Road Trip with 3 Young Childre

Well I think you are REALLY brave if you attempt that trip, but if you do I'd have plenty of movies, snacks and toys in the car and just plan to make stops every few hours for the kids to stretch their legs. Good luck!!!

Anything is possible with the proper planning. You just have more planning to do! ;> Personally, I would say go for it (if it's ok with your husband- you don't want to start any problems) But definitely "doable"!

I drove down from Boston to Florida with my three little ones - at the time 4yrs old and my twins were about 8 months. My biggest concern on the road with them was how long they slept. Normally you would think, yea they're sleeping great, but it was too much. I would think that might be the case with your newborn, since they tend to sleep so much anyway. So, it might take you three days driving instead of two, but try not to go more than three hours and then stop for about an hour. If you can search online for some parks to stop at on the way-something right off the highway- even a McD's with a playground. Just to let them out to stretch and get some energy out. Bring a blanket you can layout at the rest stops picnic areas so the baby can stretch out also! Plan your meal stops, so you don't go past meals. Lunches you can probaly pack in the cooler, bring cereal and milk for breakfast, then you only have to buy dinner. Also plan your hotel stops so you can look around and reserve ahead of time and find somewhere with a good rate instead of the first thing you find when you are tired.

Also bathroom breaks - diaper changes -etc. Have a bag in the car with you with extra clothes on hand, so you don't have to dig through your luggage looking for something. Diapers seemed to leak more since they are sitting so much. Put a plastic bag with a baby blanket on top, under the babies in the car seat, just in case it leaks you won't end up having to wash the whole seat cover (like I did!) LOTS of wipees, diapers, formula, extra bottles & nipples (if your not breastfeeding), water, snacks, small cooler

Also a bag with things for your 3 yr old & 16 mo old to do. My 4 yr old was very good, and was either sleeping or looking out the window most of the time. It might help to have some audio books for kids, you can get them at the library. maybe dolls? I don't know if I would do coloring books, because the crayons will fall and riot may start! anything else they like to do, or just let them watch out the window. Don't offer unless they ask, or you will be on an endless search for something to entertain them with.

I got my son a map so he could see how far we were going and put the different states in different colors so he could follow along (sort of). You may be able to do similar or else just a map so they can feel included and forget the geography! Either way, be sure to show a map before you leave of how far it is from your house to somewhere she's been and then compare to house to your grandparents house- so they can get the idea of how far the trip is. Break the trip into days. Plan the trip with her and make your 3yr old your co-pilot, so she is excited about it- thereby avoiding the are we there yets! Be excited about the trip also, don't show her you are worried that she might be bored or it be a problem at all. Kids always find something to entertain themself with. Special treat at the end of the day is fun to look forward to.

Also, if you are able, try to drive at night, since they will be sleeping anyway. (Personally, this is not a safe option for me, because I am not a good night driver- but for my husband not a problem- you know yourself best) You could get up extra early instead and get some travel time in before breakfast.

Good luck and I hope either way you decide it works out for the best for you and your family.

May you and your family be blessed.

A.

Hi, B.... Have you considered bringing a teen along with you to help with the children while you're driving? Or perhaps a retired neighbor? That way you're not distracted while driving and the children will be entertained as well. I think it's wonderful that you are making this trip now before you lose one of your grandparents and they never get a chance to meet their great-grands!

Well, B., mmmmm. You could ask a girlfriend to go with you. You could ask your dad to send some money to help defray costs. I don't know that I would do it with 3 little kids by myself, but I'm not you. Or, you could have a friend videotape the kids and you, and send the videotape up in the mail for them to watch if they have a video player. just an idea. Have your dad take pictures of them for you while he's up there and send you pics of your grandfather. Another idea, there are court reporting offices that have video teleconference capabilities locally. And up wherever they live, there must be reporting agencies with the came capablity. you could pay to have that set up for 1 hour and see each other live that way and talk at the same time. Just a crazy idea.
T.

B., my heart is wide open to you right now. I can feel your struggle and I just needed to write.

A couple of things come up for me. Do you need to take all the children? Can you not just fly with the new born. Hear me out. You didn't say how far you are driving just that it will take at least 2 days. And that you already know it will be a terrible experience for all involved.

Why not hire a babysitter to help your husband? You can fly to your grand parents, take all the pictures you can with you, video, DVDs of the kids etc. Introduce your kids to your grand parents with new technology. You can make the complete round trip in two days if you want, yes it might be expensive, but aren't your gramdparents worth it?

Or if you feel you really can't go, then, what about a webcam (you can get them for about $20) for you and for your grandparents? I am in Florida with my kids, my mom lives in western Canada, they "chat" on the computer, via web cam FOR FREE at least 3 times a week. (www.Skype.com).

Your baby is due in 4 weeks, then you will need at least 4 weeks after that before you should fly (just read that on the internet). Babies fly well. The "germs" etc, are not even a consideration. I have flown about 15 times all over the place with my kids now 12 and 9 and no problems.

So you have 2 months to pull togehter a really great "family presentation" to introduce your kids to your grand parents. I'll tell you, at that age it will not matter to them if they meet great-grandpa, they won't even remember. But you will remember getting to see him. Do whatever it takes to get there.

By the way, the economy is not at fault for you being short on money. Check out www.IsaMovie.com to see what you can do differently. I used to think like you, now I am trvelling the sunny US this winter with my family (we also did Mexico, and the caribbean).

B., I get where you are coming from. So let me help you get to where you are going. Once you decide to see your grand parents, then you will figure out the way. It is possible to have it all

Hmmmm... what if this email was the answer you were looking for? Would it be worth it to to you take 9 minutes to check out www.IsaMovie.com? I hope so.

B.
Family Health Consultant
www.TheYummyMommy.com

1. As soon as the kids have fallen asleep- I would tuck them in the car and DRIVE! We had to take several long car trips when our son was small and we could get 8-10 hours on our way before he would wake up.

2. See if a girlfriend or a relative could go with you to help with the kids and trade off driving. If not perhaps advertise on craigslist-- make sure you check referances and interview in person prior to the trip!

3. Join AAA.

4. Do whatever it takes to go to visit your family! Nothing is more important and take lots of pictures!!!! God Bless!!!

we use to drive from fl to wi alot. when the kids were young we moved to fl where the rest of the family lived in wi. Now we travel up there with our grandchildren. All we do is pack there favorite toys (that will fit) in their own backpack their favorite cd songs to play in the car small pillows to be used in their car seats and of course their favorite blankets. then a small cooler goes down by their feet with the large one in the trunk for backups. in goes their snacks and juice boxes and whatever else they need along with some wet washcloths for easy cleanups. (wet ones do not always do the trick) i think that was it. they know we stop when the car needs gas. then all the garbage gets taken out of the car and they are aloud to get a snack from the store for being good usually a banana or apple. thats also the bathroom break everyone has to try. gas breaks are usually every three hours because as you must already know you should fill up when the car is half full. we play games look for the cows, horses, trees, hills, red cars, big trucks. you name it, it keeps them busy, silly songs are made up. If you start out early in the morning or late at night there is less traffic and the children will be sleepy enough to go back to sleep. and their is less stress on you as the driver. also the major cities are not as busy if your trip is planned out right. do not underestimate yourself you can do it!!! it is not as hard as you think it is actually easier when they are little. they are amused alot easier. best of luck to you. you will do wonderfully.

All of this points to NO for me.. I think your common sense is telling you no but the adventure is appealing to you. I know this feeling because I have it all too often, even at the age of 57. You need to think of the children though, there's no way that they'll get what they need from you on a trip where you will be the driver. Take a good picture of them and write a loving letter. Somethings are just not expedient. Pray to God for your wisdom, He will direct you.

I can understand the need/desire for your grandparents to see the kiddies. It's a beautiful idea in theory but taking 3 kids 3 and under all the way to Canada is a huge undertaking for one person. Especially with a 16 month old that hates the car and a newborn that will have to eat every 2-3 hours. I would think the trip would take far more than 2 days given the number of times you are going to have to stop just to feed the baby. Not to mention the unexpected times you'll have to stop because someone has to potty, eat, gets sick, makes a mess. When we used to drive from New Orleans to Florida the trip would take dh and I about 9 hours if we were alone. With the dogs and the baby it added a good 3 hours. The webcam is a wonderful alternative and far less expensive and stressful for you.

well for the two olderst children, if you have a portable dvd player with some movies......children's songs on cd's, coloring books, etch a sketch, plenty of snacks and drinks in a cooler. if your newborn is on the bottle, i bet your 3 year old could help with the feedings and pacifier issues. besides the burping of course. you'll have to make plenty of stops, just make sure your stops are well lit at night and you park around plenty of other vehicles. if you can arrange it where you are driving mostly at night that might be better as well. leave your house around 9pm so you can put some hours in while your children are sleeping. hope some of these ideas help. i hope you can make it happen!
good luck

Hi, I think you should go for it. Just plan early on and make sure you have enough toys, music, dvds etc. to keep the kids entertained in advanced. Try and prep them in advance. Especially your 3 yr old. Tell them what you expect of them while in the car and on the trip. Get them rallied up and excited for it. They may be too young to understand, but you can be surprised on how much they do pick up and follow your instructions. Get both of the girls involved with their new brother from the start so they fight less while you are in the car ride. Get them excited about helping out. Maybe have your three year old give him a bottle (whether its formula or breast milk), get them to help you with the diaper change... like have them hand you a diaper or a wipe etc. The more you prep in advanced the easier it will be. Try to get them to behave the way you want to in the car already while you drive around town. (I know easier said then done)If you really desire to go,anything is possible. Personally I would re consider the thought of leaving your husband behind. Do an analysis of money/time between leaving him home and taking him. Think of the help you will have on the trip and you wouldn't have to make the drive all by yourself. It will probably be safest if you had someone come with you. He can help you keep the kids entertained in the car. Bring sing along songs pick out games to play while driving. Books on tape (cds) are great too. Think of your sanity too. Your time cost money too. Is it really cheaper for you to make the trip by yourself? Think of the time you can save. Less stops you need to make and less hotels you need to stop at if you can cut down on the time. If your husband can't go, look into taking the train maybe if flying is too expensive (again, might be cheaper for your husband to come along) Don't even know if there is a train you can take but a thought. Plus you don't have to worry about leaving any of your children home and paying for a babysitter, or paying for someone to come with you. If you really want your grandparents to meet them in person rather then over a webcam, you should go for it. Its not going to be easy, but I think you will regret it if you don't go. Yes, your children are too young to remember, but your grandparents will. (and some people might think that they are too old and it doesn't matter if they see them or not, but i disagree) Can your grandparents handle so many kids at once? Do they really want to meet their grandkids? It might be too stressful for them, considering the condition they are in (I don't know, you know best). Keep that in mind as well. But like I said, anything is possible with the right planning and preparation. If you do decide to go, keep negative thoughts out and just do it. Money shouldn't stop you from doing what you need to do. You have to be reasonable of course, but don't let it hinder you. Hope that helps and good luck! All the best!!

try driving at night so they sleep for most of it, plan a stop for soemthing interesting during the day..over pack on snacks and toys and stuff!

I found out that younger people can do a lot more than we think I wouldn't dream of taking 3 small children on such a long trip especially alone because it is so dangerous to travel alone can' you find a friend to go with you to help you out just for the fun in going , I know my daughter wanted to go visit her grandmother and didn't go and she regrets it now because she is on her way to her funeral so i am not saying don't go I'm just saying please take someone with you

Wow! B., you must be one of the bravest modern day ladies I have ever heard of. You probably could have been a pioneer Mom on the Oregon Trail. I applaud also your great desire to see your grandparents while you can and for them to meet your children.
Florida to Canada is a long trip and depending on the area of Canada, could be veeeeery long. We have made that trip with three young children, but not nearly as young as yours and with both parents. Yet, I do see it as a real possibility with some planning and some willingness to be flexible if need be.
I would probably find places to relax for meals or pottie breaks like rest stops with a safe area to run.
Overnight in a place that you can relax and renew before the next day's long journey.
If you are a morning person as I am, beginning at about 3 in the morning gave me many hours of sleeping children so that there were less distractions and therefore an easier drive.
Getting more than halfway on the first day gives a mental boost, but I would not do that at the expense of my sanity if the children are crying and everyone needs a break. Even if it takes 3 days, and I realize that also means more money, I think you should cut yourself some slack in this big, yet wonderful, undertaking.

What keeps running through my mind is what if something were to happen to you and the children... That is a lot of driving for anyone and you will be sleep deprived as a new mom and could fall asleep at the wheel or be easily distracted by the kids numerous times. An accident could easily happen under these conditions. What about rest stops/bathroom breaks? You can't leave the kids in the car so you will have to lug all 3 with you into dirty bathrooms each time you need to stop. Also, when you finally reach your destination, how much quality time will you have to spend with your grandparent while taking care of everyone? Your children are so young they won't remember this visit anyhow.

Check out Spiritair. com they have some deals on airfares, depending where you are going and if you can leave some of the children home with their father or a friend. I had the same thought about buying a webcam. I have one and my children and I can interacted with my parents due to this technology that is reasonably priced.

Do you have friends where you live now? Becasue I think it might be better for you to leave at least the older two, or at least the middle child home with their father and have someone come in to help him with babysitting if necessary. It would be better for you to drive with as few children as possible because the stress will be a lot on you having just given birth. Or you might just have to forego the trip. Do you bothe have a computer with camera so you can do real-time online conversations? I hope it works out for you.