Toys/Entertainment for road trip/vacation w/16 month olds

I'd love to hear any travel tips you have on surviving a road trip with 16-month olds. Space is VERY limited in our van with 2 sets of golf clubs, a jogging stroller, luggage for 4 adults, 2 babies, and a partridge in a pear tree.

I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to keep them entertained at the condo without bringing our enterouge of toys with us.

 

I just got back from a trip to see my dad, I actually sent a package of toys prior is there anyway to do that? Good Luck!

 

QUOTE(Melis @ Jul 1 2007, 09:44 PM) [snapback]314306[/snapback]
I just got back from a trip to see my dad, I actually sent a package of toys prior is there anyway to do that? Good Luck!



I don't think so. we're staying in a time share condo in a vacation resort. I had considered it but not sure they would take a package/it wouldn't get lost?

 

we travelled to Britain with them when they were 15 months (i wont talk about the plane trip) but once there, they spent hours exploring each new place we stayed in. The cupboards were there toys. We took a very very small bag of their favourite toys just so they would feel 'at home'

good luck

 

For surviving the road trip, how long is the drive? Can you leave close to their bedtime and drive at night? If it's not a long trip can you leave at their naptime? At 16-months this is what I did because I did not have gumby arms to keep picking up the toys/books/etc. that they insisted on throwing/dropping on the floor. A DVD player might work, but I didn't have one at that age. It certainly works now though!

 

QUOTE(heathernd @ Jul 2 2007, 10:13 AM) [snapback]314775[/snapback]
For surviving the road trip, how long is the drive? Can you leave close to their bedtime and drive at night? If it's not a long trip can you leave at their naptime? At 16-months this is what I did because I did not have gumby arms to keep picking up the toys/books/etc. that they insisted on throwing/dropping on the floor. A DVD player might work, but I didn't have one at that age. It certainly works now though!


The whole road trip is about 8-9 hours...but we're stopping overnight halfway. We're planning to leave at naptime and HOPE they sleep for 2 of the 4 hours in the car. When they wake up we're planning to stop at a zoo, then back in the car for the other 2 horus of the first day. We're staying in a hotel then waiting again until nap time the next day to drive the rest of the way.

We are plannning to do a portable DVD player. Today I got some small, car-sized Magnadoodles. I think they may be a bit young for those, but the novelty may be just what they need.

 

check out the toddler activities sticky at the top of this forum and you will see in the On the go section i posted a list of 30+ activities to do in the car. HTH I've used many of these. Also I would not advise an all nighter. been there done that and got really sick for a month afterwards.

the magna doodles will be perfect for them. 15 months is the average age for scribbling. you may be able to get 30 min out of those.

also, mentally prep yourself for them not sleeping the whole time in the car, unless you really run them down before you get in the car. mine usually only sleep 45 min in the car. in a long trip