Travel on the M25 with toddler

[mummynumnum]

I am taking dd 15mths to the Midlands from Kent this wkd. Tis furthest I have taken her on my own in the car. How can I keep her entertained, especially now she is beyond the falling asleep when in the car stage. She does but not for very long.

I do motorway travel with my two fairly frequently. plan as many stops as possible, even if just to get out, walk around and back in car. take drinks, healthy snacks, books.

Sounds like a plan. Think there are at least 4 I can stop at on the way.

expect it to take twice as long too, then when it doesn't you'll be pleased!

Just tell me you're not attempting it Friday afternoon???? The section where I live (near Heathrow) is usually pretty stationary from 12pm until 8pm

Oh god Cargirl - I did it last Friday night at 7pm - got off at the point where the signs indicated THREE HOUR DELAYS!!!!

OP - pack extra nappies and spare clothes. All kids puke on the M25 ime.

You can play 'spot the sheep' a lot though.

err, stick child in car seat.
ignore

stop every two hours or so if needed. usually not needed. try and travel in the evening so child more likely to be lulled to sleep.
oh yes, dont do m25 friday afternoon evening. otherwise, tbh, i dont think it is as bad as its reputaiont suggests

When I'm travelling to Lancaster I now go on a Thursday evening and return leaving quite late on the Sunday evening - makes life far more bearable. It has taken me 3 hours to do 45 miles on a Friday setting off at 3.20 I now take dd1 out of school before assembly (is last thing) setting off at 2.40 makes a huge difference - and that's only doing about 6 junctions on the M25

Buy dvd players to strap onto headrests. Journey will be a breeze.

I live in Gloucestershire and go home to Sussex (via M4, M25 & M23) with a 2.5 yr old and an elderly dog every few weeks. Usually just me, DS and the dog, as I tend to do it when DH is away. I find if we leave between 9.30 - 11am or after 6pm it's a doddle. Entertainment for DS mainly consists of books from library that he has not seen before, me singing, and LOADS of food . I tend not to do any stops unless I really have to. DS stopped sleeping in the car at about the same age your DD is but it's amazing how fascinating they find the variety of traffic on a motorway. As others have said, do not go on the M25 after midday on a Friday

Check to see if there are any overrunning roadworks beforehand. They always seem to be working on the stretch of M25 between the M11 and that tunnel in Herts. If you can avoid travelling on Friday particularly after midday I would do so.

aim to get to the m25 by about 10.30 and you should be ok. I guess you will go anti clockwise? I would to avoid the heathrow stretch and towards watford where there is always traffic. I tend to avoid that bit and go on the north circular instead.
agree with panickypatch too, IGNORE! If you start providing tons of entertainment for car journeys and frequent stops they will expect it all the time. I pack snacks and drinks and that it is. My four, aged between 2-7 will do 4 hours in the car quite easily. The older two tend to play car/bus/lorry counting games. The dts sing along to the radio!

If you think it's going to be that hard, then travel in the evening so they will fall asleep in their seat.

But really. I do that (or thereabouts) journey several times a year. I give him a drink and a snack, make sure he has a book and a toy and away we go. Usually, I don't have to stop. And the journey is 4 hours.

Unless you go at a stupid time, the M25 should be fine. Certainly not worth worrying about.

Leaving at 9.00am so think will be ok from what you have said. Thanks

portable dvd player for dire emergencies and huge traffic jams/hr delays

My sister recently spent 5 hours on the M25 in a traffic jam, I would say this time of year stash a couple of blankets in your boot and make sure you have water and a snack or sandwiches in the car for you and little one just incase, it doesn't take much to stop traffic, particularly with the winter coming on. If you are feeling organised then take a flask of hot chocolate or something too, its always nice to have a hot drink when you have been frozen in a traffic jam for hours and if you don't need it as you probably won't you can just drink it when you get there.

Travel when she is most likely to nap and hope for the best ! There are decent services just north of Cambridge near the end of M11, off slip road to west, if you are going that way and plenty of Little Chef type places on A1.

dh has been using th e m25 to commute to work for 8 years now. goes through 12 junctions, (not the heathrow ones though) and has had a five hour traffic jam only once in the entire time.
its just your luck what happens

I live near the Heathrow stretch and haven't had too many problems over the years. We were on it on Tuesday driving up to the M1 and we thought it looked really empty!

I regularly go from Kent to Brum, Manchester, Leeds or Notts with my DCs and no other adult.

You've had some good advice, I would back packing a picnic - nothing like being stuck in a jam with hungry DCs - coffee and plenty of water for you.

I always try to travel for the youngests nap time or night, just less hassle, even my nr 8 yr old will still nap in the car on a long day journey.

Break the journey up, some friends used to got to Notts reg and found a swimming pool just off the m'way about half way up. Used to stop and swim/lunch = kids exhausted and asleep in the car for rest of journey.

I think a good time to travel is when child will need a nap during the journey.

DD has been having a 90min nap at 9 recently, hence the 9am leaving time. Fingers crossed!!