to think children shouldn't need in-car DVD players to keep them entertained on a short journey?

[undercovamutha]

I know I may be sounding like an old fogey - but what's wrong with just looking out of the window and/or chatting?

If everyone starts using these contraptions, will it mark an end to the classic 'are we nearly there yet?' line? Surely kids are meant to be fed up on car journeys?

(BTW I know someone who uses one regularly for journeys of approx 30 minutes cos otherwise her DCs get bored!).

I used to be sanctimonious about them but have two sets of inlaws a 6 hour drive away. We survived without them but having a DVD means the kids actually enjoy the journey (we restrict TV at home)- and it's stress-free for us. I now love them and think they're the best £80 we've spent in a long while - but wouldn't use if for anything less than 2 hours.

I was told that car sickness can be to do with not being able to see the horizon - so if your DS can see between the seats, it might help him. If I ever have to sit in the back seat of a car I do have to make sure I can see the road ahead or I get sick. Reading in the car is a complete non-option for me because of this; and I can see why seat-mounted dvd players would have the same effect. Perhaps the central ceiling one works better because your DD is focusing further forward and still has the horizon in her peripheral vision?

Janite I find train journeys very different to car journeys. On train jorneys you can move about, swap seats, stretch your legs with a walk to the toilet, sit around a table and do something more sociable like play a game or even just colour in. Also my kids don't get travel sick reading when travelling by train. But in the car they are belted in to one place and can only really stare straight ahead. If DS2 reads he throws up. So when on a long journey, eg Wales to Cumbria, in car DVD players can be very useful.

curlyhairedassasin - you can change the balance between the front and rear speakers, so that the rear speakers are louder for the children.
Also useful when driving at night, when the DCs are asleep, but the driver wants some music on.

I wouldn't for short journeys but we're thinking of getting one for a very long drive through France this summer.

I am worried about ds and being carsick though. Will it help keep his mind off it? Or could it make it worse?? Quite how it could be worse I'm not sure. He has form on being the pukiest passenger imaginable. I'm half considering putting him on the roofrack actually

YABU. Whether someone chooses to use a DVD player in the car is purely their own business. And to be quite frank, if it keeps their children happy and therefore makes the journey more pleasurable, all power to them.

We have one but haven't used it for years (mostly as DD2 is currently facing backwards so it sparks huge rows).

I think people forget that when we were kids in cars, we weren't strapped bolt upright in car seats. I remember being strapped in but being able to manoevre around so I was leaning against the side with legs out along the back seat. Could then comfortably snooze, read, play games with brother, squabble about who had most room etc. Journeys are not as comfortable for kids as they used to be. And we would have LOVED to have been able to watch a film on a long journey.

Apologies to LeQueen for the tone of my posts last night - I've been very cranky and quick to anger for the last couple of days. Feeling mellow now though

And to all those who say "why not just play ispy". Yes why not. There is just so much to see on a motorway. I feel like weeping everytime one of them suggests we play that (give me 20 questions any day).

I agree: nothing wrong with a child being bored. Am big encourager of "free play" in our house . Also agree that playing games and chatting and listening to music passes the time away easily.

But: there is a big difference between a 2 hour journey and a 6 hour journey, and a bit of variety never hurt anyone.

Dh has got a real "thing" about driving more than a couple of hours with dcs in the car and kicks up a fuss everytime I've suggested we go anywhere further afield.

When i was a child we drove for 3+ days through France on holiday. Although I didn't make a fuss neither did my sister I f**king hated it. It was boring and frustrating. never dared say this though as i was so bloody scared of my mum. So TBh I'm in 2 minds about this. So far dd (3.8) has always been great at drawing, sticker books playing with dolls, singing or dozing. Ds (7.5m) luckily seems to be the kind of baby who just sleeps in the car regardless of how much sleep he's already had.

I REALLY REALLY want to go to Cornwall on holiday this year (we live in Manchester) and dh is already pulling a face about it and going on about flying. I've offered to share the driving and have conceded and said we'll get a dvd player to be used as a last resort if dd starts getting fed up. I don't often take the path of least resistance when parenting but tbh long car journeys are one situation where I will do anything for an easy life.

Listening to a story cd would make me want to project myself from the window and playing endless games too is really really not what i intend to do on a long journey. DH drives me mad when I'm driving by turning round to chat incessantly to dd rather than leaving her to her own devices (he's a bit of a helicopter with her) so she then expects the same from me .

I also relish long journeys where dh is driving as an opportunity to listen to one of my cds and read a book/paper relatively uninterrupted, NOT entertain dcs, so if necessary a dvd it will be.

Agree that they're a tool - you can choose how much to use them. I wasn't keen at first but they really are a godsend if you have a carsick child, even for a short journey.