overnight long drive across france with 3 young 'uns - alone. Help!

[monkey]

So at end of next week I'll be driving overnight across France to Calais, then Tunnel, then another hour or so through Kent. Dh not coming.

I decided to do overnight this time (I have done the journey 1 way before on own but during day) as youngest, nearly 3 gets very bored and starts scratching his brothers and annoying them and it's no fun for 9/10/13 hours.

My concerns - stopping for rest. last time all of us could pile out and have a run around and Air. This time, I hope, the kids will be asleep. I'm worried for my safety a bit, I know of someone who was broken into this summer on an Air having a nocturnal rest & the police said it was a big problem at the mo.

Also worried about going to loo and leaving boys unattended in car.

Also getting adequate rest/exercise to be alert enough to drive safely.

But if I stop too long, or at the well lit Péages, then the boys would wake up?

Anyone done a long drive overnight with little ones that can give hints tips and reassurance? I'm looking at about 13 hours door to door.

has no one really ever done a long over night drive?? Blimey, better just keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best then.

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going from Zürich to Kent via Channel tunnel. Planning to set off at 9pm ish. Dh will take boys out for afternoon so I can sleep, so hopefully will get a good 6 hours sleep or so. Like Is say, I've done the drive before and found it ok, it's the challenges of driving at night & getting enough rest/exercise to keep alert but safe. Not driven thro night before. Seemed like a fantastic idea that would solve many problems when I booked it, but now it's looming I'm starting to see and worry about the down side. I think mentally preparing myself will also help.

Mm, it's tricky about you getting to the loo and leaving them isn't it? I'd personally only stop at the well lit service stations as some of the aires off the road are so dark are't they ( I made DH shine the headlights into the loo this summer as it was pitch black )I think I would have to accept that I'd rather they woke up than risk leaving them in the car - not much help really, sorry!

Just wanted to say good luck. The most i have done is 5 hours with dd 3 and ds 2, I prefer to travel in the day and stop every 2 hours. Not much help.

A suggestion for your next trip perhaps as probably rather late in the day to suggest this.

Have you considered using a Motor Rail service. Can't see any from Zurich but I know that www.dbautozug.de run motor rail services from Lindau-Reutin (closer but not such good timimg) Innsbruck and Munich to Dusseldorf, it is then about 4 hours drive from Dusseldorf to Calais.

This is written by the mumsnetter who drove from Vienna to UK (and return) with ds2 and dog. Driving during the day, hotel at night, plus all problems of walking dog with ds in tow etc. That all stopped when I discovered dbautozug overnight service from Vienna to Dusseldorf.

Get yorself a travel potty!! Sounds silly but a friend of mine uses her daughters in these situations and it's fine! I wouldn't stop in the dark aires personally and have to agree with ggglimpopo as I've done long journeys with 2 kids and have found it easier to do it that way. that way you get your break too. If you arrrive at calais too early you could try to get an earlier train or go somewhere nice for breakfast. Good luck!

thanks for the ideas here. The some-form-or-travel-potty seems to be a recurring theme and am feeling will be invaluable, but can't quite get my head round it. I'm tempted to spend the next few days in the garage practicing various ways of weeing in various receticals. OMG, what have I become. Have dug out our travel potty, but have no 'innards' for it, and even so, can't quite see it, iyswim. Any weeing in car tips then?

I've booked both legs overnight btw, but if I find it too hard going, will change the return leg. WOuld at least like to try it for once, if you don't try you don't know do ya?

Have you seen shewees? Haven't got enought time to get one, but dunno if that would work in the confines of a car. Am planning to wear a skirt, lol

well I did it. I changed the return leg in the end & travelled during day.

I found the overnight with the kids fantastic as they slept the whole way.
thanks for advice

what did you do about the toilet? and well done very impressed

shewee and jerry can.
not very elegant I know but felt a lot safer. WOuld've preferred to do both legs overnight, but on outward journey had hours break at Calais before last hour of drive, return leg last hour just tons of roadworks. Also know I wouldn't've got any rest before return leg, so decided twas safer to do in day. Was fine both ways anyhow.