Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

9 hour car journey with 2.9 and 1.9 year old. Are we mad?

60 replies

Piggy · 01/08/2007 07:09

We are thinking about driving up to stay with my parents in a couple of weeks time. They live 450 miles away and it's usually a 9 hour drive including stops. My 2 dses (2.9 and 1.9) are very active and I do think we might be mad to contemplate this. However, we have lots of story cds and those portable dvd players that hang on the headrests. We did a 5.5 hour journey in June and it was almost bearable.

We would leave at about 7am. They have a sleep (1 - 2 hours) late morning so they would sleep for a little bit of the journey. I would also plan to take a picnic and stop off somewhere for lunch and try to give them a run around.

Has anyone else tried this? Would you do it? Are we nuts?

OP posts:
Budababe · 01/08/2007 07:14

Have never done it myself but friends used to drive all over Europe with 3 littlies. The trick they used was to leave at night. Put children into PJs and leave around 6. Or they have been know to put children to bed normally at home, rest them selves and get up at 3am, load sleeping children into car and set off then.

Original poster
Piggy · 01/08/2007 07:16

Ooh Budababe, that's an interesting idea. My concern about driving at night is that dh or I would fall asleep at the wheel!

OP posts:
throckenholt · 01/08/2007 07:33

We have done it frequently with 3 under 5s.

Tips - lots of food, cds to listen to, and if you can do it in the evening or very early morning - the roads are quieter (so easier journey for the driver) and the kids more likely to fall asleep (although ours are quiet capable of staying awake til 11 on a journey despite a normal 7pm bedtime ! - Once they made it all the way to Glasgow from Norfolk before they finally conked out).

Should be fine.

Leati · 01/08/2007 07:36

I've done it. I personally would plan extra time for taking lots of breaks. Movies are great but also bring so other small activities.

throckenholt · 01/08/2007 07:47

and at that age take lots of unusual llittle things for them to play with - eg key rings, plastic boxes, anything that is not usually seem as a toy and has novelty value.

Original poster
Piggy · 01/08/2007 07:57

Thanks guys. Dh is really keen to give it a go and I think if I plan really well then it might be bearable. The good thing is that as soon as we get there my parents can play with the boys and dh and I can have a large G&T!

OP posts:
Original poster
Piggy · 01/08/2007 08:49

Before we decide for sure is there anyone else out there who's tried it?

OP posts:
Original poster
Piggy · 01/08/2007 09:32

Bumpety bump

OP posts:
Judy1234 · 01/08/2007 09:33

Could you not fly instead? Yes but do try it and make sure you both share the driving so one of you isn't burdened with small children all the time.

We flew across the Atlantic with twin 1 year olds which was about 8 hours in the air I think. Actually it wasn't very easy but once you're there it's fine.

MrsBond · 01/08/2007 09:38

we often do a 350 mile drive in the evening. No Stops - leave at 6pm arrive midnight. Kids (1 and 3) sleep for most of the drive and less traffic at night.

works for us.

Original poster
Piggy · 01/08/2007 09:50

The original plan was that I would fly up with the boys (with either my mum or nanny to help) and that dh would drive (we need the car up there). However, I'm not convinced that fannying around at the airport will be any easier than going in the car (at least in the car they will be strapped in ) and the flights are often delayed. Hence my dilemma.

OP posts:
Original poster
Piggy · 01/08/2007 09:52

I see what you're saying MrsBond but if we drive up we'll get there at about 3am and have to be up with boys at 5am (early risers). My parents aren't good at helping out in the mornings. Sigh.

OP posts:
Fennel · 01/08/2007 09:53

We've done 10-12 hour journeys a few times with 2 or 3 small children. We only do it at night - start at 7pm, eventually the children go to sleep and we take turns driving til about 2 ,3 or 4am. Then we sleep in the car, and carry on in the morning. For us it's so much more bearable if the dds are sleeping most of the way, and also it's quicker as there's less traffic. no jams. no sitting in queues.

bozza · 01/08/2007 09:57

I think it is feasible. What time do your DC normally get up? I would get up and sorted before they wake up. Then set off with them still in their pjs (will have novelty value for older child) and be armed with cereal bars or jam sandwiches and cups of milk/juice for them to have as their breakfast. Then at the first stop you could get them dressed and let them have a runaround (a ball in the boot is a good idea). One thing I did to keep my DD entertained last summer was to make up a photo album for her. A cheap flip one from Asda with lots of photos of her family and friends and also herself doing interesting things. DD was 2.2 then and we travelled from Yorkshire to Normandy in one day.

bozza · 01/08/2007 09:58

Why are you waiting until 7 to set off if they are up at 5?

Quattrocento · 01/08/2007 10:01

No you are not mad - I predict they will be easy - something about the engine noise and a really long journey - they will sleep quite a lot and talk a lot and sing a lot and watch dvds - the yowly bits will be quite short.

Am a veteran of a really long drive to the south of france - two days solid - best part of a thousand miles - started doing it every year from when they were both in nappies - and it is actually and surprisingly painless.

Beetroot · 01/08/2007 10:04

Oh god don't drive at night. It is hell. They may sleep (ish) but the next day will be awful. I have done it once and never again.

I would aim to arrive at say 9pm so the kids do get some sleep. Leave at 12. Kids can have godo run around etc before you to. find some places to stop and take your time

Babywipes - kept my dd quiet for hours - she took them all out and wiped everything around her.

Tapes and music

We travelled around Europe and dd listened to the alfie tapes (she was 3) We bought each child a separate cheap cd/cassete player so we didn't have to listen to the tapes.

How about the train btw?

Original poster
Piggy · 01/08/2007 10:06

Bozza - the idea is that we'll set off as soon as practical after they wake up but by the time we've got everyone ready, tidied up and put the final bits in the car it might be nearer 7. But you are right perhaps we should just get up and go. Good idea. Thanks.

Quattrocento - thanks for that. I love your expression "yowly bits"!

OP posts:
mistlethrush · 01/08/2007 10:07

We've done 350 miles with 2yo (last 100miles v slow): leaving 5am with ds in pjs expecting him to go back to sleep (yeah, right) (he did 90mins later). 1st proper stop at 9am. Get dressed have more breakfast, have a good run around. Load back in car (lots of complaints). Stop at 11 at NT property wtih large grounds. Lots of exploring, coffee, more exploring, lunch, more exploring, tea, back to car - asleep. Drive until 4 - shopping (complaints) - back in for last 45mins - lots of running around!

We had worked out a number of different stopping opportunities before we left so that we could stop relatively easily and have a proper break if required. Need to get to places where its fine to just let them burn off lots of excess energy - probably mw service stations not sufficient, although do for some of the stops, but not major ones.

Plan lots of big breaks and have other things to do and play in the car.

Alternatively, go to normal bed at same time as dc for a rest, then leave at midnight - your parents sound as though they may be able to cope with dcs by then?

Original poster
Piggy · 01/08/2007 10:14

Very helpful mistlethrush - thanks. Loads of good tips. I think we'll get up and go, have lots of stops including 2 stops where the boys can yell and scream and tire themselves out.

OP posts:
bozza · 01/08/2007 10:15

Actually I think running around is more important than eating. They can always eat in the car. On our way down to the ferry ports we have often stopped at a park in Brackley. The children can play, we can wander into the town, there is a model shop etc.

Funny how we all have different advice on which time is best to travel.

Original poster
Piggy · 01/08/2007 10:20

Beety - the train is a big no no unfortunately. It's about 9 hours too (either cross country or via London) and my dses do not do sitting still. At all, ever. I think it's best if they are strapped in.

OP posts:
portonovo · 01/08/2007 10:36

You might be surprised with the train. We did a 6 hour journey with a 5, 3 and 1 year old, and again the following year. It's easier to keep them entertained, you can do table stuff, and it's easy to keep getting bits of food and drink out - if you do that at regular intervals it also breaks up the time. And there's always a walk to the loo or just along the train! Just make sure you book the children seats too, and get a table. Only downside is the cost.

As far as long car journeys go, we would leave at 5 a.m. and have as few stop-offs as possible. We find stopping more often just makes the journey seem never-ending and the children used to get even more fed up. A few short & snappy stops works much better for us. One year we went to Penzance, usually a 6-7 hour journey in peak times. We left at 5 a.m., had literally a 10 min stop for loo and quick drink and to stretch our legs, and ended up in Penzance for 9 a.m. when we had a lovely breakfast and the whole day ahead of us. Much better than leaving at 7 or 9 and spending much of the day getting there, getting caught in traffic etc. And it's better than driving overnight because getting up a couple of hours early in the morning just means you're a bit tired at the end of that day, not totally wrecked all the next day after driving all night.

itwasntme · 01/08/2007 10:38

When I used to do long journeys with dd, I used to set my alarm for 4am, and set off by 5.. dd was used to waking at around 7, so I had a couple of hours driving before she woke up.

I used to get car ready, then put her sleepping into the car seat.

The roads are great at that time too, and I found it less tiring than driving at night.

laundrylover · 01/08/2007 10:40

Piggy, where is your journey to and from BTW? People may have good suggestions for stop offs.

We did Manchester to Inverness in May and stopped at those nice indie services on the M6 with indoor play area and also at the Falkirk Wheel which is a bit of a detour but has a fab playground for your eldest. Took us 11 hours all in with a few stops and it was OK (not fun!!).

BTW I am up in Scotland right now and flew up from Liverpool. Have to say it was a lot easier.

Swipe left for the next trending thread