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Original poster

Toddler in service stations

24 replies

sanityisamyth · 15/02/2015 05:50

I have to drive 300 miles today to see my dad and step-mother in Yorkshire. I have a 13 month old son and no-one else is coming with me.

The last few times I've done the journey I have managed 100 miles or so and had a stop to get him out of the car and some food/drink etc.

The issue this time is now he is walking. He's going to want to stretch his legs but I don't think it's going to be very safe. I have some reins I can put on him.

What would you do?

OP posts:

arlagirl · 15/02/2015 05:58

Sorry I don't see the problem.
Surely you'd hold his hand or put him in a buggy?
Or reins as you said?

What do you do normally?

Want2bSupermum · 15/02/2015 06:02

We do long drives at night so the kids sleep through. If we leave early or I'm doing the trip on my own we stop for breakfast at McDonald's which has a kids play area.

dashoflime · 15/02/2015 06:20

At 13 months, I would probably carry him across the carpark and then let him walk around indoors, out of the way of cars.

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Original poster

sanityisamyth · 15/02/2015 06:21

I'm not taking the buggy as I can't fit everything in the car - only there for 3 days - back home on Thursday so don't really need it.

He's very stable on his feet but he doesn't tend to follow close to me. If I want him to go a certain way which he doesn't agree with he'll sit down or try to pull away!

OP posts:

Original poster

sanityisamyth · 15/02/2015 06:22

Dash I definitely don't let him walk around where there are cars but I'm feeling a bit better that others would let theirs go indoors :)

OP posts:

Original poster

sanityisamyth · 15/02/2015 06:34

W2BSM - just had a quick look online but there aren't any McDonald's with a play area on our route but that was a brilliant idea! He would have loved that!

OP posts:

Eastpoint · 15/02/2015 06:40

Just hold his hand the way. If you can't bend down enough you'll have to carry him, short amount of discomfort better than worrying about him getting hurt/causing an accident.

BigRedBall · 15/02/2015 06:44

Pfb eh?

Let him walk indoors for a bit and follow and pick as when needed. 13 m olds don't really need a big stretch of legs. He'll be fine.

arlagirl · 15/02/2015 06:44

You can't let him wander round if he's going to get in the way or people are carrying hot drinks.

JeanSeberg · 15/02/2015 06:48

Can you make a short detour to a park or Macdo near the motorway?

MrTumblesBavarianFanbase · 15/02/2015 06:59

Don't most service stations even in the UK have a little tiny play area indoors, usually designed for very small toddlers?

I used to do a drive from Surrey to north Yorkshire on my own with my pfb from babyhood til we moved when she was 18 months; she walked at 9 months, and there were always chances to let her walk indoors. Journey took much longer of course, but apart from being time consuming it was perfectly possible (and better than when she was just prewalking, which was the hardest phase outside the home I always found).

BMO · 15/02/2015 07:05

Toddlers are allowed to walk around inside buildings, it will be ok If he doesn't want to go the way you're going just pick him up.

BikeRunSki · 15/02/2015 07:22

I drive from Yorkshire to Somerset every couple of months with my dc. They are now 3 and 6, and I have been doing the journey since the eldest was 8 weeks old.

It's really not a problem. Park close to the door (parent and child spaces are usually in the closest row). Hold his hand, or carry him in the car park. Then let him walk/run indoors.

Where are you starting from? Maybe we could suggest child friendly places to stop on the way?

Hopwood Park Services on the M42 has a playground. Gloucester Sevices (M5 northbound only so far) has a "dog walking" route, which we also use for stretching human legs.

If you are going near Tamworth we often stop at Pooley Country Park for a run around, a play and lunch in their visitor centre. It's a couple of mins drive off the M42. There are bound to be lots of other "5 minutes away" places MNers could tell you about if you tell us your route.

Cottonmouth · 15/02/2015 07:25

I always left mine in the car when I paid for petrol.

JeanSeberg · 15/02/2015 07:28

Wrong thread Cotton. She's talking about getting him out of the car to give him a bit of exercise to break the journey.

Want2bSupermum · 15/02/2015 15:55

Here in the us the service stations vary greatly in quality. I now plan out all drives that are more than an hour. Traffic is much heavier in the UK so I would plan for stops every 75 miles. In minimal traffic this is a stop every hour. If your child is a bolter, as mine are, reins are a must. When I get inside I put the kids in highchairs and get drinks. For day trips I bring snacks with me as I am cheap and picky about what our family eats. Carrot sticks do very well! After we are done its playtime. I always bring a small foam ball for emergency play. Saved me a few times. It's about 3-4" wide. I drove down to North Carolina and my kids played football in an area another family and I sectioned off. They had 7 under 5 and were driving from Vermont to Florida to visit the grandparents. I was in awe and deeply impressed at what wonderful parents they were. If I had 2 sets of twins and a set of triplets there is no way I would venture out of the house let alone drive for 3 days in a minivan. Whenever I am struggling I think of them. If they can do it with 7 then I can do it with 2.

3littlefrogs · 15/02/2015 16:07

I travelled 600 miles by train with a 2 year old and a 6 week old in a sling, a suitcase, a buggy and a changing bag.

Reins are essential IMO. You can't let a toddler loose in a service station - it isn't a safe environment. Try the back pack ones if you aren't used to the ordinary ones.

What are you taking that means you can't get everything in the car?

I must admit I would have found driving a lot harder. I would suggest you look at trains if you don't absolutely have to take the car.

I also travelled with said 2 year old (when I was 6 months pregnant) on a coach for 8 hours in a snowstorm. That was challenging.

You will be fine.

Cottonmouth · 15/02/2015 18:02

My strategy of travelling with small children is to just put the foot down and get there as quickly as possible. Toss some snacks back if absolutely necessary.

Stopping every hour or two just prolongs the misery journey. Little kids don't have such an acute sense of time, so can manage several hours, making note of nappy changes and genuine hunger.

Original poster

sanityisamyth · 15/02/2015 19:11

Thanks for all the replies :)

I arrived safe and sound. I was traveling from Somerset to North Yorkshire. I only had to make 1 stop so grabbed a bite to eat. I put the reins on him and let him wander about. As it was Sunday there weren't that many people around so he didn't get under anyone's feet (which is what I was most worried about - him being an inconvenience to others).

Love the idea of looking at play places en route though. Might be busier on Thursday when I go home!!

OP posts:

arlagirl · 15/02/2015 19:52

Glad you made it!!??

BikeRunSki · 15/02/2015 20:29

I'm travelling South Yorkshire to Somerset on Thursday Sanity. See you on the M42!

CMOTDibbler · 15/02/2015 20:39

If you are going M1/M42/M5, then the services on the M42 (Hopwood) have an outdoor playarea where he could safely run around

Original poster

sanityisamyth · 16/02/2015 19:14

Thanks everyone :) hopwood sounds like a really good idea. I generally go that way back so will pop in so he can charge around :)

OP posts:

MojaveWanderer123 · 17/02/2015 09:22

Cotton I agree! We don't plan at all we just go and if we need to stop we do. I have 3 dc and my youngest has autism so it's really important we get to where we want to go as quickly as possible as a meltdown in the car makes us all cry.

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