Trip to Alberta Canada from Iowa with 10 Month Old

First off you will need to do more then stop just to sleep. Frequent stops are good. They don't enjoy their car seats and would like to get out and crawl. Bring a blanket so they can crawl at rest stops. You can even do picnic lunches at the rest stops so she has time to crawl.
Second, someone sitting next to her helps. Entertains them, keeps it from getting boring.
Third, when you stop to sleep...stop at dinner time, eat and then go to the hotel room for the rest of the night. Let her crawl to her hearts content. Wears her out before night night time.
Fourth, make sure she isn't by the window. The sun through the window can cause sun burn and over heat her even in an air conditioned car
I think that is about it. You just have to remember that once you have kids there is no such thing as fast trips and driving straight through.

I know this is a hard thing to hear, but take it from my experience, you will NEED to stop every hour or so just to get out and let that child be free for just a moment...unless of course he is sleeping! We tried to drive longer stretches and our daughter who is normally very mild mannered, would start screaming. There wasn't enough toys in the world! As soon as we got her out for just a bit she was fine and readily got back in the car. We ended up stoping at every rest area and a few random placed in between. You will find you need the breaks as well! Best wishes!

Whenever we have done our traveling with our kids(ages 8,7,3) we leave just after dinner time. My husband sleeps that day and takes first shift, we also have plenty of red bull. But that way the first 12 hours are a snap. Then you can stop for breakfast when your little one wakes up, let her stretch, and be on your way.
Just make sure you sleep during the first part of the trip your your ready for the takeover of driving when your husband needs it.
Good Luck.

On trips like these is when a portable DVD player comes in handy. I have one for my kids and it makes our 5 hr trip to ND so much better. We do make stops to stretch out, but they are much more quiet and relaxed during the trip. I travel by myself, so it makes it twice as easier on me. Dora the Explorer and all the Nick Jr shows are very educational and great for kids. Good Luck on your trip!

I just drove with my 4 year old from Minnesota to Bozeman a few months ago. He did amazing in the car. I had a dvd player for him to watch movies, books, a tv tray so he could color in books on a hard surface. hope this helps!

I just had to laugh because when I first read your request it appeared you were asking how to keep your (mother) inlaw entertained (because I hadn't read the title). Anyway, when we travel with our son (eventhough 4 hours is about the furthest we've gone) I get a new toy, book, movie or something before we go. That way he's not trying to be entertained by things that are "old news" anyway.

Good luck!

I traveled from Iowa to San Diego with my daughter when she was 9 months old...part of it was flying, part driving, but I found that the most important things to easy travel were 1)stay as consistent as possible with food and bottles (I found out the hard way now is not the time to try ready-made formula!), 2)bring a few new toys as well as current favorites, 3)be flexible, since traveling with a little one doesn't always go as planned! I know I overpacked, but it made me feel like I was ready for anything! Also, make sure she has a comfortable carseat, and get her out of the carseat to stretch and play as often as possible.... and driving as much as I could while she was asleep helped me. Be glad you'll have extra people along, let them help you, don't try to do everything yourself...I found it so much easier on the return trip when I wasn't alone....Good luck!

When I travel I have a plastic container with toys the kids don't usually play with. I'd take some of the kids toys and put them away. By the time it comes time for the trip, it will be like they are brand new. Some kids are easy to travel with. Mine weren't. As they got older I found out it was because they both have car sickness. I give them dramamine to help keep them calm. They are a lot older.

There just isn't a lot for you to do for a baby. One thing is I found if I had my husband sit in the back with them, that helped. My husband doesn't drive. He'd entertain them while I drove. I hope this helps.
Good Luck!!!

The best thing I can say that you have bought (yes even if you have to spend a little extra)a convertible car seat that is convertible with a little extra cushion as a lot of the cheaper ones are not. Traveling with the ones that are cheaper they get sticky or scratchy. I know traveling with my little one was a pain even just the four hours back and forth to my mom's. We finally invested in a more expensive one and it was worth it. My daughter is much more convertible now and much more happy, naps easier in her car seat and has much more fun, it also stops the fights later on. They also say now that you should keep kids rear facing till they are 18 mos (Via Dept of Motor Vehicles Safety). Which is well worth it. Also mostly since you are going in July it's going to be hot and sticky so the less stickyness of the carseat the less upset of the baby :)

ohh that is a tough one! Books, food a dvd player with age appropriate DVDs. Be sure none of the food has sugar, carbs or preservatives in it because that will give her highs and lows that will be very difficult for you to handle with her strapped into her car seat.

Grab a Bible, start praying, and stock up on tylenol. A lil' Benadryl to help her sleep wouldn't hurt anything too :)

B.,

I recently traveled with my 7 month old from Iowa to Lousiana. I took a lot of toys to keep her entertained. She did really good. She liked to look out the window and see everything. My advice is to take her favorite toys. Also, we changed who sat beside her to give her a little change. She loved my newphews hat. I hope this information helps. And drive safe.

I hate to be the one to tell you, but you will be taking more than "sleep" breaks!
Count on breaks to let your baby stretch her legs and crawl around, stretch, etc. Count on breaks to let her play at a McDonalds playtground or a park (eating at a rest stop picnic table with plenty of room for her to play in the grass, etc)
It will be longer than 25 hours with your daughter with you!
Lots of healthy snackfoods help too- bananas, yummy crackers, etc. Try to keep from giving her too much sugar while she is stuck in a carseat! Oh, and finding places to change her that have the baby changing stations is always fun.
I speak from experience- I drove from Cheyenne, WY to Memphis, TN and back with twins at 3 months and at 15 months.
Good luck!

My kids are great travellers, even up until about age 2 1/2 if it was a long ride they usually slept a lot of it. We have cd's that they listen too. they love books to look at. when they get board with one, I put it away and give them something like cars to play with. They are really into the Car Movie car characters. The only time it got bad was if they wet their diaper and didn't like sitting in it.

so, I say bring small toys, but several that you can rotate through. Mine also like those erase boards that you draw on then clear off.

How exciting!!! We use to travel a lot. Make sure that someone is able to sit near daughter. Have lots of books, toys, music and even some simple noise makers for distraction. Don't forget the favorite blanket and bottle water with floride added especially for her. Check out the local library for any travel ideas. You can also bring along some of those big puzzles which will keep her guessing. She will most likely sleep a lot if she normally sleeps in the car so, be prepared to try to keep her awake or dealing with some off schedule activity. We always try to find animals and practice the sounds they make.

If you take the dry erase board make sure to pick up the low order makers or you all my end up with headache. Oh, yeah and don't forget get something her size that is circular for her to pretend to drive along with whomever is driving.

I wish you all a safe and happy trip!!

A.