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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if any of you have lived through one of my worst nightmares?

35 replies

steben · 05/04/2013 20:06

In a few weeks a very close family friend is having a surprise 60th about 4 hours drive away. To be honest I was dreading the drive anyway but DH was meant to be coming - therefore driving - anyway he now has to go away with work. Anyway to cut a major long rambly post short - one if my biggest fears when motorway driving with DCs is getting stuck in non moving motorway traffic. DCs are 6 months and 3 - what do people do if they get stuck with little kids etc... Feeding etc.... Have any of you ever got stick on your own? What did you do?

OP posts:
HazelnutinCaramel · 05/04/2013 20:11

Try and travel at a time they will sleep.

Take some sweets and use as a last resort.

Have some books or toys hidden so they haven't already played with them (brand new ones if you can afford it)

CD of songs & nursery rhymes.

These should all be things that you pull out when they start to whine, not before. Leave it as long as possible before you deploy!

Yama · 05/04/2013 20:11

No, I've only been stuck on a non moving motorway with a baby when I wasn't the driver. It was pretty horrible as you can't take them out of the carseat.

It probably won't happen.

Plan your journey. Allow for more breaks than you need and if the dc are content or sleeping don't stop.

Good luck.

LittleFeileFooFoo · 05/04/2013 20:14

My little one travels a lot because he goes to work with me. He pretty much sleeps in the car, and on longer drives we stop every two hours to feed and change him.
I suggest if the traffic is really bad, just pull over to the side of the road for a break. Getting out of the car seat helps them a lot!

Carolra · 05/04/2013 20:17

My mum used to have a policeman for a lodger and when I had dd, I used to worry about this too. He told me that if you are stuck on the motorway and you're the only adult with a baby that is distressed, you can call the local police number and they will come and get you. It's illegal for you to get out of the car and illegal for the baby to be taken out of the car seat which is why they'll do it. I've never confirmed it in practise but it made me feel better!!!

Original poster
steben · 05/04/2013 20:19

Going at night is a good idea - once pre DC we got stick on the m62 for four fucking hours due to a major accident - I just cannot imagine that with kids.

OP posts:
Wishiwasanheiress · 05/04/2013 20:22

Carol, accurate. Have done. Spent 3hrs there first as felt silly and thought would move. Ran out of snacks etc and panicked. Bedford police rescued us and asked why I was so polite. Tbh I just cried.

littlebitofthislittlebitofthat · 05/04/2013 20:23

I always pack an interest bag, and use it to wisely only when they are really really bored. If going at night everyone loved the glow sticks

noblegiraffe · 05/04/2013 20:26

How do you call the local police from a motorway?

floreatsalopia · 05/04/2013 20:29

Noble - dial 101

HildaOgden · 05/04/2013 20:29

Ask some of the other people attending,you might find someone who will gladly help a hand in exchange for a free lift.

Or you could see if there is a train that will get there,you could book a cheap hotel and make a min-break of it.

Or you could cancel,it's a lot to take on yourself with 2 little ones.

Branleuse · 05/04/2013 20:30

I'd get the train x

noblegiraffe · 05/04/2013 20:31

Thank you floreats, will definitely file that away for reference!

Doilooklikeatourist · 05/04/2013 20:35

I'd get the train too .
Or not go .

HollyBerryBush · 05/04/2013 20:37

Use the A roads instead - much more fun, and you stay more alert because you are watching pedestrians, traffic lights etc

amiwhatorhow · 05/04/2013 20:39

Happened to me for 3 hours with a 13 month old, though luckily my Dad was driving so I wasn't alone.

I had packed my laptop for work and it ended up being a lifesaver as I could play DVDs and games on it. THat kept us going for about an hour.

I distinctly remember the final 1 hour of the journey (which took about 7 hours in total as opposed to the 4 it should have) was spent with me and my Dad loudly singing songs to DD to keep her going.

iamabadger · 05/04/2013 20:39

How do the police "come and get you"? If the traffic isn't moving, and what do you do with your car?

Blu · 05/04/2013 20:39

I was on my own with DS when he was 5 weeks old when we got caught on a motorway closed because an fairground ride had fallen off it's lorry. It was the hottest day of the summer, and we were there for hours.

I was bf, so that helped. I had taken bottles of water for me, so that helped. Everyone was out of their cars, I sat in the shade of a bush on the embankment by the road.

Was also with DS, now older, for hours on the M6 last summer when a minibus turned over. Again we had water, healthy and nutritious snacks, he had ipod, books. People were out of cars and walking about. Needing a wee was the worst thing. Lots of people went up the embankment into bushes - I had a loose dress on and managed discreetly with a tupperware box, and DS weed in an empty bottle.

I always travel with water, good snacks, a blanket, a space blanket (for cold), torch, wipes, an actual map. In snowy weather I have been known to set off with a flask of hot drink, and in summer a cooler bag with drinks and ice packs for the food and drink.

amiwhatorhow · 05/04/2013 20:41

Oh..just remembered at 7.5 hour (should have been 2.5 hours) journey at christmas in the snow with a 2.5 yr old and 6 month old which also required heavy DVD use.

amiwhatorhow · 05/04/2013 20:43

Please don't judge me for the christmas in the snow journey. We set off as soon as we realised the snow was coming. We had to go as we were going to a wedding - DH was the best man!

Blu · 05/04/2013 20:44

The Road / Transport Agency people will come and help, too. The ones in big Range Rovers on the mororways.
I didn't know it was illegal to get out - everyone does! Blush
But yes, if there was a distressed or unwell baby, call for help!

Blu · 05/04/2013 20:46

Iamabadger - they come down the hard shoulder.

Which is why the emergency services are REALLY hard on anyone who decides to use the hard shoulder as a way to push past the queues and then blocks it. The police prosecute.

noblegiraffe · 05/04/2013 20:49

The potette travel potty is good if a child needs a wee and you can stop in a layby. I'm not sure if it would hold an adult wee but if I were desperate I might give it a go!

BeaWheesht · 05/04/2013 20:51

We got stuck for 6/7 hours in the snow with ds when he was 3 and I was newly pregnant. It wasn't all that bad tbh - we had plenty of drinks and snacks anyways and loads of blankets and stuff.

sittinginthesun · 05/04/2013 20:55

6 hours on the M1, with 5 month old DS1. We didn't move for 6 hours. I phoned the AA, they said to sit tight.

We chatted to lorry drivers, I thankfully had a bag of feeds and he ate a banana.

He was fine. I was dying for a wee.

DoTheBestThingsInLifeHaveFleas · 05/04/2013 20:58

I am with Hollyberrybush. Use the A roads, make it a fun road trip. Stop off for a picnic. Or not go, it does sound stressfull.
A few weeks DD was born there was a massive pile up on the M5 (I could see it from my house). My friend was only travelling one junction and was stuck for 10 hours (yes 10 hours!). Obviously the main thing is that she was not involved in the crash. But since then I always carried a couple of cartons of formula and pre sterilised bottles in the glove compartmnet plus a litre of water and some crisps/crackers etc. I know you can't plan for every eventuality but at least these things are in the car and I dont need to even think about it now they are there. Oh plus blanket in case winter and you have to turn engine off.