Win a Graco Nautilus 3 in 1 Car Seat!
Yahoo! As we close out 2008's giveaways on Classy Mommy, I've saved one of the very best prizes for the end of the year. We're giving away a Graco Nautilus 3 in 1 Car Seat valued at $179.99.
The Graco Nautilus is a a true "value" product with the consumer winning on both price and name brand trusted quality. The Nautilus is one of Graco's more recent product introductions and I'm currently using it and loving it for 3 year old Mackenzie. Yet, now that Kyle is over 1 year old and 20 lbs, he too can use this very same seat! And right now the Nautilus is on sale here for $139.96 with free shipping!
I think the value with the Nautilus, besides being from a trusted brand like Graco, is truly the versatility of this car seat enabling Parents to use it for a long long long time. This seat is forward facing only and appropriate for children over 20 lbs and Age 1 - ultra sturdy and safe and reinforced with steel and a 5 point harness while it also converts to a backless booster for kids 40 lbs - 100 lbs!
So how can you win? Graco has been working hard with their Ready for the Road Ahead website to prep parents for traveling on the road with their families in tow.
Parents around the world hear the classic line, "Are we There Yet?" again and again. I'd love to hear your tips on how you manage to make car traveling easier on everyone. I know we have a tough time with long car trips as Mackenzie ( 3 yrs old) gets car sick! Uggh. So this eliminates a lot of the typical back seat entertainment like books or coloring for her. Instead, we can jam to music to help pass the time. But as a family we've been avoiding very long road trips or vacations for fear of the entire ordeal.
One Winner will be selected. To enter, please leave a comment below with your tip on how you manage to make car travel easier or how you prepare for a road trip with the kids. You can leave up to 3 comment entry tips per person. Contest expires January 4th, 2009. Please include your email address too if it is not easily visible in your profile info. Otherwise, we can't contact you if you win - this has been happening a lot recently!
I can't wait to see your tips!
posted by Classy Mommy at 9:54 AM
Saturday's Freebie Finds.
Subscribe
My best tip is to try to do most of your driving while the kids are sleeping - so leave early in the morning or late at night!
cherylbrazerol@gmail.com
We like to start out our trip just before nap time. That way once our daughter is starting to get bored, she just falls asleep!
katy at passionspice dot com
We bring lots of snacks, travel pillows and a portable DVD player for the kids. They usually never make a peep!
tuesdayef (at) aol dot com
Watching DVDs, playing games like "count the number of red cars we pass", making a note of the car license plates to see which states they come from and talk about that state, read out the funny sounding street/place names, singing songs etc are all fun ways to make the journey pass quickly.
Thanks for this great giveaway.
callmeabookworm AT gmail.com
I always try to have a few different snacks in ziplock bags so that there is variety in the snack foods we have on hand. That way she can't get bored!
katy at passionspice.com
My first tip is HAVE A COMFY CAR SEAT. Too often we have been cheap on car seats and our son slouches down in them and can't get comfy, which means no sleep. spend the extra few dollars to get one that comes with extra padding, etc. so that the child can truly grow with the seat, and have it fit comfortably at every stage. this nautilus looks awesome!!
my second tip is to have toys that are special just for the car. it will make the kids look forward to car rides if they get special toys they don's get to play with often.
and my third tip is to build in enough time for breaks. don't drive through for meals, go somewhere where you can sit down (or even run around!) for a little while. just leave a little earlier, and then you won't feel rushed (read: less crankiness). I am learning to love road trips with my son! :)
My best tip is to travel at night when most are sleeping. Traffic is lighter and less like to be bogged down in traffic jams and the kids sleep through the whole trip. I use to worry about being road weary when I arrived at our destination until I realized that there was always someone at our destination to take on the well rested tots while I grabbed a nap to refresh.
My second tip would be to keep tot friendly snacks handy to pass out when they get hungry.
last but not least ... If you must travel during daylight/non-sleeping hours plan to extend your travel a couple of hours and stop more often to let the tots out to ramble and stretch.
We bring a portable DVD player so the kids can watch a movie while we drive.
stacie_vaughan@hotmail.com
My first tip is to use the little travel pillows for the kids. It always seems their heads need proped so direction to keep them from falling forward.
pscole3467 at gmail dot com
My second tip is to travel during the time that they will be sleeping, if possible. Make sure you bring at least a couple of their bedtime things like a special blanket or ad cd of music that puts them to sleep.
pscole3467 at gmail dot com
I have certain toys and books that stay in the car. That way they seem new when we're driving.
alsdgravenhof@hotmail.com
My third tip is to bring a variety of snacks. Just as adults like change or we have have our moods for the things we like, so do our kids. If the kids are older, let them help in the picking of the snacks.
pscole3467 at gamil dot com
Tip #1: leave riiiight before naptime!
kgc5801@gmail.com
Tip #2: Hit lots of highways to encourage the sleeeep!
kgc5801@gmail.com
Tip #3: Prepare for the worst. But be happy when you get the best.
kgc5801@gmail.com
We travel at night so the kiddos sleep through most of the trip. We drive to Florida every year and the only year it was painful was the year we tried to drive during the day!
travel tip is to bring lots of books and activities. A favorite CD helps too.
ksieker(at)hotmail(dot)com
Tip #1 Make sure that everyone had something to eat,drink and of course went to the bathroom.
Tip #2 Bring a change of clothes in case of any little accidents along the way.
We've been too afraid to travel much since our twins were born, but I'm sure we'll brave it soon.
With our now 2 1/2 year old we learned to try to leave at naptime or bedtime so he'd sleep for most of the trip. (I think that's going to be the most common tip)
Tip #3 Pack a fun bag for each child and put their name on it. Put some snacks,things to do,some art supplies and their favorite music.
Make time for a rest stop at least every couple of hours. Letting my son get out of the car, stretch his legs and get some fresh air always seems to do wonders for his attitude.
For a long trip, put together a big of little toys and activities that are new to your child. Take out something new every so often (we'd do it about once an hour) to keep them entertained. It doesn't have to be anything big - small things like Matchbox cars work well.
We also get a lot of mileage out of our portable DVD player.
Oh, and if you can find some family friendly music that everyone can agree on (alright, that mommy and daddy can bear) you can have a little sing along in the car. We like the Backyardigans CDs.
When my daughter starts to melt down I turn up the radio and start singing. Usually helps!
hannahsking at gmail dot com
The best invention ever is the headphones for the DVD player so Mom & Dad don't have to listen to kids movies for hours on end and acan listen to their own music.
sdgmitchell at mchsi dot com
Our lifesaver is a PSP!
dvd player - best $150 we ever spent!!
as for the baby... we try to drive when he is sleeping. we're driving 8 hours tomorrow - wish us luck!
Snacks, some drawing stuff, music, and a lot of patience are my favorite trip tools.
My best tip is to pack lots of varied things to eat and drink, espeically little finger foods like Cheerios. One of the greatest things I ever did was to pack Fruit Loops and red string licorice, and the kids strung necklaces and bracelets for 3 hours!
We bought an over the seat DVD player that has 2 screens and can play 2 DIFFERENT movies. Very important when you have a boy and a girl not the same age! We also bring toys, blankets, snacks, coloring/activity books. It also helps to have new things... even just $1 store stuff.
Go to the dollar store and fill a special grab bag full of little toys and snacks for each child. Better yet fill as many bags as you need to give them one each hour of the trip.
r.rentschler@yahoo.com
Pack a picnic lunch and set up at a grassy area near a rest station. The kids look forward to it and everyone can stretch their legs! Thanks for the opportunity!
rbjj32825[at]lycos[dot]com
Our portable DVD player has been invaluable in the car, whether it's a quick trip to the grocery store or a long vacation drive.
Julie
jyelverton24@netzero.net
My second tip would have to be this: make sure everything that your child could possibly need or want is easily accessible. Have extra paci's in case one gets dropped out of reach, bring plenty of snacks and lots of distractions for those cranky times.
Having a revolving option of DVD's for the DVD player is priceless on long road trips. It not only helps my 2 year old make time go by, but also helps her fall asleep.
kinnettskee@yahoo.com
1st tip--Always make sure there are snacks and bottled water on hand.
Tip #2 would be to pack a "snack bag" together with your little one. This gets buy-in from them when you're down to the last few snacks by telling them what they packed.
kinnettskee@yahoo.com
2nd tip--travel in the evening so they'll sleep especially for long road trips. bring a blanket, change of clothes and their favorite bear to keep them company in the back seat.
3rd tip--Make sure to plan out fun games or songs to keep them entertained once they get bored of the DVD player!
Make sure the kids are well fed and clean prior to hopping on the road
brandi.maxey@gmail.com
Tip #3 - Play the "mission" game. Recently my 2 year old has been into Little Einsteins TV show. So, we create missions on our way to wherever we're going....first we have to go over a bridge, then pass an airport and then we'll be to Granny's. On the way, we have to find 5 birds, 2 boats, 4 flags and various colors of cars. :) It's a hit!
kinnettskee@yahoo.com
One trip we did was have "100 mile bags". Every time we drove 100 miles the kids got to open a bag, filled with goodies, books, toys or other things to keep them busy. They looked forward to opening something new, and it cut down on the fighting and whining.
mhen72@msn.com
When we travel, we like to leave during the evening and drive as long as we can at night. That way our son is sleeping most of the time.
mommycarrie1@hotmail.com
Also, makse sure you have plenty of snacks to keep the kids satisfied and not fill them up with sugary foods because that will make them too hyper.
brandi.maxey@gmail.com
Lastly, buy activity books and CDs so the kids can be entertained while on a long trip.
brandi.maxey@gmail.com
When traveling with my nieces to florida I always make sure that I take their coats off before getting in the car. Otherwise they get too hot and are squirming to get their coats off. Thanks!
My second tip is to go to the dollar store and buy some little toys or activities for the car. Something new and different, no matter how small it is, always entertains my son for awhile.
mommycarrie1@hotmail.com
We travel at night when the kids will sleep.
I also try to pack plenty of snacks and drinks.... that way we don't have to stop and buy a lot at the store.
mommycarrie1@hotmail.com
As many others have said, leaving just before naptime usually makes for a nice quiet trip.
mybelle_rn@hotmail.com
TO MAKE A TRIP EASY ALWAYS HAVE LOTS OF SNACKS, BATHROOM BREAKS, AND THINGS TO DO. COLORBOOKS, TOYS, GAMES, AND OR MOVIES. khz@cox.net
We save toys from fast food resturants to have soemthing "new" on car trips.
The best car toy is a magna doodle.
#2 We keep a toddler bookbag in the car with books and toys that our son hasn't seen in awhile so they seem new to him and keep him occupied longer.
mybelle_rn@hotmail.com
#3 Our toddler just got a My First Leappad for his birthday and he can play with it for a very long time before he gets bored with it. It's perfect for car trips since it's so portable and has many different pages for him to play with.
mybelle_rn@hotmail.com
We like to sing songs in the car to keep the kids entertained. We take turns letting everyone pick a song to sing, then start over again. me.pace@hotmail.com
Tip #1
Lots of snacks, Favorite blanket and lovie, shoes off so he is comfortable.
laurelysimmons@yahoo.com
Tip #2
Bring a portable DVD player with his favorite movies. Make sure to bring the car adaptor to recharge the battery otherwise this tip could backfire on you. ;)
laurelysimmons@yahoo.com
My number one tip would be to dive at night if you can and don't ever forget the portable DVD player.
Tip #3
If it's a looonng trip, we stop off to get lunch somewhere and let him out to stretch his legs.
laurelysimmons@yahoo.com
Make sure you're prepared with "extras" when a pacifier or other prized possesion gets dropped and out of reach when you're busy driving. This'll make everyone happier! me.pace@hotmail.com
We also enjoy traveling best during naptime when possible...it makes the trip go by faster for baby and mommy! me.pace@hotmail.com
take plenty of drinks and lots of books
A in car DVD system is sooo nice for our kids ages 1-12.
tmillenderswain@yahoo.com
My best tip is to play games to keep them occupied. I spy something with my eye is always a good one for an auto trip.
nanja[at]comcast[dot]net
Snacks, snacks and more snacks. As long as there is a steady flow of Animal Crackers most trips go smoothly.
lil_wifey21 at yahoo dot com
Singing songs is another tip. My daughter loves singing. Yes it sounds campy but it works.
lil_wifey21 at yahoo dot com
Third and final tip...travel bingo or I spy. Games! They work.
lil_wifey21 at yahoo dot com
my tip is to have lots of snacks and drinks to keep the toddlers entertained
Lisa lperidot13@comcast.net
pack a pillow and blanket and favorite toy to make the trip more comfortable
lisa
lperidot13@comcast.net
Take turns telling small pretend stories in the car. It keeps the kids occupie and time passes more quickly
nanja[at]comcast[dot]net
first tip bring favorite blanket and make sure they are tired mrs.mommyyatgmaildotcom
second- make sure they are in comfy clothes mrs.mommyyatgmaildotcom
Have the children draw different things like the landscape they see from the car or ask them to draw a billboard thy would like to see on the road
nanja[at]comcast[dot]net
third bring snacks that even if spilled are not messy- like cheerios do not stain mrs.mommyyatgmaildotcom
We try to leave a little past bedtime so they fall asleep while we drive.
cheransalvaggio at yahoo.com
We always pack snacks and movies when we go out of town. Keeping a 2yr old entertained is challenging.
barbara_powell(at)yahoo(dot)com
we drive at night while the kids are sleep.
barbara_powell(at)yahoo(dot)com
Awesome giveaway! my tip is i keep a plastic bin with a lid underneath the seat where the car seat is, complete with a few diapers, a container of wipes, a few toys and an extra change of clothes.
Rebecca
kvenvolden@comcast.net
If we have to drive during the daytime we try to do it around nap time to cut out some of the hours on the road. We plan stops to eat at places with indoor playground so they can stretch their legs and kill off some of the energy. We also have plenty of movies and hand held video games. Everyone has their own bag of goodies- books, crayons, etch a sketch, favorite snacks and drinks. we always leave with plenty of time so we aren't pushed for time if we need to make extra stops. Makes for a stress free trip.
If we have a long trip ahead of us, I stock up on new toys and books purchased on sale or in the dollar section. These hold his attention longer than the same old boring toys he's used to. I also am sure to pack TONS of snacks. When in doubt, break out the snack trap!
My tip is to take a lot of food and toys.
Also invest in a DVD player. Trust me, you will all be better for it!
My first tip would be to organize, organize, organize! The earlier you start, the better for all involved. Makes leaving important things behind less of a problem.
Depending on the age you can play fun games that make the time pass....like when we're driving through the mountains we roll down the windows and play like we're on a roller coaster. OR play "I Spy".
Entertainment! Keeping a small child busy is the key to keeping peace in the car or on the plane!
Snacks...for the adults and the little ones! Everyone is happier and more patient if they aren't hungry!
Obvious tip is a DVD player, buy inexpensive toys that can be played with in the car (small cars, dolls, stuffed animal, etc) wrap these small toys and pull them out when kids need a distraction. We take plenty of rest stops and will walk around the rest area searching for bugs, leaves or sticks that are interesting. It refreshes all of us.
We took an 8 hour road trip with a 6 month old. Although I don't like him watching TV, we did bring a portable DVD player with baby einstein movies. It really helped us!
couponcrazymom00 at gmail dot com
When we travel with the baby, we try to leave very early in the morning (like 3 am). That way he's more likely to sleep for a good part of the trip.
couponcrazymom00 at gmail dot com
It is ALL about night driving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think driving during the baby's naptime/bedtime helps...also, frequent planned stops should also help! Thank you!!
Travel at when they will most likely sleep, have lots of snacks, drinks and toys and if they have a favorite blankie or stuffed animal
panda_540@yahoo.com
Trvel with lots of snacks and a DVD player. I also try to bring along a new toy or movie. Be patient and take your time... I know hard to do!
renaelyn@wildblue.net
We always keep a second diaper bag that is always packed in the car or in the entryway.We have everything we need for three kids ranging from 12-2.
We try to pack small, new (or new to him) toys, books and music. Changing things up every few hours makes traveling easier on us all!
We always have travel bingo whenever we go on long roadtrips. You can usually pick these cards up at discount or dollar stores.
We also try to leave just before his nap or bedtime. That way he'll sleep most of the way. We might leave at 3 pm, stop for dinner, and then he'll doze off at his regular 6pm bedtime.
My trick is to bring lots of different snacks and things to show him. That way he is constantly entertained by new and different things.
We also map out our stops ahead of time. McDonald's has a trip planner on their website that helps. We'll also see if there are any kid friendly attractions on the way where our son can get some energy out. It takes a little longer to travel but we're all happier.
drive at night and always have plenty of snacks and fun activities for the kids.
luuluu9496@hotmail.com
I like to travel either at naptime or bedtime for longer trips with my kids. Makes it easier because they usually sleep and aren't as grouchy.
bs.webster at sbcglobal dot net
Bring snacks, a new toy, music, and try to start when the child is sleepy so they'll nap/sleep.
mbmotto04 at yahoo.com
Well, as we are leaving in a month for a 2000 mile trip (temporary job thing), we are planning on leaving early and making as many stops as needed. We have a couple of friends to visit along the way, giving us at least a night or two break from the car/trailer.
huadring at hotmail dot com
We just drove 1500 miles with an 18mo and 4 yo.
Here's tip 1:
We stopped every couple of hours at rest areas and let them run around and burn off steam. It really helped them from getting fidgety in the car.
Tip #2
We took a portable DVD player and let them veg out.
They never get to watch that much TV at a time, so they really thought it was a treat.
Tip #3
I took a cooler with drinks and snacks that I could hand back to them. It kept us from eating so much fast food.
And the Munchie Mug kept us from having mini Nilla Wafers everywhere!
I have traveled around the world with my kids. My first tip is to stop when the kids need a break. You think that you will lose time by stopping, but giving the kids a break before the are too crabby will buy you time in the end and the inconvenience of stopping at a less than desirable stop.
costasandcassie at yahoo dot com
Second tip is to make everything an adventure. Explore the airport, the train station, etc. Some airports have playareas. Chicago has a great one.
Third tip, be prepared for the worst. Bring pain and allergy medication just in case. It's better than searching for a store in an unknown place.
get a dvd player
Portable DVD player makes the driving time fly! Thanks,debbie
debsicola@yahoo.com
My best advice? Leave them home with daddy! :0 If not, plan ahead and bring extra everything, you'd be surprised what you might need!
nloughran1@yahoo.com
i always make sure the kids have a bag full of snacks and toys. and enough so that they wont fight !
Lots of books for our little one to read.
snakan0(At)hotmail(dot)com
We also like to take a lot of fun snacks that we don't normally have.
snakan0(At)hotmail(dot)com
Lastly, we like to play games in the car and sing songs.
snakan0(At)hotmail(dot)com
get the DS ready with lotsa games.
The best way for us to keep our kids entertained is with the portable DVD player and a new DVD bought for the trip.
Me and my 4 year old travel a lot, to make the driving more enjoyable is to have a tv and dvd combo in the car her favorite videos her headphones and snacks to keep her good. once we have all that going and we are on the road the only thing left is to stop for bathroom breaks
Me and my 4 year old travel a lot, to make the driving more enjoyable is to have a tv and dvd combo in the car her favorite videos her headphones and snacks to keep her good. once we have all that going and we are on the road the only thing left is to stop for bathroom breaks
themilchick@yahoo.com
My second tip would be to try to travel around the kids nap time. It makes travel easier and we arrive refreshed and ready for fun.
alsdgravenhof@hotmail.com
being a mom of 7, when we traveled we had each child bring something that would keep themselfs busy. DVD players, hand held games and even CD players. Now my oldest daughter is expecting her first this May and Hope to win this wonderful prize for her.
Thanks
other things i might due to make our car rides go smoother is to make sure everyone has use the bathroom and has some clean healthy snacks.
We could SO use this. My little one just outgrew his seat, I can't buckle it if he's wearing a coat.
One of my best travel tips is this. I like to get an early start. If possible I like to start driving at about 4am. there's no traffic and the kids can sleep. Kids hate sitting in traffic and not moving.
valmg2 AT gmail DOT com
With my older son (he's 4) we play the finding game - basically I Spy, but I just tell him different things to find - an american flag, a water tower, a yellow car, etc...
chaplinhome at gmail.com
We try to leave right after dinner. We put on a dvd for the kids and they usually fall asleep right after it's over if they make it through the whole thing at all.
chaplinhome at gmail.com
Kid's music is a must! As well as some softer songs to put on when you are trying to get them to sleep. My favorite is Ernie's I don't want to live on the moon. Works every time!
chaplinhome at gmail.com
I always start my trip at bedtime so I can do a majority of my driving while the kids sleep.
My best tip is to plan ahead hours before departure. Whether it be packing the diaper bag or loading up the car...everything is easier when done ahead of time while the kids are sleeping or busy with dad. Just remember-things get forgotten and extra stops need to be made. Keep a positive attitude along the way and your family will be happy as well!
bsara226@hotmail.com
I pack two nearly identical bags for Liz and Tristan. With crayons, coloring books, sticker books, MP3 players and snacks and juice. A real nerve-saver is the portable DVD player and an assortment of DVDs.
traymona[at]aol.com
I also stop by the library and pick up a few DVDs that the kids have not seen before.
Make sure you have everything packed the day before your trip. Have snacks and drinks for the kids. Pack books, toys, crayons, and other things to keep them busy. Bring along blankets and pillows for the trip.
samsakara@twcny.rr.com
Another tip is to get the kids involved with planning the trip. Have them pick a favorite toy and snack to bring along that way you know they approve of what is being taken along.
The best thing to do when driving is to have an activity for your kids to do.
Always pack a few snacks!
Make sure everyone is fed and sleepy, take plenty of new toys, and special snacks!
Jessica
Jessicagaston1979@yahoo.com
Tip #1: A portable DVD player can be your best friend. But leave some time in between DVDs so that the kids don't get entertainment overload!
junglewife (at) gmail (dot) com
portable dvd players are pretty much the best invention every for road trips that include kids. we just try to keep it hidden until it absolutely HAS to come out, because once it is out, you've reached the point of no return.
kat_427@yahoo.com
We dress everyone in comfy clothes and bring travel blankets and pillows. The more the kids sleep in the car, the easier the trip is!
Another tip for long car rides is to pack a "secret" goodie bag with things you know your kids will love. The items can be used as a reward for good behavior.
bsara226@hotmail.com
Check out rest stops ahead of time (vs. stopping at gas stations). State rest stops are often times, in our experience, much cleaner. And we've come across a few that actually have playgrounds on them, those are great when the kids get restless and need to release some of that pent up energy!
kat_427@yahoo.com
Tip #2: This works very well for us on long airplane trips (and I would imagine on long car trips as well). I buy a lot of small, inexpensive toys ahead of time: dollar stop at Target, Dollar store, save toys from the happy meals, etc. Before the trip, wrap them up, and space them out so you are giving one to the kid every 15, 30 minutes or every hour, depending on how long your trip is and how many presents you have! This gives the kids something to look forward to, and somehow even if the toy isn't something they'd play with normally, the novelty of opening it up somehow makes the toy more special in their minds. At least that's what I've found!
junglewife (at) gmail (dot) com
Tip #3: I know it's been said before but I'll say it again: LOTS OF SNACKS! It's amazing how much you can keep a kid occupied by giving them snacks! Although, if your kid gets carsick, this may not be the best option for you...
in that case, I'll leave another tip... take enough breaks. Don't go through the drive through. And don't go to a sit down restaurant! Go to fast food with a play area, or stop at a rest area that has a picnic/play area where the kids can run around and get out some of that excess energy. The trip may be that much longer, but it will go much more smoothly!
junglewife (at) gmail (dot) com
We start our road trip right before nap time so he can sleep in the car.
We also bring lots of coloring books, toys, and snacks so he can play while we drive.
Last, we make sure that we take frequent stops for all of us to strech our legs and run around!!
I always buy a new toy for each kid that I keep hidden till the trip. Those toy laptops are always a good one to use.
sandcrab4@cableone.net
Car bingo is another great one for the older kids. You can make your own homemade game with stickers to mark off the squares or buy the actual travel bingo game from a store.
sandcrab4@cableone.net
I give my babies and kiddos decongestant before a trip so that the altitude changes over mountain passes don't bug their ears too much. This has worked great. It also knocks some of them out to sleep for a bit which helps.
Our kids won't sleep during night driving so we have to drive during the day. We always leave super early though (like 4am) to get some drive time in before breakfast.
sandcrab4@cableone.net
My newest travel tip is to take the carseat on the plane with you. We invested in getting our toddler his own seat and it made sleeping easier for him.
I always have an assortment of travel size toys (Magnadoodle), snacks, CDs of kids songs, and blankets/pillows. Everytime we make a pit stop, we let the kids get something like a new snack or drink.
Maiahsmom02@yahoo.com
My son always has to have his little video game on him while we travel.
We invested in a DVD player. We try to get the kids to go as long as possible before we start a movie--it has helped so much!
tiffs4stuff at yahoo dot com
Each of our kids pack a backpack with books and activities that they want for the trip. Then, they keep the backpack next to them in the car so they have good access to their stuff.
tiffs4stuff at yahoo dot com
Each of the kids gets a water bottle by their seat and a small Tupperware. When they want snacks they pass up their "bowl" and get it filled with snacks. (we keep them as mess free as possible)
tiffs4stuff at yahoo dot com
I like to go during the kiddos normal sleep time. Having plenty of snacks on hand and a DVD player with a movie they have never seen before helps a lot too!
Some tips to a pieceful roadtrip with children :
1. portable dvd player
2.coloring books
3.games (find colors and etc out the window)I spy
4.sing along to a Fav. cd
5. if your leaving later in the day play outside with them and they will sleep in the car
I wrap small toys and food treats for the kids in the funny pages (comic books) and dole them out one at a time over the course of the trip. You can find interesting toys at the dollar spot (Target), Michael's, and/or Dollar Store. Wrapping them adds to the excitement.
rdisantostefano at nc dot rr dot com
By far, the easiest way to travel without the hassle is to travel around naptime or bedtime when the children sleep!
rdisantostefano at nc dot rr dot com
We play games like "I spy" and "Can you find a blue truck", etc. to pass the time. I'm sure the DVD player option would work well too!
rdisantostefano at nc dot rr dot com
I pack a bag with items we only play with in the car-like car bingo, fun pads. Portable video games, dvd player. Lots of snacks to minimize stops.
Tip#1 - Start the trip an hour or so before nap time so that by the time they are getting tired of being in the car seat, they'll be asleep.
Tip #2 - My kids love the travel sized magna doodle and etch-a-sketch. They keep them entertained for a long time. The aqua doodle is also fun, but a little bit messier.
make sure to have water, cherrios and a sleepy toddler.
tvollowitz at aol dot com
Tip #3 - Have car only toys so that they have something different to play with on longer trips. Buying a new toy or two at the dollar store or a yard sale before an extra long trip is great for entertaining them for longer.
Travel with many different types of toys - small, cheap ones work just fine.
I'm due any day with our first child, so I don't have any advice yet. But I do remember that my parents always used to travel at night when I was younger...probably so that we would sleep and not fight with each other.
mathbook28 at gmail dot com
We keep our son entertained with the DVD player in the van. We can go anywhere with no complaints.
stephanie072003@yahoo.com
Leave at nap time and it's a nice and quiet ride the whole way..Plus happy, well rested kids once you get to your destination!
asgjcg@msn.com
If were gonna be in the car for a while, I try to leave when they are tired!
Snacks in a ziplock baggie!
Visit the dollar store a few days before the trip and pick up some new toys for your children. They will be entertained for longer since it is new and it costs very little so it is no big deal if the toy gets lost or broken.
DVD player! We only pull ours out for long road trips and we save a few videos just for trips too so that it is something special.
DVD player, before they came out we would have family talks about what trips I took when I was a child and we told of memories of those trips. When they were smaller we played children's music and sang with the kids.
atboop2@yahoo.com
ALWAYS travel with air conditioning. I made that mistake once and only once. It was 1200 miles of torture for us and especially the kids locked into plastic car seats. We bought a new car later that summer with air conditioning. It's making me sweat just thinking about that trip :)
we leave for Disney World on Friday - I'm LOVING reading these tips. Here are mine, although most have already been mentioned.
1. drive during sleep times! of course this works best if you have a good comfy carseat and kids that sleep in the car. thankfully mine do!
jacobandchristina at gmail
tip 2.
portable DVD players. Sorry for the uncreative idea, but this is hands down our saving grace during long trips. We don't keep ours up during normal times - but pull it out for long trips. Also having a new DVD they haven't seen helps too.
jacobandchristina at gmail
tip 3.
Find an interesting pit stop to break up your trip. Our drive to Disney World will be 10 hours. We're stopping in Savannah to visit some friends on the way home. So we'll five hours over two different days. Much more manageable.
We start our trip during naptime so hopefully he will sleep. Then we pull out all the tricks - new little toys just bought, playing car games, looking for police cars, etc. Really, distraction is key!
we leave late so the kids willn sleep
I always have lots of easy snacks ready to keep her happy. charlenegaleat yahoo dot com
We like to take snacks, the portable DVD player and a books to keep the kids occupied.
w9bade@millect.com
I also have children's music on cd's- my daughter loves to sing along to her cd's :) charlenegale@yahoo.com
1) take lots of not to sugary snacks
2) plan to drive during a nap time
3) take a few stops that allow for running around and using up energy
4) we have a tape of silly songs we sing very loud
5)I cut out some pictures from magazines for things we will see along the way, like school buses, red cars, horses, ect and put them on a board (this usually only takes me about 10 minutes of prep time) but the fun can last an hour or more while she searches for the things on the board and marks them off.
My daughter is too little for DVDs but I have a stockpile of toys on the front seat to give her. Treasures like a pack of tic and tacs and things she doesn't normally see provide lots of entertainment. charlenegale@yahoo.com
On a road trip, 1) snacks and something to drink are essential because you never know when you will be able to stop or what kind of restaurants will be available. 2) This last car trip we were on I put matching items, about 5 different ones, in a bag and let my son pull them out and match them up. He enjoyed this game and entertained himself with the items for a lot of the trip. Also, 3) for kids I believe it is better to take more than you think you will need (clothes, blankets, diapers, etc.) because there are always unexpected events that happen and it is better (and less stressful) to be overprepared.
Staci
stacimspeer@yahoo.com
We also do most of our traveling when the kids are most likely to be asleep- usually nap time.
We usually do most traveling when the kids will be sleeping- usually nap time.
amy_stanislawski at yahoo dot com
We have special books and a toy or two that are only for long trips in the car.
amy_stanislawski at yahoo dot com
As much as you might think it's good to just push through until you get there, taking a few minutes to stop and stretch helps tremendously!
amy_stanislawski at yahoo dot com
When we traveled to Disney World, I had a bag of small toys I picked up at yard sales and the dollar store that my son had never seen. It was fun for him to get something new every so often. We also had lots of music and books.
We start car trips at nap time so we don't waste time and baby isn't anxious and wide awake in the car.
pokeybear1@nyc.rr.com
Well, you've gotta have non-sticky, non-staining snacks and things like some paper and crayons. And some good music.
I always pack plenty of pacis because baby has a good throwing arm and you can never find those things while the car is moving.
pokeybear1@nyc.rr.com
We bring lots of books and just got car DVD players with Elmo dvds. They saved us on our 12 hour drive!
mmheightman(at)gmail(dot)com