5 Hour Drive with a 17 Month Old, Alone... Would You Do It?

Go for it. If he's like my daughter she'll probably sleep most of the time any way. Just take lots of things for him to do when he gets bored. When my daughter was 18 months we took her on a trip to Oregon. Driving time was 14 hrs. We broke it up into 2 days. Before the trip I went to the dollar store and picked up a dozen fun toys and put them in a bag to take. Every time she got restless I'd hand her another new toy. she was entertained the whole time. If all else fails, hand a portable DVD player on the back of the headrest and play sesame street for him. Have fun. P.S. also pack a bag full of save finger foods that he's ok with. That way you'll have it ready when he want something to eat.

I did 15 hours alone. My kids were 18 months and 4. It really wasn't too bad. I kept snacks in a bag next to me, so I could easily dole them out. The DVD player helped. I also had a bag of toy surprises (mostly from the dollar store) when they got bored or fussy. Brought a ball for rest stops. It was no big deal. We have family that lives about four hours from us. I have done that trip solo countless times. 5 hours will be a breeze. Go and have a good time!

I've done it... doing it again next weekend!

In all reality he's going to fall asleep for the bulk of the drive. Have plenty of snack and consider a DVD player (portable) if you don't have one in your car!

I wouldn't do it at night by myself. Yes, during the day will suck, but he will hopefully nap. Plus, it is good if you get out every hour and a half or so to let him stretch and move around. I would do it, but not at night =)

I'm doing an almost 5 hour drive with my 19 month old and 6 and 7 year olds in 3 weeks, I'll let you know if we survive ;) Bring lots of snacks, books, games, and kid music!! The only way kids get used to that kind of thing is if you DO IT!! :)

Yes I'd do it, if my husband agreed with the idea of me driving alone with a kiddo. (He worries that if I got a flat tire, I'd be too stressed to deal with the tire and the kiddo. Or if I was at a stoplight and car-jacked, then me being alone with the responsibility of a child too would just make matters worse.) But yes, 5 hours with the 17 month old is fine. You may have to pull over a time or two, plus take a break mid-drive. We did this with my son at 18 months (5.5 hour drive). Granted I was not by myself. But I would have been fine as long as I had a DVD player.

I am not a fan of driving in the dark, esp in an unfamiliar place with a toddler, on my own. Too many 'fear factors' there. But during the day, with the dvd player, taking a lunch/wiggle break, he'd take his afternoon nap in the car. The only precautions I'd have would be having to reach back to hand your kiddo a drink or grab his toy. It's best to pull over if you have to do these things. Don't forget your ear-piece for your cell phone. The fewer distractions for you the better.

What does your husband say?

go for it! The younger you begin traveling with children, the easier it becomes. & NO, you're not crazy....I hit the road all the time with/without the kids! Been doing it all my life.....

My sis & I grew up on the road.....Friday nights we'd leave the big city for our lake house, returning to the city late on Sunday night. Our afternoon naps were in the bottom of our wooden ChrisCraft boat! Lunch was either on the shore or in the boat. Kids are adaptable if you teach them these skills at an early age.

As for being on the road, keep a good supply of fun music, little snacks you can hand to him, & his fav cup. Break the trip up about 1/2way, let him run around & get his energy out. Keep a supply of little treats to periodically hand to him....wrapping them in tissue paper makes it even more fun! Oh, & a little photo book of the family you're visiting & the house where you're going .....make it seem more real to him. (be sure to include a picture of you & daddy, too!)

When our kids were older toddlers, we began counting McDonalds & WalMarts on our trip. We also talked about the big trucks, the color of cars, the animals on the farms, etc....anything to engage the child's interest in the passing world! When they hit school age, then I started handing out BINGO cards to the kids....ones which I'd made on the computer using the stuff that I knew we'd be seeing. They always laughed when they read the cards....purple cow, anyone?

I took my 18 month old on a 24+ hour trip from Ohio to Texas alone. Just make sure if you do it when he's awake to have snacks and things for him to do. Maybe make up a CD that's all kids songs.

Either way, do it! Go and have fun! You won't regret it!

Would I? Yup. I've driven for days (literally) with my son since he was a few months old.

My suggestion would be to leave about 1 hour before lunch (or breakfast). Drive, stop, get out with kiddo at a fast food place with a playplace. Eat/Play for an hour. Get back in the car. Stop every hour or two for 10-20 minutes to play somewhere. Wether it's a rest stop or a McDonalds. It turns a 5 hour drive into a 7 hour drive, but that's just doing anything with kids. It takes half again longer than without.

Most kids can do an hour in the car EASY. In no small part, because they usually spend that long in the car running errands.

Have a box of toys (one's that beep and drive you nuts tend to become beloved because it keeps them happy). Have a box of snacks and drinks. Play fun music and just go. Drive until he needs a change or a stretch. You'll be there by dinner.

I would do it! Your little one should sleep better between 8pm and 1am. Just plan on making at least 4 or 5 stops. If you make fewer, great. And make sure you get enough rest during the day in case you are up till 4 am!

Do it. It will be worth it for you to go and have fun. I have driven about 6 hours by myself with my kids starting when my daughter was 17 months old. I have even done the trip with a 2 year old and a nursing baby. It can be done. Go have fun.

DO IT!! You can make stops if you have to...

I HAVE done it. And before every vehicle was equipped with a DVD player, lol. He is 17 months old, not an infant. It will be fine unless you are just paranoid to make any stops anywhere for anything. Because obviously, there are going to have to be some stops. The harder thing is once they start potty training..... lol.

I would do a 5 hr trip with a baby that age, but I wouldn't do it at night if I were alone. Can you leave early the next morning instead?

Edited to Add:
Why wouldn't I do it at night?

Wouldn't want to change a flat in the dark
Wouldn't want to fall asleep at the wheel
If I had engine trouble, what mechanic shops would be open in the middle of the night?
Wouldn't want to be easy prey for someone passing by if I DID need help along the way

We've left around 5 am so that the kids would still be groggy and willing to sleep, but we wouldn't waste our whole day on the road.

I have a girlfriend who views car trips the same way most people view stories of the pioneers in covered wagons. She's always saying things about how she just couldn't do it, it would be so crushingly boring for the kids, etc. She'll miss family events if it means driving for more than 90 minutes. I completely cannot relate. The first time we took a long car trip, my oldest daughter was 8 months old and we drove for 6 hours a day for 2 days in a row. (My kids are now 24, 23, 16 and 12.)

If you're worried at all about safety, I would suggest daylight hours. Instead of leaving in the evening and driving until late, get up early and get there by lunch.

Get some small toys, books and snacks, and hand him something new every hour or so when he's awake. My kids LOVED "travel toys," and asked for them well into their teens. :) Plan on stopping at least once at a park or fast food place with a play area. It adds significant time to the trip, but is SO worth it in terms of sanity.

Have fun! :)

We just drove 9hours each way with 1yr old twins & we all survived. I say do it. There were moments that were no fun, & of course we had some explosive diapers but overall it went better than I expected it to. I say go for it

Invest in some new lift the flap books or other books that get kids interested like that (maybe I Spy). I think this is about the age Tag Junior might work. On our last long drive, but it was with a 3 year old, we bought a TV tray that has the sides that are about 2 inches tall so our daughter could color and play with toys and eat snacks without them falling all over the floor.

I'd do it. I'm attempting a drive to disney world (about 7 hours) in October. My kids will be 6, 4, 2, and 10.5 months.

Do it! I would drive around his night bed time, comfotable pjs, favorite blanket or a toy. Try to nap or relax while he takes his mid day nap prior ypur trip, lots of coffee, and favorite dance playlist. Don't forget to take lots of great pics of your road trip together and make a photo book. Im Getting ready for 18hrs drive with two kids your way. Have a great vacay! Be safe.

I would definitely do it! Just have your car checked by a mechanic before you go and have your charged cell phone with you. Take breaks if your child is not sleeping!

oh yeah!!!! 5 hours really isnt that bad at his age!! make a couple of stops if he cant wait that long. we are going out to see my family in 3 weeks, it is an 8 hour drive at least. my hubby had applied for a new job so for awhile we thought i would be making the drive alone, with our 2 1/2 year old and our 8 month old twins. i would have loved to do it alone, but sadly hubs didnt get the new job =( it'll be fun, go for it!!