Road trip and week-long holiday with a toddler

We're taking a road trip and driving down through Warwick to Tamworth (probably take about 8-ish hours), staying in a motel for a night, then down to Newcastle to stay with some friends for 5 days, then driving up the coast, staying a night with my godmother on the border, and then driving back home.

Eeeeep!

Ok, so having never been on an overnight trip with Jazz, let alone drive for more than 2 hours, or stay somewhere else... I'm freaking out slightly... I have no idea what I'm going to need!

She'll be 14 months :)

I don't even know where to start thinking...

Actually, yes I do... all I'm thinking is... OMG I hope she doesn't play up in the car...

Car things... we have the laptop that plays DVDs, so that might be good if she REALLY plays up (which I don't think she will). I don't know what to pack really... toys? lol
Whats the weather like down there?


Ok... heres me thining out loud... feel free to give me ANY and EVERY piece of advice you can think of...

We're planning on leaving in the wee hours. Her sleep at the moment is that she wakes once during the night, so we'll probably leave around 3-4am after I give her a big feed, and hope that she sleeps for a while in the car, then when she wakes we stop for breakfast (should I pack breakfast?), and have a run around, let her stomach settle, and then keep going, probably stop at least once more somewhere for toilet/nappy change/run around.

We're staying in a motel, we booked on lastminute so we got a room with a single and a queen bed, so the plan is Shel in the single, and Jazz and I in the queen (we don't own a portacot, so this seems the best way to do it). Will the motel ask where Jazz is sleeping? Do they care? lol

Our friends have a portacot we can use, plus a queen bed for Shel and I, so Jazz can come into our bed if need be. They have a 2yo, so the house is babyproof. We'll have access to their washing machine, and we've asked and they have no issue with us using cloth while we are down there so YAY! We only really need to use disposables for the drive down and while we are in the motel.... Food is sorted.

What about in the car? Food for the car? She eats everything, but what is 'car appropriate'? I don't even know that!

Do you think she's going to get homesick, or really unsettled? She's pretty easygoing but has never actually stayed a night away from home, but she'll be with us so she should be ok?

ARGH!!! Anything else I need to think about? What's the weather like there at the moment?

We just got back from a road trip and week-long camping trip with our little guy (including two 8 hour ferry rides). He likes riding in the car so maybe we have it easy but the thing that makes him most happy in the car is music. As long as we are playing his favourite CD's he's happy singing along (he's 22m).

Snacks for the car were really important too, though it was also important for us to stop and eat a few real meals, either packed picnic style or at restaurants. Our best snack items were a sippy cup of course, cheese and crackers, PB and honey sandwhich, pepperoni sticks (his favourite), cereal bars, dried apple slices, raisins, trail mix, and grapes.

We also packed a small bag full of his favourite toys and books, though in the car he just wanted his little toy motorcycle, his snacks and his music. He enjoyed stopping every few hours to run around and stretch his legs (we also had an umbrella stroller and a carrier with us so DH and I could continue to stretch ours after DS was done).

As for sleeping, most motels (well the ones here anyways)have portable cribs to lend. We never used them though as DS prefers to sleep with us so at hotels he just sleeps either between us or with me.

As for being homesick, I think for most toddlers, home is where their parents are so as long as you and your partner are there she should be fine. Bring sure to bring any favourite comfort items of hers though. We don't really stick to a strict schedule at our house so DS adapts pretty well to new situations, I'm not sure if a more scheduled toddler would be more upset at being away from home.

We had a really great time traveling with our little guy, I hope you guys have just as much fun on your trip with your little girl.

Weather, lol, all I can say is dusty! But that won't last.
Its pretty warm through the day here, but cool over night.
Wiggles, Hi 5...anything like that! If she sleeps in the morning great, but on our long trips Jesse used to scream continuously once it got dark. Usually the last 2 - 3 hours were spent stopping & starting, trying to make him happy. In car DVD player sorted that this time.
Have a box of toys next to her that she can reach easily. Maybe even some crayons & paper...but careful she doesn't eat them, lol!
Stop as often as you think she needs to. She might be ok in the car, she might want an hour break every 2 hours!
Lollipops....sticky, but keep them quiet for a while! Don't do banana's or lamingtons...oh, or chips! Still gotta deal with that in my car!
Goodluck!!

We've done home to Gold Coast twice (12hrs & 16hrs, long story lol) and home to Melbourne twice (11hrs) with Zander at varying ages. J hasn't had a big drive yet.

Definitely leave in the early hours. We do they whenever we go away so we can get a few hours away without anyone really noticing they are in the car. We also stop for breakfast, have a run around & then play it by ear, sometimes we can go a few more hours other times it's only an hour before we need to stop. Just be warned that if she needs to poo she might get a bit distressed because it will be hard for her to do it while sitting down IYKWIM. Z would get really upset & we'd have no idea, took him out of the car & after a minute it was apparent what the problem was ;)

Keep the toys hidden until she needs them. If she sees them she'll get bored with them very quickly, bring them out one at a time so she can get bored with one then move onto another. Same with snacks, don't give her an option, surprise her with them. We generally have grapes, dried apricot / cranberries / sultanas, cheerios, strawberries, rice cakes & for a treat if things get really bad chocolate buds ;)

Some kids won't cope in a different bed, bt if she's going to be sleeping with you then she should be fine. Like TS said, home is where her mummies are, it's not about a place to a very little person.

The weather is pretty unpredictable at the moment which is a problem. We had 33 degrees here yesterday (we are 2hrs south of Newcastle) but a few days prior it was about 18 degrees. Today there is also a massive dust storm covering most of NSW so visibility is bad & it's not good for doing anything outside.

We've done a few road trips with toddlers and they were always well behaved and usually slept most of the time. We usually stop every couple of hours to stretch our legs etc. Take her favourite toys and lots of snacks.

The motel won't care where Jazz sleeps. Most motels have portacots they can put in your room if you request one.

I don't think she'll get homesick or unsettled as long as you are with her. She will probably enjoy the change of scenery as much as you will.

You will have a great time! DD1 is a shocker sleep wise and has been a bad car traveller too BUT on the 3 occasions we have been on road trips she has had a ball. Seriously it has been the only time she has slept well and had good day naps. I think the change of scene and having a relaxed mum and dad (also no daily routine to stick too) made the difference, possibly saying a bit about us, lol.
We planned heaps of stops in the car - centring around food and a bit of a play/run. So we'd stop every hour and a half or so. Lots of snacks in the car - so things that are little and not too messy but spread out. Dried fruit, popcorn, lots of new packets of stuff for the novelty value.
We did lots of singing - she loves Burt Bacharach and has acquired her dad's love of Guns n Roses :rolleyes: as well as her music. Pointed out all the different things out the window etc.
A magnetic drawing board is good too.
Have a great time - just try and go with the flow - it sounds great!!!!!

When we drove to Qld (about 10hrs), we only had DD so she was about 14mths too. I would reccommend the non driving person to sit in the back with her for at least some of the time.
DVD's or similar are good, I have movies on my phone for DD (now 2 1/2), though I'm ot sure if DS (13mths) would watch them for any length of time. He does look at them but the is usually on his way after a little while! Definately food. Kept in a cooler bag. DS likes playing with the cold packs if it's hot enough once they're a bit melted, lol!
Favourite books and small portable toys. I put DD's in some special bags, one was a pretty little makeup bag and one a Dora lunch bag. It made opening the bag and seeing the toys a bit more fun, lol!
Toys that were popular was a singing microphone and a Dora phone that talks and mini textas and a small note pad. DD still loves both of these toys and they were just cheapie toys from the checkout at toys r us. If you can have some new toys or toys she hasn't played with in a while. It makes them more interesting! Maybe take away a few of her (small) favourite things now in preparation. When we drive anywhere with DS I sometimes give him my ipod (I sit with him in the back!) He loves it! Maybe you could down load some wiggles music or something onto it.
Be prepared to stop more than you think. You will probably need to stop every 2-3hrs or so. Make sure you have panadol or nurofen on hand. JIC! I know I often get headaches when driving and once when we were driving to Canberra, DD got a fever in the 3ish hrs it took!
Ok that's all I can think of...HTH! :)

Thanks everyone! I have a great list now :D

Pretty much what everyone else has said, plenty of stops for Jazz to get out and run around for a bit.

Also, when you pack, make sure you have easy access to a spare set of clothes, just in case ;) and wipes,nappies, spew rags etc... nothing worse than having to unpack half the car when there is some sort of accident.

Movies, Toys, Music, Food and you should be all set :)

Maybe line the car seat with a light blanket or cot sheet... Been caught out too many times by a nice chuck half way through the trip. Had one just the other night. Had to get Jesse out on the side of the road, just going on dark, strip him naked & try to redress him...trying to clean handfuls of vomit with wipes... not fun! Least then you could take off the blanket, change her & put her back in a clean seat. Make sure you have a spare plastic bag for dirty stuff :D

we live a long way from our families so I'm good at car trips lol.
No idea with the weather though love - we sent you the dust :D

Darcy has a bag of toys and a bag of books/DVDs. She also has a notepad and car pencils, but she's older.
I agree with you doleing out the activities and the food. Otherwise it's all done and dusted in 25minutes.

Make sure her seat is in a position where she can see out the windows. No good you pointing out the moo cows if she can't see the bleeting things. Took me a couple of trips to figure this out with Darcy. I used to put her seat in the middle so she can see out the front window. Not my position of choice but hey...

Singing! I sing a lot to the kids but a cheery CD will do the same. They think it's fun and it will brighten your mood too.

I do cloth in the car too. Just change every time we stop. Never had a drama. Just make sure you have a well fitting nappy bucket lid.

Nope the motel won't care who stays where.

Multpiple sippy cups....heaven only knows which day they will pick not to want 'that' one.

DOes she travel well in the dark? Just ask because mine do not. I am much better starting out in the daytime so that they can see if they don't sleep (which invariably happens). It's scary in the dark by yourself.

eta take several old towels....you never know when you are going to need one.

Yep, 8 hrs to here, and 3.5 on to Newy.....
REAL dusty now, but it'll pass....;)
Hot in the day, like dresses hot, and cool at night, like sleepsuit cool. Very annoying, but thats Tamworth!! Newy is usually a little warmer at night than here though....
Raining now, but its supposed to be hot again by the time your coming through.... I'll keep you updated!!! :p