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 would do it if I had to. Be prepared for it to take longer and have lots of stops. When we drove to Cornwall from the east midlands we stop for lunch at a pub with a play area. Gives adults time to relax for a hour or so. And gives the children time to have a run about and let off some steam.

Yes, I’d do it.

I’d leave early, check online for a soft play enroute that is about half way and stop there for lunch and a couple of hours running around.

I think my major concern is being really frazzled and exhausted just as we hit a busy/complicated bit. But as you say, I can always stop.

Both out of nappies so great idea to limit liquid and take a travel potty in case of emergencies.

I'm also better in the morning than evening, and the last bit is 45 mins of narrow, very twisty, mountain type roads. I definitely don't want to do that in the dark, so setting off early is best for us.

If you want to go, you should do it. But I wouldn't expect it to be fun. Audiobooks are good. Definitely take a picnic for lunch and stop somewhere you can run about, even if it takes you off route a bit.

And definitely take a cleaning up sick kit even if they're not usually sick. I still can't smell wet wipes without wanting to hurl even 6 years after a particularly luxuriant vomiting from my youngest and an emergency esso garage stop

I'm loving this thread, she's driving her kids not taking them across the Himalayas!! Break it up over two days? Seriously? They don't need to stop constantly; in the car settled down, if they fall asleep keep driving. Why do half of MN carry on as if everything with kids is sooo hard🙄🙄

bookworm4 have you done an 8 hour car journey alone with 2 and 5yr olds? Perhaps you could share what made it so fucking easy instead of slagging off those less perfect than you?

I would definitely do our as long as I felt my car was reliable. I’ve had cars at the end of their lives which I wouldn’t risk it in. Just bought a new runaround and I would now. Just make sure you factor in breaks.
Good luck, and have fun.

Now now @mookatron, I haven't slagged anyone off. I'm pointing out that so many on MN make a drama of everything, I've driven four kids to France several times; books, music etc only stop for toilets, if they sleep you drive, it's not difficult.

I’d do it no problem. I did about 4hrs each way with them solo aged 2&4. My tips would be, make up little snack boxes that you can pass over to them every hour or so, have a DVD player, some little new toys they can have every so often. My front seat was just a bag full of things for them. Basically I threw all my normal rules out of the window and just did whatever I could to make it comfortable and nice. I quite enjoyed it to be honest!

Your contemptuous tone was doing the slagging off for you, bookworm. Glad your 2 year old can be entertained with books. Presumably you were driving to the South of France, alone and with no other adult to help you?

Yes I was alone, first time they were 10mths, 4,5 & 11. Strangely children have been raised without iPads, dvds and been able to be content.

@Bookworm4 I'm not sure where you are getting the 'drama' from.

Everyone seems rather sensible and unexcited on this thread, it's merely helpful tips for driving solo with kids long distance.

@pinkcardi
The splitting it into two days and the huge task it's seen as: not by yourself may I add.

Well. May we all be such perfect mothers as you, with your angelic non-arguing or puking children, bookworm.

Good luck op, you'll be fine I'm sure.

@Mookatron thank you, yes I'm sure it will be fine

Mine don't vomit but do enjoy an electronic screen

If I'm not ok @Bookworm4 can you drive for me whilst I sit in the back sipping gin and flicking though a magazine? I will feed you snacks, although we are going north into deepest Scotland not south into sunny France

Yes that'll be fine, I live in Scotland, Failte 😉

I did just over 1000km with a 2 yr old and a 4 yo , and sadly this was before portable electronic entertainment!
I sang to them lots, we played "what's out my window" , loads of car games like 'I was going on a hike, and with me I brought...'
Made lots of potty stops, and got the kids to run around each time we stopped, to help tucker them out.

I would just do it. It might not be great fun but needs must some times.

I have done similar journeys by train on my own involving 4 changes. I am not sure that driving would have been any more stressful.

Ah, you’re heading up here! That helps me with another suggestion. I have been known to make a picture I-spy sheets for trips, so find some pictures of buildings/landmarks/things and copy them onto a sheet of paper for them to look out for - so for you, I can think of the Welcome to Scotland sign, the Queensferry Crossing, a ferry, a highland cow - whatever you know your going to be passing. You do have to give them a bit of a ‘heads up’ when each one is imminent but it worked quite well for me.

I did Cork to Oxford with mine when I think they must have been about 1 and 4 - just looked up the times and it would have been roughly 2.5 hours, then the ferry, then 4 hours. It was tough but ok. I have one particular memory of having to pull in somewhere to deal with my youngest - I'd passed them chocolate biscuits, he'd ended up with both hands held in the air, covered in chocolate, distressed because he didn't know what to do! (this is over 10 years lol)

Being ready to take breaks whenever you have to is going to be key. If at all possible keep the time pressure down so that sometimes you can just turn off randomly and search for a good place to have a short walk or something; or just plain get a variation on motorway driving if that will be a lot of your route.

Word games / memory games / counting games. Prudent use of snacks and sweets. Will you have to do the drive back on your own too? Hope it goes well.

I do 3(ish) hours each way as a solo driver with kids so around a six hour treck all in I hate it but I do it in one day then sleep A LOT

It wouldn't bother me. I'd probably choose an earlier start to get the kids to sleep in the car for a bit. Then I would just make sure we had toilet breaks planned, enough food/drinks and activities for us all too. You'll be fine!

Yep deffinitly doable if you plan ahead. Have a good selection of snacks and stickers, colojrs, books, dvds, games rtc on the passenger seat that you can reach and throw back at them when they get bored. Also consider putting a wet-the-bed pad under the youngest if you might get caught short in traffic or no chance to stop

We're contemplating a drive to scotland. We're definitely breaking it up and my kids are older and theres 2 adults!