Long car trips

Taking a child on a long car trip is an adventure that depending on the age of the child and the length of the car trip could be a hellish endeavor not worth attempting or a way to force family to spend quality time together with minimal distractions.

For children two-years-old and younger a long car trip is an hour or two and is best survived if you begin the trip around the same time that you would normally begin nap time.  That way your child falls asleep in the car (hopefully early into the trip) and with any luck stays asleep for the entire trip.  When all goes to plan you have a sleeping baby and the car ride can be pleasant.  But be warned if your child wakes up during the car ride you will have problems.

First thing my diaper clad son does when he wakes up is pee.  Which is cool for potty training purposes, he wakes up I sit him on the potty, win.  This is a lame deal when he wakes up in the car.  He wakes up, pees his diaper, and cries.  So then we need to take the next exit find a good place to park and take him out of the car seat and change his diaper.  So far so good.  But once he is freed from the car seat, he has no interest in returning to his car seat.  He will cry and do everything he physically can to make it difficult to buckle him back into his seat.

So great now we have a crying baby and many miles still to go.  This sounds bad. (It feels bad.)  But then you remember, babies have a short attention span.  And if you can make a sufficient distraction your baby will forget why crying was a thing and maybe wiggle to the music instead of being miserable.  Which I feel makes the whole car ride better for everyone involved.  Just remember getting angry at your child is likely only going to make the situation worse.  Your kid was unhappy you don't want to make them scared in addition, how will the crying ever stop?

Be happy, have a good time, and with any luck your child will follow your lead.

Older kids while still not enthusiastic about long car rides can be given diversions to help make the ride more bearable.  You knowing your child(ren) know best what to hand them to make happiness a reality.  As your children get older, car rides can get longer, but remember children have smaller bladders than adults.  I recommend a rest stop every two hours or so.  Of course you would pull off sooner if your child requests a bathroom break.  Nobody wants to be in a car were an accident took place.