Road trips with 18 month twins?

DH is proposing that we finally get to Georgia to see my mom, who moved there in July. It's a 12-hour car ride. The girls will be 17 months at the time.

Anyone done this at this age and have any stories to share to help me feel less worried about it? Tips for long, long car rides?

I'm thinking it would be best to break it into two days by leaving late afternoon and stopping late into the night when they are asleep. And then leaving the next morning when we're up and ready.

I am concerned. Very concerned. I would love to see my family. We cannot afford a plane trip.

One other thing: since we turned car seats forward, at least one of my twins doesn't enjoy riding as much, especially when she's tired and wants to sleep. I imagine she will sleep in it, but I haven't had her in it long enough to find out.

 

We drive to SC twice a year, and it is about the same distance. At that age, we got everything ready to go in the car the night before, and then put the boys right from their crib into the car at about 5 am. Then we got 3 hours of driving in before breakfast. We would stop, have breakfast, get the boys dressed and then off again. Next "real" stop was lunchtime, etc. We did tend to stop at places like McDonalds, so they could play for a bit in the playplace. If you can, get a DVD player, because that will help occupy them. It is doable, but a very long day. At that age we didn't want to stop because we didn't want to have to unpack at a hotel. Now that mine are older, we do it in two days with a stop.

 

I suppose each child is different. We went to SC last year (13 hours). We left around 2am, got everything ready first and put the kids in last. My kids refused to sleep in the car. We had the DVD player and all in all, it was not a bad trip. They slept for probably about half of the trip on the way there, but only ONE HOUR on the way home. It was a lot of work, but well worth it. Just pack plenty of snacks for them and get a few new toys that they have not seen before to keep them busy.

One thing we did that helped was my mom and sister went with us. One the way there, my mom and sister sat in the middle seat and kids were in the third row. Needless to say, my mom had a very sore neck by the time we got there. On the way home, we put one carseat in the middle row and one in the third row. It worked out much better that way.

Good luck!

Crystal

 

Mine have been traveling since 7wks with their first road trip being 8hrs. We've done 8hr trips every three months since this time and twice we've done 14hrs. The last 14hr trip we did was straight home. We only stop for gas and do diaper changes at that time, unless we have a blowout, KWIM? We will stop for lunch and let them get out and walk around. Our two are road warriors now and do great. However, I would HIGHLY suggest that you get a DVD player if you don't have one. At this age they do not sleep as much and will need to be entertained. I also pack plenty of snacks and drinks that are within reach, so we don't have to stop. It's not as bad as you think. Good luck.

Angela

 

We did an 8 hour road trip when the boys were about 15 months, and we'll do it again this summer. We did the 8 hours all in one shot, letting the boys run around the time or two we stopped for food or gas. Rest areas have nice fields to run in. Otherwise it was all one shot.

Having their car seats turned around actually helped, because they could see us and see more outside. We didn't have a dvd player at the time (we do for the next trip) and they honestly didn't sleep the whole first trip, not even at nap time. But they were comfy, had an occasional snack or drink, and were content. On the way home they cried for the last 20 minutes. Not too bad.

I think it might go better than you expect. I think your idea of splitting it up is good, and just make sure they get some large motor movement in when you stop.

 

We are going to Myrtle Beach in July (our twins will be 17 months) and it's about an 8-9 hour trip, usually about 10 with stopping. We do plan to break it into 2 days on the way there, and stay around Dunn, NC. That way we will only have to drive about 2 hours the day we arrive in Myrtle Beach and can actually enjoy the day and arrive early enough without being tired.

We did this 2 years ago before the twins were even born and it was so much nicer than driving the whole way in one day, which we have done too, and been so tired when we got there.

I would definitely suggest breaking it up into 2 days.

 

We've done a lot of long road trips and one thing that works well for us is to have the kids eat in the car. That way, when we stop, they can spend the entire time playing and moving around. We have Taby Trays for the girls to use to read, play, and eat and the DVD player is wonderful and really helps time fly. We took our first trip with the DVD player at 18 months old after we received it for Christmas and the girls watched Signing Time and Baby Einstein videos for almost the entire 8 hours.

 

DH & I just drove 13 hrs to visit his family for christmas. Girls were 19 months ... We couldnt afford a hotel or a plane ticket either... We drove straight thru. We drove all night and the kids woke up in the big cities b/c of the lights. We were very zonked and pulling an all nighter like that so the kids could sleep well that was OK, but we ended up having to put blankets on top of the car seats so it would be dark enough for them to stay asleep. ON the way home, we left at noon instead of 6pm and that was a lot better. They took their afternoon nap in the car and we stopped at a mall for dinner to get some of their jitters out. They weren't real keen on getting back into the carseat after sitting for so so long. Rachel offered to walk home! Keep a supply of toys in a diaper bag btwn the 2 car seats and have plenty of diapers in the car with you.

I am going to be driving to see my parents over easter. another 13 hr trip. I am going to break it up into 2 days this time so it hopefully will be more manageable and we won't be sick afterwards.

 

DVD Player - we got one with dual screens And try to drive when its bedtime? We did not drive but took a plane to FL with lapinfants. The trek out was 8-12am. BOth boys slept on our laps!! The trek back was 12-6 (longer layover) and both boys fussed the last hour of the trip.

HTH and GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!