How would you have coped?!?

[goshme]

WE've just come back froma great hol but had to travel 300 miles with 3dd's aged 8mths, 3 & 6.5 yrs! The 8 mths old was perfect, but, my other 2 were little sods the whole journey by attention seeking and fighting most of the way. Just what does one do to control this?

[goldendelicious]

MIL used to make 'goodie bags' for DH and SIL, contained little games, books, colouring etc and she kept little bags of sweets in the front she could give out periodically, to keep them occupied, would this help maybe?

[moondog]

Clip aropund the year [seriously}and a`stern lecture on how ungrateful they are.

[juuule]

Don't go on hols to somewhere that that needs that much travelling until they are older and understand more? Or if you need to travel that distance, break it up into smaller chunks so not travelling in one long go? Or do what goldendelicious MIL did? Or make sure they are tired before you set off so that they sleep for most of the journey.

[CountTo10]

Errr as far as I remember we were always good after one occasion where my mum actually followed through on the threat of 'if you don't pack it in I'm going to put you out of the car'!!!!!!

I think distraction is key - turns in choosing music, eye spy, puzzle books for older one etc!!!

[throckenholt]

drive overnight so that they sleep - that is how we handle it (have done trips to the north of Scotland from Norfolk in this way).

[Saturn74]

We borrowed a portable DVD player and they watched 'Finding Nemo' on recent long trip. Audio CDs are always a good distraction for my two as well.

[goldendelicious]

Oooh yes MIL and FIL used to drive overnight if it was a long way - that was in the days before seat belts were legal tho (DH must be an oldie!!!) and they used to put the back seats down and make the kids a bed in the boot!! God can you imagine that nowadays?!?!

[curlew]

I regularly drive with my two to grannypeople in Yorkshire - 240 miles each way. If I can, I set off at about 5.00 so that we can go an hour or so, then stop, have tea, change into pyjamas, loo, teeth then back to the car and a story tape. I can honestly say I've been doing this about once every 6 weeks for 9 years and I've never had a problem. Of course, saying that means that next time, they'll fight all the way!!!!!!

[horsecrazy]

not sure goshme I have this problem with my four in the car everyday......even though were just travelling to school or the shops etc... stuff travelling 300 miles with them cause even under 1 mile is bad enough.... I think you deserve a medal hun

[Weatherwax]

dvd's. We drive to France regularly and they now have a dvd player and headphones each. Current ages 8 and 5 and we have done this for 2/3 years now. We haven't had car sickness problems since either. Story tapes too, Horrid Henry if they don't pick up too many hints.

Goody bags are great but be careful of baby. I know she's good but...

[GarfieldsGirl]

Yes, dvds definately. We do regular trips to North Wales (about 300 miles from us) and the portable dvd player was the best purchase we could have made. ds1 who is now 5 will stay quiet the whole way, whereas we used to have to stop every 1/2 hour.

[Cailyn3]

Last time we travelled that distance, we went at night to avoid the heat and they slept part of the way which was bliss (but it meant they were raring to go when we got there when me and dh were shattered!) Goody bags are brilliant, we packed a small box of toys, sweets and comics for them to look at and fiddle with and they were fairly happy the times they were awake - until they wanted what the other one had....think we'll pack two of everything next time!

[all4girlz]

Hi there I have recently done this on my own with 4 kids 12 5 3 and 1 and will definately be investing in a portable dvd next time.
we went to south wales caravan hol aprrox 4 hrs to 5 hrs each way.
they were not too bad we stopped for food (ate it in car though)it is the last stretch that really got to me

my 5 yr old---its been a long time hasnt it I've not mithered have I? (repeated every 5 mins)
my 3 y old are we there yet are we there yet repeated in a monotone voice while she ildly kicks my chair and the baby cried for the last 30 out of forty mins then you get stuck behind a truck /caravan tractor.
more constructively I let the 3 and 5 yr old pack a little case/bag and give them something out of it every 30-45 mins the 12 yr old helped and we played eye spy a bit and let them have sweets and stuff.
(my dh had the right idea both ways we needed that much stuff had to take two cars and he went early sat and came home late fri after 2 weeks --on his own)

[poppiesinaline]

We travel 250 miles to visit grandparents twice a year and none of mine have ever travelled well. We have tried most things, goodie bags, breaking journey down, travelling at night. None seem to work although travelling at night was possibly the best. We have always done the trips with a screaming baby or toddler through 3/4 way through the trip.

Now the older two are a little older (9 yrs and 6 yrs) it was much better this summer but we did have trouble with the younger one ( 16 months). I think we will be investing in a portable DVD player

[goshme]

Wow, thanks for all your ideas, glad am not alone in this one, portable dvd does sound good plan!