dvd player in minivan???? - Page 2

[lolar2]

Originally Posted by Heavenly

I don't really see what the issue is with having to say no. That worry confuses me. My kids get told no about things, and they don't always get what they want.

I think it's a cost/ benefit thing. The point of the DVD player is (let's be honest) to make life easier for the driver by keeping the kids from complaining. If the kids are going to complain a lot about not being able to watch it on short trips, it defeats the purpose.

I'd love to have one, myself! Maybe some day.

[ellairiesmom]

well...we discussed it more last night & decided we aren't going to go with one built in the car unless the exact used vehicle we get the best deal on has it-which I doubt will happen-it seems there is quite a mark up for vans that have the RES.

probably not a popular decision here but we did decide on something we think will work for us better...we like the idea of letting her play with an ipod when a car trip gets to be too much. plus we can bring it on the plane since we have to fly to visit dhs grandparents a couple times a year. we have 1000's of family pics on there, can put some music on it just for her, a couple movies etc. we have small portable speakers but are also going to look for those toddler headphones that also noise cancel for on planes.

this case might also work well for us...although we think dhs ipod touch might be easier for her to use. we will have to try out both our ipods to see
http://ifrogz.com/tadpole/

if we find we need something when kids are older or we have an extra long trip coming, we can always put our little portable one in there.

i'm telling you though...if i have to sing Part of your World from The Little Mermaid soundtrack one more time... jk. i used to sing in a band so i secretly love the attention my 2.5 year old gives me when i sing in the car. lol. can't wait till it's grateful dead, neil young, david gray, natalie merchant etc that she is begging me to sing for her...

[Drummer's Wife]

I think an ipod touch is a great idea. It would allow for way more entertainment than just the movies you can download. There are tons of apps for kids games and educational activities, plus books to either read or have read to them, music, etc.

When we found out it would be like $1k to have a DVD system installed in a vehicle w/o one I was totally saying we could buy all four kids an ipod touch for that amount - and it would be a much better investment. They love my iphone, and I wish we had bought the ipod touches instead of nintendo DSi game systems.

[ellairiesmom]

I know-i can't believe how expensive the dvd players built in really are. and dd1 does love our iphones. she LOVES flipping through all the pictures i keep on mine and that does keep her busy when we are running errands.

and i like that there are some really educational apps. ultimately-it could be something that grows with her needs.

would you do headphones that are made for a toddler or would you attach little portable speakers to it?

[Lady Mayapple]

We are also in the process of looking at minivans, and a DVD player will definitely be something we'll consider, factory or otherwise. Flying for travel is not an option for us, and the way airlines treat families I wouldn't get on a plane even if it was free. Still, the kids are getting older and we would really like to start going places and not being restricted by distance. We've only ever taken them on a 2 hour trip, and by the end of it they were whining and complaining and it was generally miserable-not good. It would also be nice for DH and I to be able to have conversations and listen to our music without constant interruption.

[lookatreestar]

hehe my dd loves dh's ipod. she asks for "daddy's music" i also put a few old cartoons on there for her. i also added some music just for her.

[mbhf]

Originally Posted by lolar2

I think it's a cost/ benefit thing. The point of the DVD player is (let's be honest) to make life easier for the driver by keeping the kids from complaining. If the kids are going to complain a lot about not being able to watch it on short trips, it defeats the purpose.

I'd love to have one, myself! Maybe some day.

I know this is an old thread, but since it's already been brought up to the top... I don't have a DVD player in the car so I don't have to hear my kids complain, I have a DVD player in my car so my kids aren't miserable in the car. My 5yo has always hated the car, he literally screamed every time we were in it until he was 2+. He is still not the best traveler, and we drive a lot so the DVD player helps him forget how much he hates the car. I have certainly done the 10 hour trip back home with no DVD player but my kids are much happier with it!

[QuestionGal]

We bought a used Sienna last year...with the overhead DVD player. That was a requirement for me. We take 4-6 road trips each year and have loved having it. The player stays closed unless we will be on the road for more than an hour. (in which case we aren't on the road for more than an hour unless we'll be on the road for a minimum of 4). It doesn't turn DS into a zombie. we drove 4 1/2 hours yesterday and with the exception of the time when he was napping he continued to point out EVERY SINGLE Semi-truck, horse, cow, chicken, etc on the way.

It came with two wireless headsets but I prefer to use the corded "child size" headphones that I bought at BestBuy. They plug into the side of the machine, I can control the volume level and they stay on his head better (the wireless ones are made for larger heads and keep sliding off).

If DS is wearing headphones then DH & I can listen to the radio or whatever in the front seat. If no headphones then we all get to listen to the DVD over the car speakers (or he has to watch it with no sound)

Our van also has the navigation system and there is some way to get the DVD to show up on the navigation screen in the front seat (and you can skip forwards/backwards using the front panel controls) but I can't seem to figure it out consistently. But it does come with a remote control so you can control the DVD from the front seat.

[Alyantavid]

We don't have a built in dvd player, but we do have a portable one we bring on long trips. We recently drove 26 hours (one way) with our 2 kids and that dvd player was awesome. I don't know that I'd want a built in one that was availabe every time they got in the car, but I do like having one for really long trips.

[Cascadian]

We also opted NOT to have a built in. To me that would defeat the purpose of road trips as a time for silence, family conversation, interaction with siblings. The whole 'just say no' thing wouldn't work here as my kids would whine us to death if we had a built in. I'd get mad, yell at them, they'd get upset...don't want to have to deal with that every time I got into the car, even for short trips to the grocery store.

We DO have a portable one for select (boringly long) roadtrips, plane flights and waits. We take ferries where I live and there are often sailing waits (2+ hrs). 2 kids stuck in a van is not fair or fun. It was a godsend. I use the player sparingly.

[homemademom]

Originally Posted by Ellen Griswold

Just for another perspective, we purchased a used mini van about 2 weeks ago. I specially did NOT want one with a built-in dvd player. In my mind it is one more thing that would break, my kids (7 and 3) already fight over what movie to watch on long trips, and I believe that my kids (esp. my son) would ask for it to be on all.the.time. The last one was the deciding factor for me. I drive my son to and from school each day, 1/2 hour one way. Having a tv on that much is unacceptable to me. Yes, I could just say no, but I would be saying no A LOT (my child is very determined). Not worth the battle.

It seemed to us that the entertainment package added about $1000 to the cost of the vehicle. Hand helds are far less.

This was true for us.

We had a built in dvd player in our Toyota and at first, it was just a rare thing and for trips. Gradually, my kids got more obsessed and wanted to watch it to and from school. Yes, I said no, but it was such a hassle and created such a negative experience everyday that I was ready to hit the thing with a sledge hammer. When we recently got our new van (a Honda), dh asked if I wanted the dvd player (I think the whole entertainment package was over $3000), and I said no.

It's been the best decision for us. We've also taken several long road trips, but now they listen to books on tape and play games, sing songs, etc. They don't even miss the TV (now that the zombies have gotten through their withdrawals, lol).

So, it worked well for us.

[Linda on the move]

another perspective -- my kids are now 12 and 13. We got a mini van with a drop down video when they were still a new concept, back before DVDs were invented! I was doing uber long road trips, often without my husband, and it made them so much easier and more pleasant for the kids and I.

As my kids got older, they had less and less desire to watch videos (and eventually DVDs!) in the car. Now they would rather listen to a book on tape; the complete Harry Potter series is our all time favorite.

However, when they were 2 and 3 and far too young to care about novels, the video player got us through some great trips to see relatives who lived cross country.

[mamazee]

We have one and it hasnt caused problems. Dd uses it when she gets bored on long trips, but she often wants to talk to us or look at scenery. She doesn't seem interested in them just around town generally, but on the other hand she occasionally wants to watch something around town. I remember how devestatingly bored I used to get on road trips, and I didn't want her to feel that, and I'm glad we got it. She certainly isn't a zombie.

[lonegirl]

Originally Posted by Heavenly

My little zombies...er, children...love it for long trips. We see no point in causing us all to suffer while we drive 6 hours one way every 8 weeks. We have the overhead one that the older two watch and then the little one has her own personal one because there is no way you are going to get a 7/9 year old and a 4 year old to want to watch the same thing. The overhead one is not working right now so instead of replacing it we are probably going to get two more portable units which will be much cheaper and then they can all watch their own thing. Pointing at cows is nice and all but after 6 hours of cows...not so interesting anymore.

LOL your post made me chuckle. We do a 8-10hr drive (one way)-then back aain 5-10days later every 2-3weeks. So we are on the road a lot. As much as I love the drive from Toronto to Northern Ontario....there is only so many times you can point out the animals/fields etc....the greenbelt is great as we can point out the changes each time....but other than that....In my car we have DVD screens built into the headrests and they are so worth it. He doesn't watch it the whole trip but it is good for passing time. When he watches his show hubby and I get a chance for a good chat (and often DS ends up napping through the movie anyway)

[MissMaegie'sMama]

Originally Posted by lolar2

I think it's a cost/ benefit thing. The point of the DVD player is (let's be honest) to make life easier for the driver by keeping the kids from complaining. If the kids are going to complain a lot about not being able to watch it on short trips, it defeats the purpose.

That's why we don't have one. For really long trips, I'd just pack a portable DVD player if I thought we'd need it.

I did a 5-hours-one-way trip with all three kiddos last month. Amazingly, we did it the old fashioned way- plently of sleeping, storytelling, arguing, and playing the ABC Game. Their behavior exceeded my expectations. DD1 did throw a book at DS's head at one point, though.

[Charrey]

We bought a used minivan that just happened to have the CD player that pops down from the ceiling right behind the front seats. The only downfall is that at first my son asked to watch it every single trip we took, but I only allow it on long road trips. It has only been used 2-3 times in the 9 months I've used it. It's been so long I think he has forgotten about it actually lol. But for those long trips they are WONDERFUL!

[Peony]

Originally Posted by Heavenly

Well, personally I love the easy out of turning on a video.

I agree. We have one and I always request one when we get a different van/SUV. It is a limited use item for me. I use it for car trips, I have been on trips with other families where the kids hung out in their seats, looked out the window, napped... my kids have never ever been fond of the car and even a simple 1.5 hour trip is horrid. There is also when I am stuck waiting in the car somewhere for my oldest for an extended amount of time, it is snowing, and I have a melting, screaming 3 year who is getting ready to wake up the baby, you bet the DVD goes in then! I prefer the drop down ones but while months might go by without me using it, when I want to use I what to use it right then. Sure my kids ask to use it more often but they get told it is a special event item only.

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by MissMaegie'sMama

I did a 5-hours-one-way trip with all three kiddos last month. Amazingly, we did it the old fashioned way-

A 5 hour trip isn't a long one.

And if both parents were in the car, then you had one parent just to entertain kids.