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.
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?
ETA: I have to be there by 1pm, so unfortunately can't drive during nap time.
31 votes
grapefruit / 4923 posts
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.
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.
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.
cantaloupe / 6206 posts
@Smurfette: Your LO can play with her iPad by herself?
@edelweiss: Ouch, sounds really painful!! She can sleep well in the car, but not until noon or so.
pomegranate / 3438 posts
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...
I also had snacks easily accessible, if all else fails I toss him food.
cantaloupe / 6206 posts
@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.
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts
@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.
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.
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.
pomelo / 5469 posts
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.
grapefruit / 4663 posts
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.
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
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).
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
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.
cantaloupe / 6206 posts
@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. 
grapefruit / 4663 posts
Blackbird had a good suggestion about driving the night before DS does so much better when we do that.
cantaloupe / 6206 posts
@looch: Haha yeah. Basically I'm in New England, they are in DC, and the cruise is out of NYC.
cantaloupe / 6206 posts
@jetsa: Unfortunately we'd have to stay in a hotel to do that....no budget for that
grapefruit / 4663 posts
@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
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts
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!)
pineapple / 12053 posts
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.
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts
@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.
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
@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!
persimmon / 1396 posts
@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.
pineapple / 12053 posts
@Smurfette: One of my favorite HB tips is guided access. Game changer. http://support.apple.com/en-us/ht5509
honeydew / 7504 posts
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.
grapefruit / 4442 posts
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.
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
cantaloupe / 6206 posts
DH is going to have the iPad Boooooo. But I did just buy a Magna Doodle from Amazon!
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts
@JoJoGirl: Could you borrow one? Or make him leave it?
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