Traveling by car with a toddler - day or night?
We have an 18 month old boy who does not like sitting in the car for long. We are heading to NJ this weekend from Massachusetts. We planned on leaving Friday morning at 9 and drive for 2 1/2 hours. Stop for rest, lunch and play, and then drive another 2 1/2 hours to our destination. We could leave Thursday night at 7 during his bedtime, but then get in at midnight and he will be disturbed by checking into hotel and getting his pack and play set up and then we have to pay for another night in the hotel. Will Friday daytime travel be horrible with him or should we leave Thursday night.
I drove from New York City to Florida with a three year old. I took a few different toys, books, and games; and I made games with picking out trucks, cars, buses, etc. We also looked for different colors on cars, counted train cars at railroad crossings, etc.
There were a few difficult moments, but all in all the trip was awesome. I wish I could do it again!
I didn't have planned stops, but I planed to stop when he said so. I would drive until he had enough and needed out. He wasn't yet potty trained, so that wasn't an issue (but I did have to double-diaper as he wet through). Your stops, for your sanity, should be no longer apart than your boy will let you go.
I also drove from Miami to Key West with an eighteen month boy (and his parents). To be honest, the parents were more difficult. The boy also had the ability to dictate stops. Once he said enough, we pulled over for anywhere between thirty minutes and an hour.
Both of these trips were mostly during the day, and both kids readily slept for a good portion of the trip. The important part is to keep the tot happy, and a good DVD player, toys, and other distractions can do that; but if he says 'out', then he will be cranky if ignored.
Good luck with your trip and cheers!
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