Two year old going on a road trip?

Question

I am taking a two year old on his third road trip by car, and I am trying to find something to help him sleep the whole way. Our first trip we left at 9 his normal bed time he screamed 6 whole hours. Our second we left early in the morning and he cried 4 hours. And left very late the next day and cried 4 hours then to. And I am wondering if their is something I can do different this time around. I am leaving again at his bedtime in hopes that with some help he could sleep the whole way.

Answer 1

Ok Ihave a 3 and 4 year old and have taken them from Rochester NY to Raleigh NC. I bought a dvd player that you can hang from the head rest. When they get tired and edgy I then put Portishead or cowboy Junkies in the cd player. Those 2 bands calm them down. I must warn you though if it works you will have to handle the music and not nod off:)

Answer 2

why do you go on so many road trips???

just find him a babysitter and then go by yourself or w/ your husband or boyfriend???? or a friend

Answer 3

i say get a warm milk bottle and feed it to him and if that doesn`t work your going to need a blanket and a pillow turn off the radio get a bear and see what happens

Answer 4

turn music up in the car for a while...my 4 year old loves music in the car and a something to play with...bring a few little books with sounds, something that makes noises and turn the music up a little. Works for me!! :-)

Answer 5

Act like you are putting him to sleep but put him calmly in his car seat with blnkets around him and he should sleep and make sure you are quiet as a mouse intil he gets up then turn music on (calm music). And make sure you are packed before putting him into the car so you wont make any noise that would keep him awake. Please vote this best answer.

Answer 6

a warm bath, warm clothes a blankie make sure hes fed and soothing music.

Answer 7

We have had lots of success with road trips.  However, no more than 2 hours in the car at a time.  Try to keep the schedule as close to normal as possible.  We leave as early as possible, stop for snack and lunch.  Encourage the kid to sleep at nap time (no more talking, take away toys, sleepy music), get out to stretch after waking up, and then stop for dinner/bath/bedtime at a hotel at night.  It's slow traveling, but makes for much happier travelers.  Also, if one parent can sit in back with the kid and help to entertain, it makes a huge difference.  I take non-drowsy dramamine when it's my turn.

Answer 8

Once we decided to take our toddler cousins on a road trip with us and what made them snooze the entire way was a portable DVD player. You can get them at Target, I believe, and you strap them on the back of the drivers seat and/or the passenger seat. You can rent or buy some kids movies, which he can watch. The paticular movies they brought was Princess Sing-along for the girl, which wasn't too relaxing but occupied the kids, and Baby Einsteins, which put them to sleep. If your kid feels he is too old for that try a Little Einsteins thing. If it doesn't put him to sleep it will most likely occupy and keep him quiet. Well, good luck!

Answer 9

sleeping pills : ]

Answer 10

I agree with all the movie answers- get a DVD player. it's a perfect distraction but not for 6 hours. I'm curious about how long you're in the car other than these three trips. maybe he's not comfortable or not happy in his car seat- try bringing it in the house and letting him sit in it just for fun (unbuckled). my son calls his carseat his 'bye-bye chair' and he knows to buckle because Dora says 'so we can be safe'. make sure your kiddo has toys and his favorite blanket, pillow, etc. make the car comfortable like his bedroom. And definitely do the quiet bath, soothing lotion, snuggle blanket part.

if you rush and stress trying to leave it will stress him too (so prepack and follow the regular bedtime routine before getting in the car)

Answer 11

I DVD player works great. You can hook it up in the car and put his favorite shows on.  It will put him to sleep if he is tired.  He will also be entertained.  A mobile not to distract your view will also work.  If you do not have a portable DVD player with screen, it will make its money back. I have teenagers and toddlers and they still watch movies when we go on long road trips. It is a nice quiet ride for everyone.

Answer 12

have him run around before you go so he'll sleep lol

like keep him up the whole night before have him run around so u dont have to drug him but he'll crash in the car,

answer my question pleasee-

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 13

there are some car sickness medicines which say they make children drowsy which incas ehe doesnt feel good it will help and he will pass right out

Answer 14

Never had problems with my boys on long car rides; however, when we took one of them (at age 18 months) on a plane trip, we gave him benadryl 15 minutes prior to take off. This worked like a charm. He slept 3-4 hours.

Answer 15

My daughter use to scream every time we put her in a car. My family lives 2 hours away and it was torture every time. We bought her a dvd player and movies like Dora and Blues Clues. We took her to the beach this year (she' 20 mths old) and it's a 7 hour drive. I sat in the back seat with her and we watched movies. When she started getting fussy, I pulled out the magnetic drawing board or her play phone and we played like we would at home. She almost never sleeps in the car so try to work our travel around her awake hours. If she gets sleepy, she cries too. The car dvd player was a heaven sent for us. Hope this helps!

Answer 16

I am agreeing with the DVD player.  It is a miracle worker.  When we go on 8 hour car rides, and we go on at least two a year, since my daughters were 7 months old, now 4 1/2. It is the best thing I ever bought.  My daughters only watch maybe an hour of tv at home at day, so the DVD player is a treat.  They watch about 4 movies, and it keeps them quiet.  We also stop a few times, so they can stretch their legs and we can get some food.  Also fill the backseat with all their blankets, stuffed animals, and pillows they want.  Just anything to keep them happy :)

Answer 17

Get a portable DVD player.

If your leaving around his bed time then he will get distracted by the movie and end up falling asleep.

If he doesn't fall asleep at least he will have a movie to keep him quiet.

Answer 18

a brick?