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Original poster

Quick advice needs please - toddler car journey

8 replies

TruckstopTrudy · 13/12/2019 08:51

Just myself and DD (nearly 2) have an emergency 2 hour drive to make today.

Unfortunately there’s no way of timing it with nap time but I will definitely stop a couple of times.

Has anyone got any ideas apart from the usual nursery rhymes and toys to pass back to keep her entertained?

Is it ok to do this sort of journey while she’s on her own in the back for so long?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

BlackInk · 13/12/2019 09:20

Ummm, are you serious? You've never travelled 2 hours with a 2 year old? We took our DC on 3 or 4 hour journeys to visit grandparents, go on holidays etc pretty much from birth...

However, she will be 100% fine. She might not enjoy it but she will be fine. She may well fall asleep even if it's not nap time. I would wake her early or delay her usual nap to increase likelihood of her sleeping, but that's because it's bliss to have a couple of hours of peace on a journey.

Yes to songs -- playing them through your phone/the car stereo will be less work than singing yourself for 2 hours. Talk about what you can see, play eye spy, play first one to see a red car or a cow etc. Maybe take a little snack and a drink.

Children don't need constant stimulation and entertainment. Just let her watch the world go by.

Unless she gets travel sick or needs a wee I wouldn't stop at all on a 2 hour journey.

Hollywhiskey · 13/12/2019 12:21

So if you download iPlayer kids and a load of CBeebies it will automatically play and you can hand her the iPad. If that's the best way for you to concentrate on driving then do it. If you're worried then get a mirror to keep an eye.

Bol87 · 14/12/2019 12:28

We regularly take 4/5 hour car journeys with our daughter, we have since she was 8 weeks old. We have family that live the other side of the country plus we’ve travelled for holidays in both the UK & Europe! We don’t sit in the back with her.. we both sit in the front, the back seat is so uncomfy! I’ve done the journey to family on my own a few times as well..

Your toddler will be fine. You do not need to stop on a two hour journey. Just get to your destination. We stop every 2.5 hours roughly, usually to get something to eat & the toilet (my daughter is potty trained). We download a loads CBeebies shows onto her iPad & she happily watches those. We also make sure she has a few toys with her & her fav teddy.

Hope all went well & really don’t stress about travel

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OhioOhioOhio · 14/12/2019 12:31

Cold face cloth on their face!

DappledThings · 14/12/2019 17:26

We do regular 5 hour journeys with 3 and 1 year old. We do one big stop in the middle time around a meal but that's it.

2 hours in one go is fine and there's no way I'd be stopping other than for some toilet/vomit emergency. Load up with audiobooks or songs and crack on!

Original poster

TruckstopTrudy · 14/12/2019 17:31

Thanks for all the advice. Yes sorry is such a shock I’ve never done a 2 hr journey by myself with a 2 year old. I regularly drive 4.5 hours to see my brother in South Wales however it’s me and DH so one can get in the back and it’s fine

OP posts:

SnuggyBuggy · 14/12/2019 17:32

I find just putting the radio on is enough and I attach a water beaker to the car seat

ginyogarepeat · 14/12/2019 17:38

I did 5/6 hour car journeys at this age with just child in back. Regular stops, toys, something like a new comic to look at all helped.

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