO her blankie and paci and she passes out. The rest of the time, we use lots of books, small lap toys (like puzzles), we sing a lot of songs together as a family, and we stop about every two hours (I have a tiny bladder). We usually plan longer stops for meal times, since it's easier for LO to eat in a high chair---and most truck stops or big rest areas have high chairs, btw (of course, restaurants do too, but LO can't eat restaurant food anyway).</p> <p>We've driven up to 8-10 hours in a day and it's fine. And this is a LO that hates the car seat--but she's great if one of us is back there with her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-with-a-16-month-old#post-2127760 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 09:07:14 +0000 MrsRcCar 2127760@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do a lot of car rides. I have two toddlers (yikes that's weird to say). N is 2.5 and E is 13 months. We do a lot of long car rides(We just got done with a 14 hour trip). We have a lot of apps loaded on our IPad. We also downloaded a few movies for my 2.5 year old to watch. I will wall you the apps I have downloaded, they were a huge hit for both boys. We also had a lot of snacks that are just car snacks it makes them extra special.<br /> We also stopped about every two hours to stretch and run around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-with-a-16-month-old#post-2127729 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:48:27 +0000 brownie 2127729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We drive constantly. He was 3 weeks old on his first 3 hour (each way) trip. Just a few weeks ago he and I did 7.5 hours (he is 3.5 now) for a job interview (I was 36 weeks preggers). He is a champ on the rides. So electronics are an absolute go to. Also we hit up mcdonalds (a treat) and ask for the under 3 toys for the happy meal. They are great car toys. We play his playlist in the car and sing and dance. And I make sure to have one stop each way that is fun and exciting and running around. So the last trip was a mcdonalds play place. Other times it is children's museums or just a nice playground. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-with-a-16-month-old#post-2127726 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:45:42 +0000 raintreebee 2127726@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At 10 months, my son was horrible in the car when we went on a 12 hour road trip. He slept 15 minutes total and screamed the whole time. On the way back, however, we just played Sesame Street over and over on the ipad, and he was totally quiet and content (although still didn't sleep). This worked at 12/13 months too when we took another long road trip. That's the only time he's had screen time really. And we will be doing the same on a cross-country flight this week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-with-a-16-month-old#post-2127723 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:45:12 +0000 regberadaisy 2127723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lots of snacks!!! A new toy or two. Paper with a pen was actually my toddlers favorite. Some of her favorite toys. Is he old enough for markers yet? I love color wonder for the car because it doesn't show up anywhere but on the pages.<br /> We road trip regularly to visit my family who are 7-8 hours away. Thankfully, my toddler has become a road trip champion. We never had to add stops when she was still in a diaper.</p> <p>As for you? Bring a small pillow for your lower back, move the front seat up as much as possible and limit the water intake! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/road-trip-with-a-16-month-old#post-2127688 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:13:14 +0000 sweetooth 2127688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are about to hop on the road with our 16 month old and I'm wondering if any of you have some tried and true tips for long stretches on the road with a kiddo. We have taken trips when he was 7 months, and one when he was 1 year. But this is a new phase. One where I feel like he may not handle these long stretches in the car as well as he did when he was a sleepy infant. Maybe I will be proven wrong? </p> <p>The trip is 7.5 hours without a lot of stops. But he'll need to be changed, and I'm 25 weeks pregnant so I'm sure we'll be stopping to relieve my bladder more than I'd like. I usually like to just get in the car and go. But I know this will be different.</p> <p>Other than electronic devices <i>(not opposed, just not sure we're there yet)</i> what have been your tried and true methods for getting through a long car ride with a young child? Books, songs, toys, food? One of us will most likely sit in the backseat with him. </p>