Need Advice for a 5 Hour Car Ride

Updated on October 06, 2008
K.S. asks from Las Vegas, NV
5 answers

I have never met a child who didn't like traveling in the car more than my 13 mos. old daughter. She SCREAMS when riding in the car. Even a 20 min car ride can be torture. Her seat is fine. No poking parts or problems. Her Dr. says she is fine. I try to give her toys to entertain her but, she throws them and then gets mad after she does it! I have 4 or 5 "binkies" ready at all times so I can hand them to her. (sometimes she holds onto it, sometimes she tosses it!)

We are making the car trip from Vegas to LA. Flying is not an option. We have rented a mini-van and will have a DVD player for my 13 mos. old and my 3 year old. My 13 mos. old is really not interested in DVD's or TV so, I am not sure this will be a distraction. I have cheerios and animal crackers ready for the trip but, I can't feed her the entire time!

Any additional advice about how to keep her happy and calm in the car for a long trip or a short trip would be helpful. She even fights sleeping when she is tired! (I never had this trouble with my older child and am really starting to lose my mind!)

Thanks

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So What Happened?

Thanks for everyone's advice. Unfortunately, the ride was torture. The ride to CA wasn't horrible... she stayed active and fairly entertained with the DVD system, snacks and games. The ride home last night was pure torture. She cried... no SCREAMED from Barstow to Las Vegas (about 3 hours). We stopped at Barstow for an hour to eat thinking that would be a nice break. She had a nice poopy (lol) and we got back in the car close to bed time. No go. Once she got out of the car at home she was perfectly normal. Had a bottle and went right to sleep.

We will NOT be doing this again.

More Answers

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J.V.

answers from Las Vegas on

I have traveled alone with my 2 girls flying for 4 hours and driving from San Diego to Vegas. I found several things to help make the trips easier
* pack a kids backpack with smallish toys (airplanes, cars, dinosaurs, horses, dolls)
* small aquadoodle cards or pads (no worries if she sucks some water or gets it on herself & the car)
* NEW DVDs of characters she loves (my girls love Diego because of the animals, Baby Einstein, and My Little Pony, Aristocats, Blue's Clues, Wonder Pets)
* Snack packs of things she can feed herself (don't even worry about the crumbs on the floor) cheerios, Gerber fruit nuggets, animal crackers may be a bit more messy, soppy cups of water & juice.
* sing songs with them: wheels on the bus, itsy bitsy spider, slippery fish, old Macdonald, 5 Little Ducks, etc...
* enlist your 3 year old's help to entertain & hand your little one new toys from the backpack.
* plan to stop frequently so they can run & stretch their legs (a porta potty (potette) has been a lifesaver if your older daughter is potty trained and their are no potties in sight/for miles.
Good luck!

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D.G.

answers from Las Vegas on

Have you explored the possibility that your 13 mos old is motion sensitive? Perhaps the motion bothers her enough that she is uncomfortable and cries, but doesn't throw up. If that is the case, check with your pediatrician to see if a medicine like Dramamine is appropriate and SAFE to give a child that young????

Other suggestions would be to leave on the trip at her nap time or later at night at bedtime or really early in the morning when she might fall back asleep. Good luck.

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L.D.

answers from Las Vegas on

Would hanging a mirror on the back of the driver or passenger seat so that she can see her own reflection help?

How about a heavy blank or quilt to help her feel more grounded in her seat?

Giving her a bottle when you reach higher elevation on the 15 fwy will help relieve the pressure in her ears.

Playing soothing music like the Baby Einstein CD's always help to calm my children down.

Singing rounds of Old McDonald can be very distracting for some kids.

Boy, I forgot how much work it is to have a toddler!

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C.E.

answers from Visalia on

I have traveled many miles with my toddler and I found it best to sit with her in the back with her. And I interact with her and keep her happy. She is 15 months and does not sleep in the car like she used to. You have all the things she could possibly want and need. So maybe trying to sit in the back with her may be a more peaceful trip. Good Luck......

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S.G.

answers from Las Vegas on

Maybe go late at night??? Maybe she will sleep.

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