How far would you drive solo with two DC?

[pinkcardi]

Quick poll on if you would do this / if I should do this:

• a solo drive with two young DC (2 and 5)
• approx 8hrs driving, plus breaks
• across the UK

I can't decide if it's sensible or not, if I should do it.

We either drive or we don't go, it's my mum's birthday.

Part of me thinks it'll be fine and we can always stop overnight if we need to. The other part thinks it'll be hideous and I will be crying 2hrs in.

We've done long journeys before, down into Europe, and through the UK but always with two drivers. I'm confident enough driving, sometimes nervous but mostly ok, but this does feel like a big one.

What would you do?

I’d do it. But I suspect he mumsnet brigade who stop for a break every 2 hours will be along shortly to say it's too much.

I think it would be fine. Tiring, but fine.

Ooo blimey, it will be tough. How old of a 2 year old? Can they use a tablet/open snacks? Do they still have a nap?

If the answers are no, I wouldn't tbh. Unless the 5yo is exceptionally useful.

Is a train an option? So much easier if you're on your own.

Thats a really long way.How long would you be going for? I drove approx 4.5 hours with 2 DCs of a simmilar age last year and that was plenty. It took pretty much the whole day with breaks. I don’t think I could do 8 hours on my own.

I would and did slightly less when same age. It was fine, but I did buy a dvd car player from Asda and was £60 well spent! Also stopped at Waitrose services as do kids lunch boxes. To me the return journey was worse as I was tired from poor sleep whilst been away

Is it 8 hrs one way or all together?
One way is tough.

I think it depends on when you arrive if you will get a chance to rest and recover, will your mum help out

I'd be worried about tired, grouchy children in the back and what they are doing whilst trying to keep my eyes on the road. I personally wouldn't feel comfortable.
I wouldn't consider it without overnight stay.

Can you do it late so you have kids sleeping. I would look to leave at 3. Stop around 5:30 for dinner run around and put on pjs. Then go and hope the kids sleep

I would consider it depending on the temperment of my children - my DS1 is trickier than DS2 for instance. Also, only if I could afford to sink money into bonus treats along the way - food/audiobooks/comic etc. Would be pretty miserable on a very tight budget.

I think I'd leave really early (4/5am) and hope they went back to sleep for a bit, then plan a significant stop 2/3rds of the way at lunchtime.

Could you do it over two days? Stay overnight in a Travelodge/services?
That way you could start in the morning and stop early afternoon. Find a park, let them have a run around.

Yep I'd do it. Take breaks for the kids to stretch their legs, but them a Maccy D's to keep the peace and invest in a travel DVD player that sit on the headrest. They'll mostly sleep but when their awake you'll want them distracted without having yo play eye spy the entire way.

Maybe make it fun by buying them a rucksack with a colouring books and some pencils and snacks in.

Good idea above to leave late afternoon and then hope they will sleep.

I’ve done 3, no stops. We have a portable DVD player they watch when they get bored. DH has done 5 with a leg stretch. It was very late though and the DC were in their pyjamas and asleep. Not sure I would want to do 8 in one go.

8 hours one way, no. I did 6 hours at similar ages and it was fine there, and total hell on the way home, it started with a vomit, followed by screaming for a couple of hours. And then me crying for an hour

If it were me, l’d want to be assured of sleeping kids for as big a chunk as possible so I think I’d go super early (everything ready night before, bundle from bed into car early hours of morning), drive while they slept for at least 3 hours, stop somewhere fun on the way and tire them out, drive 2 hours with a DVD on for 5 year old & nap for 2 year old, then stop again for tea, then hope they slept again after that!

How long are you staying? A Fri-Sun weekend and I’d say no. A week would be fine. In between would be a judgement.

If possible I’d fly or train it.

I’ve done a 8/9 hour drive numerous times solo with 3 DC, youngest any of them has been was 4 months. They’re now 14, 9 and 6, and it gets harder as they argue more and take up more space!!

A few times I’ve driven non stop as I go overnight and they all sleep. On the odd occasion I’ve driven it in the day, I stop once or twice. I love driving though and could go on and on

Audio books and songs have been my friend, as have various “eye spy” games with prizes involved (a pre wrapped present for the winner - I make sure it’s all equal though!)

I sit mine down before we go and give them a low down on what I expect from them behaviour wise. One has ASD so it can be a bit difficult, but I just brace myself and get on with it.

It’s when you get 20 minutes down the road and the first “are we nearly there yet starts” I’ve put a ban on that now and make sure I update them regularly with how long we have left.

I also take loads of food that they can help themselves to, no rules apply when driving those kind of distances alone with 3 children!!

Dorset to Northern Ireland,

I drive from Kent to North Yorkshire and back twice a year with my two. DS was about 3.5 the first time, then we stopped for a few years after DD was born, started again when DD was 2.5. We've been fine, kids traveling songs on CD player and they play on their Kindles. If there are no delays we only stop twice.

8 hours would have been fine for me. Mine have always travelled. I’d need food and bed fairly organised the other end though.

We live in Germany (husband is in the military) and I recently drove back to my family in Kent to visit for half term with DS4 and DS2. Left around 8, stopped once for lunch and then onto the Chunnel. I’d definitely recommend doing it during the day rather than at night. Night time can mean whingy, tired children, whereas mine were just really excited to be headed back to Nana’s house! Had a tablet in a holder between the back seats so they could both see it (DS4 could change it whenever something finished) and had the front seat next to me full of snacks I could throw back when necessary! I say go for it, what’s the worst that can happen

I've done similar and it was fine. Also taken them on a packed train for longer than that at 4 and 2 (okay, I wasn't driving so could give them my full attention, but no option to stop and walk around, and 2 year old was on my lap the entire time. It depends on your children, really.

Oh god Political that reminds me of the time I was 2 hours and in and 2 DC vomited... it was the start of a bug unfortunately but we made it home after a hairy ride.

That’s another thing I do, pack an emergency bag... towels, carrier bags, spare clothes that are easily accessible etc. Tissues, baby wipes that kind of thing.

I would but I’d be very tactical about it. I’d set off at, say, 4pm, stop for dinner at a service station at 6.30ish and then hope they’d sleep from, say 7pm, for the rest of the journey. And I’d put them both in nappies for the journey. That way you still arrive before 1am, you probably won’t get held up in traffic and you would hopefully have a peaceful journey!

When I was a kid we used to do long car journeys at night (usually it was a 6hr ish journey to visit grandparents) we’d time it to arrive at breakfast time. Is there anyone who can take them off your hands the day before so you can sleep during the day and be ready to drive at night?