Comments on: The Travel Bug http://www.beautifulletdown.net/the-travel-bug/ A breastfeeding blog that dabbles in tandem, extended nursing, gentle parenting and much more Tue, 13 Apr 2010 01:45:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Mom On The Go http://www.beautifulletdown.net/the-travel-bug/comment-page-1/#comment-1697 Mom On The Go Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:09:53 +0000 http://www.beautifulletdown.net/?p=511#comment-1697 My mom and siblings all live about 8.5 hours' drive from me. Until Reid was 2, I flew a couple times per year but we've always had to drive for holidays and visits. I keep little toys that she accumulates at restaurants, in loot bags from parties, etc., to pull out on the trip. Cheap toys are appreciated for their newness. Little snack size packages of crackers, cookies, etc. are good to dole out as boredom hits. I will admit to letting Reid watch videos on my iPod or laptop but that will be hard for you with two. We often leave at bedtime - or at least naptime - and hope that the car lulls them to sleep. Mostly, I try to divide the trip into manageable chunks, like 15 or 30 minutes, and then just get through the next chunk. You know, she digs into the craft bag and 30 minutes later we sing and then 30 minutes later she has a snack and 30 minutes later I read some stories, etc. Also, we don't drive much more than 90 minutes at a stretch without a bathroom break unless Reid is sleeping. And if she is asleep and we need gas, my husband (who does most of the driving) gets a does of my evil eye ;+) I've travelled solo with Reid a few times and have stopped at McDonalds with play structures to give us both an extended time out of the car, which we both really needed. Travelling by car is a lot like flying in terms of the parental creativity required. You could google for other ideas. Good luck! My mom and siblings all live about 8.5 hours’ drive from me. Until Reid was 2, I flew a couple times per year but we’ve always had to drive for holidays and visits. I keep little toys that she accumulates at restaurants, in loot bags from parties, etc., to pull out on the trip. Cheap toys are appreciated for their newness. Little snack size packages of crackers, cookies, etc. are good to dole out as boredom hits. I will admit to letting Reid watch videos on my iPod or laptop but that will be hard for you with two. We often leave at bedtime — or at least naptime — and hope that the car lulls them to sleep. Mostly, I try to divide the trip into manageable chunks, like 15 or 30 minutes, and then just get through the next chunk. You know, she digs into the craft bag and 30 minutes later we sing and then 30 minutes later she has a snack and 30 minutes later I read some stories, etc. Also, we don’t drive much more than 90 minutes at a stretch without a bathroom break unless Reid is sleeping. And if she is asleep and we need gas, my husband (who does most of the driving) gets a does of my evil eye ;+) I’ve travelled solo with Reid a few times and have stopped at McDonalds with play structures to give us both an extended time out of the car, which we both really needed.

Travelling by car is a lot like flying in terms of the parental creativity required. You could google for other ideas. Good luck!

]]> By: Shannon http://www.beautifulletdown.net/the-travel-bug/comment-page-1/#comment-1696 Shannon Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:20:29 +0000 http://www.beautifulletdown.net/?p=511#comment-1696 I am sorry it was such a rough trip there but I am glad the return trip was better. I was supposed to go to Boston with Pete and it would have been about 5 hours with them in the car *yikes*. I hope the next time goes better for you! I am sorry it was such a rough trip there but I am glad the return trip was better. I was supposed to go to Boston with Pete and it would have been about 5 hours with them in the car *yikes*. I hope the next time goes better for you!

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