To take my toddler on a 3.5 hour train journey?

[Peppapigforlife]

Has anyone ever done it? I want to take her on a toddler holiday. I don't think my phone battery will last long enough to keep her entertained and I think the trains are older ones without plug sockets. It's not just one train but three changes.
The longest she has been on a train is just over an hour.
Any experiences would be really appreciated.

Oh just to add I don't drive and I checked for coaches, but there aren't any.

I would! 3 changes will break up the journey. Take activity books, crayons, some small toys, stickers, and be ready for plenty of eye spy! 😆

You’ll be fine. Get some colouring / activity books and look up some games you can play. Can you get a battery back for the phone, if that will keep her busy?

I used to take both of mine from Kent to Yorkshire by train. It was fine.

Colouring books. Snacks. Quiet toys.

Use a backpack instead of a suitcase.

You’ll be absolutely fine. In some ways the changes makes it better for this very specific circumstance as it breaks up the journey into chunks and you’re not staring down the barrel of 3+ hours.

Reserve a seat at a table, that will make all the difference. At that age sticker books were my absolute go-to - peel the backing paper off each page first and then they will be able to get at the stickers more easily. A couple of small toys - my youngest was mad for model animals to tel stories with - to bring out halfway through also helps.

Trains are great with kids as you can go for a wander up and down the aisle, to the buffet car (if there is one) look out the windows etc.

Can you get a battery pack for your phone just in case? And do take kiddie headphones for her if she’s going to have the volume up on your phone.

I suspect it would be fine! I've done 2hs with DD (21 months) and she loved it. She can look out of the window, read books together, and take lots of snacks. As long as she has a seat she can nap too.

It'll be fine.

And changes are good, they break the journey up

I love train journeys with my toddler! So much better than a coach because you can walk around. Agree, lots of quiet toys and remember something new to bring out halfway through (I mean new as in new to the journey, not necessarily buying something new).

Thanks this is very reassuring. I will deffo get some sticker books and look for a charger pack. I had one before and it was rubbish but if anyone knows a good make, please let me know. I'm more worried the intensity of it will drain me and I won't be able to enjoy the holiday with DD. I forgot to add she is 2 years, four months old.

Add snacks to that - I used to prepare an 'airline style' lunchbox with their usual food but cut into different shapes - cucumber rounds instead of long, for example. I don't know why but it made it all a bit more exciting and a bit more of an adventure.

Train is loads better than car journey of same length. As pp say, you can walk up and down, do activities- colouring in, play-dough, access to toilets. Three separate trains will definitely break it up too.

I've done 2.5 hours with a toddler.
My tips:
-buy a powerbank for your phone so you can keep it charged.

• if any of the trains are likely to be full consider paying for a child ticket so you don't have to put them on your lap
• lots of small books and toys you can rotate so boredom is reduced i.e. take out one thing at a time and swap regularly.
• if you have a gap between trains go to a safe bit of the station (ie not the platform) and let your toddler run for a couple of minutes - you may also have to walk them up and down the train
• snacks and more snacks!
• wipes, kitchen roll and spare clothes easy to hand for spillages.

You'll be fine, I've done 6 hours with 2yo dd before. Snacks, phone games, headphones, and enjoy :)

I've done several long train journeys alone with kids and it's been fine. Only slightly awkward moments have been getting on and off trains, and when little one suddenly needs the toilet (in this respect it's easier when they're still in nappies). But I've always found people are more than happy to help me out. I took a bag that I could get in the basket under the pram plus a rucksack if needed, so I wasn't trying to lug a suitcase as well as a pram.

I always took lots of snacks and stickers, colouring etc and we played a lot of I Spy and spotted animals and things out of the window.

Family and friends railcard, especially if you will travel together frequently. Gives you a third off.

Agree with getting a family and friends Railcard and buying a ticket for DC so you'll both get a seat

I did it with mine at just over 3 years old, she loved it. We treated it as an adventure, changing trains, going through tunnels, she chatted to other passengers, told the train staff off for not putting on the lights going through the tunnels.

DM used to have a trick when we were little on long journeys (flew transatlantic many times pre in flight headsets and electronics)…every half hour something new would appear from her bag…little things like crayons and a pad of paper. We did the same with DSs. We also took lotto type games at that age as DSs were just getting into being able to take turns.

Absolutely fine. As a pp said it's better that you've got changes because she's less likely to get restless.

Definitely headphones though if you're using your phone! I used to take a small bag with lots of little toys in and bring them out one by one at the point boredom was setting in. And book table seats.

If you're going on holiday presumably you'll have buggy, suitcase etc. If so, book passenger assistance. I didn't the first time and one of the rail employees approached me as I was lurching off the train with luggage, child, buggy etc, grabbed the suitcase and took me to the next train while telling me to book assistance next time. So I did every time after that and it was much easier. Ring the train company and there's an option to press where you book it. Makes the changes much better and staff prefer you to do that rather than arsing about getting in people's way when they're trying to get trains in and out of stations.

I travelled from London to mid-Wales on a train with a toddler. It was 1982 and there were no mobile phones, we just had books and chat until she fell asleep.

@Amiwastingtime wow that's reassuring.

I should be okay with getting a seat for her as it's a monday mid morning and we aren't going towards any major cities.

I've had a few times where I haven't been able to find anyone to help me get the buggy down the large gap so I might request assistance in advance too, for peace of mind.

My DD is kind of wild but I'm hoping it will be okay!

@americantie I posted that and then saw your post, so DEFINITELY a must do.

I like all the comments about bringing different toys out at frequent sintervals. I might go to poundland and grab a few random novelty things and put them in a little drawstring bag.

Deffo for the headphones. I wasnt sure if it's a good idea to let little ones have headphones but it seems the masses think it's a good idea, so I'll go with that one.

Luckily we are still in nappies half the time, so that battle is averted. And I'll start writing a list of snacks.

Thanks everyone, these are great ideas and very reassuring!

A bag full of crap from Poundland is definitely the way to go. Don't let her see any if it before you leave. And it doesn't matter if you lose a a bit of it when you change trains either.

@captainmycaptain yeah as an introverted child I was very content on the train with just a book. My very hyperactive extroverted toddler is a different creature though 😂🙈

If you can afford to look at upgrading to first class. The cheap tickets are released 12 weeks in advance, so we often book first for the price of standard. You'll have more leg room, free snacks and a socket for your charger. The mistake I made was not bringing the plug, as they weren't USB points.

You can get child safe headphones which are noise limited. Practice beforehand though so they get used to them