In August we are taking a 10 day trip to Colorado. We will be driving down which is about a 24 hour trip. Our 2 year old and at the time 7 month old will be coming with us. I am afraid they will be fussy the whole trip and get bored in the car for that long. Any ideas to make the trip go smoothly? We have never taken a really long trip like this before with either of the girls. The longest we have gone was 3 hours. I am and will be nursing Madelyn then and even though we do supplement now with formula, I can't go that long without nursing her (6 hours and I start to hurt). Because of that we will be stopping a lot on the way so I can feed her but I can't expect them to sleep the whole trip. :-/ Any help would be appreciated. TIA.

ok we go on alot of car trips but never one that long. the longest one we went on was 6hrs last sept. best thing is a portable dvd player we didnt use ours the whole time we hooked it up after our stop to eat about 2hrs into the trip since simon didnt want to get back in the car and more than happy running around outside of the arbys. it worked great he would watch the dvds (we made dvds with lots of episodes of backyardigans on them)and dose on and off. the magnetic doodle pads, books and little toys should also keep your 2 year old busy. you didnt mention if you are breaking up the trip at all. if your not i would suggest you would atleast cut it in half and stay at a hotel for a nite, your 2 year old is going to be really tired of the car seat and will prolly get more sleep than normal so when you get to where you are going and you and your husband are dead tired and the 2 year old will be wired and ready to bounce off the walls once they are finally free.  

LOTS AND LOTS of toys, books and maybe crayons and a coloring book! Im sure they will sleep alot. In 1997 I took my 4 yr old son and my 2 yr old daughter on a 9 hr trip to NM for my Grandfather's funeral. They did well. Stop alot and stretch. Get some music for them to listen to. Or a CD player with headphones for your older one. Oh and plenty of snacks.

I took a 24 hr trip with my kids when they were 10 months and 3 years, it wasn't that bad either.  We had the dvd player, books and the color wonder markers and paper.  We made a point of stopping every 4 hrs for at least 10 min, just so they could stretch, also everytime we got gas it was time to go for a little walk while Daddy pumped it.  We also stowed one seat in our van so that when we were stopped they could lay down and really relax if they wanted too.  We limited drinks for my daughter, she was potty trained and refused to wear a pull up, to only when we stopped.  I did bring the training potty with us, just for when we couldn't get off the highway, we could at least pull to the side of the road.  I would let her have a drink if she asked I  just wouldn't let her keep a cup all the time.  As for my son, I changed him everytime we stopped and even kept  diaper rash stuff on him to keep him from getting a rash even though he didn't have one.  We also talk to them alot, it helpped them feel secure.

Thanks for the advice. The portable DVD player is a good idea. I don't think Megan will keep head phones on, but she can watch Cars and Word World the whole way. I think I will try and stop at some parks on the way down too so she can go play and swing and run and such while I feed Madelyn or a McDs playland or something.

We haven't done anything quite that long.  Last summer we did about a 9 hour drive (the kids were 5 and almost 3, so a little different).  One of the things I did was pick up some new coloring books, the Crayola color wonder books and markers and some little toys and surprises (around $1 each) that they had never seen before.  I packed a backpack for each of them with their own stuff to play with and little snacks.  That way there was no fighting about what belonged to who.  We also did the dvd player.  I went to our local library and borrowed a couple of dvd movies the kids had never seen before.  I also recommend letting the older one get out and run around on your breaks.

Also, earlier that summer, our library had a special guest come for story time.  He is a children's author and comedian who does stories with full sound effects (really kind of cool and funny!).  I picked up his cd "Noisy Tales" and didn't bring it out until the trip.  The website is http://www.noiseguy.com/ ....  I just looked and he also has a new cd of stories available.  It was pretty fun and a nice little break from the dvd player- plus it gets kids using their imaginations!  

Anyway, take care and best wishes!

"I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.  For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.  Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth." -Psalm 57:9-11. 

 

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Lots of great advice, not too much to add.  You may want to look into a breast pump to use - either buy a manual for short-term or you can rent one.  They make electric that have power adapters for the car and it will work wonders in relieving pressure - that way if you are uncomfortable and it is not a good time to stop you can pump!

I think others have said, but I would try to find some kid friendly places to stop and let them run around and burn some energy - this way they don't get ants in their pants while driving.  I would also have some surprise toys / car activities that only you & DH know about that you have pull out for new entertainment after the halfway point.

And, just be prepared by the end of the trip - you will all probably be done with the car.

Best of luck to you!

We did roadtrips like that a lot when I was a kid.  There were not portable DVD players, but I definitely think that would have saved my parents a headache or five (they have five of us).  Yes, my parents were insane but the trips were always fun.

I will agree with all that was said.  Definitely the DVD players for the kids.  Bring iPods for yourselves so if the headphones don't stay on the kids heads, you can at least listen to something besides their movies.  Bring lots of snacks and make lots of stops.  The stops are extremely necessary for your sanity as well.  Plus, on long trips like that leg and butt cramps get crazy bad.  And it's good to get the blood circulating again.

Sorry I have pretty much repeated all that was said, but I have been on those long long long long long trips before.  We did a lot of driving back and forth between VA and AZ & VA and NE. 

Can you medicate??

No, I'm totally joking! I wish I had some sort of advice for you. My good friend is leaving from here in Colorado for Michigan with her 3 kids and she has a whole "car bag" packed, with every kind of drawing game, "where's waldo" books, DVDs, stories on CD, etc.

 Good luck and safe travels!