The Fish Family will be embarking on our first family vacation sometime in the next coming weeks. It’ll be just the four of us: my partner, 4yo, 2yo, and myself. We’ll be on the road for a long time, around 15 hours over two days. And the same coming back.
So the question is… how the hell do we do this?
We’ve got pit stops factored in. We got snacks. We got toys. We got music and audiobooks and the nuclear option of an old busted iPad that may or may not work. But I’m nervous about how this is going to work.
Our kids take up the back seats. 4yo sits in a forward facing carseat. 2yo is read facing. My partner and I are tiny people. So our arms have a hard time as it is reaching back to aid our kids with anything. How’re all you all traveling with toddlers?
Edit: My partner has vetoed my idea of getting one of these. I married this person. Where do we even go from here? Reddit answers only.
Travel potty for the 2 yr old. We use one like this
For the nuke option, a cheap android tablet with a few shows and movies on it for the 2 yr old would solve the iPad situation, but we try to only use that when nothing else works. There are noise limit headphones for kids so each kid can have their own show. We found both on FB marketplace for cheap.
But it’s also important that kids feel boredom. That’s when they feel most creative. See eg this IG post.
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Ooh new books and toys. That’s a good one. A rental minivan is a good idea, but won’t work for our specific trip. I like that.
Good advice overall. You can have a snack.
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I’m hesitant about the iPad since our kids are facing opposite directions. And god herself could not save us from the wrath of whichever kid doesn’t get the iPad. That’s why it’s the nuclear option lol.
let the kids drive, both of them. one works the pedals, one steers the wheel.
you and your partner chill in the back and watch TV / eat all the snacks.
Bad advice. Partner and I can’t fit in the car seats. No snacks for you either.
Drive at night while the kids sleep.
Absolutely not. Car seats are not designed for sleep. Driving at night raises likelihood of accidents. Bad advice. No snacks for you.