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AIBU?

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Original poster

To drive

20 replies

Tinyprancer · 14/03/2018 20:26

From London to Cornwall in a day with a 2.5 year old. Google reckons journey is 5hrs 15 but obviously we’ll need to stop lots......

OP posts:
GladAllOver · 14/03/2018 20:32

Quite reasonable, providing you plan ahead with everything you might need.
But not if you are intending to drive on weekends in summer or Bank Holidays

thismeansnothing · 14/03/2018 20:35

More than reasonable. We've been doing Preston to st Ives with DD since she was 12 month. TBH it was easier when she was little but it's more than maneagable in a day including stops

Original poster
Tinyprancer · 14/03/2018 20:53

I’m just worried she’ll throw a tantrum at a rest stop and refuse to get back in the car! I’m guessing it’s going to be about 9 or so hours with lots of stops....how do you keep them entertained

OP posts:
Tistheseason17 · 14/03/2018 21:15

Plan stops with something to do. Be out of the car for a while so she's happy to get back in. Good luck!

RuskBaby · 14/03/2018 21:16

Could you plan around nap time if dc still takes one? Takes out some of the journey and lets you listen to whatever you want on the radio and just be for a while.

BusyBeez99 · 14/03/2018 21:18

Easy peasy. I've driven with a baby south coast to Manchester in a day many times.

BusyBeez99 · 14/03/2018 21:19

When DS became a toddler we drove for 2 hours and then stopped for half an hour at a services and then he slept rest of way.

Original poster
Tinyprancer · 15/03/2018 09:48

We’ve driven long distances when she was a baby but at nearly 3 she’s a lot more wilful and she will only sleep for a little bit at lunch - she’s not going to just generally sleep. That means 6+ hours in the car just driving with nothing to do when she’ll want to be running!

OP posts:
BellyBean · 15/03/2018 10:42

Id do the bulk of driving after 6pm and hope she dozes.

pigshavecurlytails · 15/03/2018 10:44

we do NW London to Newquay most years, takes 5-6 hours including 2-3 stops. It's fine. give her an ipad and put loads of kids music on.

MirriVan · 15/03/2018 10:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BellyBean · 15/03/2018 10:49

Or Leave at 10.30, stop for lunch, ideally garden centre with soft play, another couple of hours and long stop at shopping centre or similar with early tea and change into pjs, then final push.

I can vouch for Pom poms in a box with a small hole for car fun at that age!

mindutopia · 15/03/2018 11:03

It’s doable but only if you plan to stay for a few days. We go about once a year to visit family in North Wales (about 6 hours on google from us). Our dd is 5 now. It takes ALL day, literally 9 hours door to door with a stop for a break morning and afternoon and then for lunch. It’s a bit miserable but it’s no worse that breaking the journey up. Sure as hell wouldn’t want TWO days of that, even with less time on the road each day. Just make the journey worth it by staying a few days before you head back.

milkmoustache · 15/03/2018 11:08

As PP have said, plan in at least one proper stop where you get out and run around, softplay or if you have a National Trust card use that. Plan a couple of other stops too, there's a fantastic independent services near Gloucester on the route down to Devon, which is an incredibly relaxing place to be. Expect it to be a lengthy experience, try not to watch the clock too much, deploy some story CDs, and it's doable.

Seeline · 15/03/2018 11:09

Entertainment

programmes/films on tablet/DVD player
Audio book
songs
stickers
snacks
Is she old enough for spotting things - I used to print off a sheet with pictures of things that we might see on the trip and the DCs could cross them off if we saw them - cows, sheep, boats, tractors etc

If there is another adult sit in the back with them for a bit to play games/read stories etc.

KakunaRattata · 15/03/2018 11:14

Pick a half way point, find something there like a soft play/park/attraction and make that your lunch destination. It's 2 x 2 1/2 hour journeys then - hopefully after lunch some of which is a nap. Download lots of films they've never seen or take a portable dvd player and headphones and teach them to use them. Carry a porta potty and a box that can sit next to their seat full of a variety of toys. Have non messy car snacks and small bottles of water. If all else fails let them have a turn in the passenger seat and have a nap in the back (assuming you have another adult to share driving!).

purplelass · 15/03/2018 11:14

I used to do this a lot.

Top tip - have a bag next you of toys so every time she bores of one you can chuck another at her. Repack the bag whenever you stop. If you give her everything in one go it'll all end up on the floor. And have a few new things to interest her / bribe her back into the car.

Good luck!

TERFragetteCity · 15/03/2018 11:16

I’m just worried she’ll throw a tantrum at a rest stop and refuse to get back in the car!

Surely then you would just pick her up and strap her in?

Original poster
Tinyprancer · 15/03/2018 15:10

terf well yes but I don’t really fancy driving with her throwing a tantrum, not nice for any of us and probably a little dangerous.

Thanks for all the tips, I think I might break the journey into 2 and stay somewhere else fun overnight. Means we can do about 3.5 hours each day which I think she’d be fine with

OP posts:
GladAllOver · 15/03/2018 18:29

As I said above, a lot depends on what day you are travelling. On a holiday weekend it can take twice as long to get to the Westcountry as on a quiet midweek.

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