Car trip ideas/helpers

I just took my ds on a 6 hour trip - overall it wasn't too bad. I had lots of books & little toys (he LOVES matchbox cars right now). I also made sure to plan stops that were more than just 5 minutes in length & in locations where he could run around some - there are often picnic areas that work well. I also did food in the car which I normally won't do but a good treat could keep him busy for a good chunk of time.

Anyway, while we were away we also went on a daytrip that was 1.5 hours each direction in some else's vehicle. She had a portable dvd player - it was FABULOUS!!! Ds doesn't normally watch more than 15 minutes of tv at once & has never watched a whole movie but he was fascinated by it & it really occupied him.

Dh & I had previously talked about getting one for long trips but thought ds was still too young but before we do another longer trip we will definitely be purchasing one.

My now 27 month old has been on three road trips where each direction was 12-13 hours. I'm always by myself with her. We did the first one when she was ~17 months. I have a few things I do. I plan for each direction to take two days. We drive for ~90 minutes then stop for 45-60 minutes and play outside the car for a bit. In the car she has a HUGE stack of books I hand her one at a time and she looks through them slowly. We also have a wide variety of toys that she gets handed one at a time. I have a bunch of tiny tupperware style containers and she is handed them one at a time with small amounts of snacks in them throughout the day. (Crackers, dried fruit, some fresh fruit, a couple of animal cookies, small amounts of veggies) She has a couple of cups with straws that we don't use outside the car so those are a fun treat. I do try to limit the sugar or I pay for it.

I bought a minivan right before the first of these road trips and turned the whole back part into a bed. We sometimes take naps back there or sleep at night there instead of dealing with a motel. It's incredibly comfy.

Good luck!