Need Advice for a 5 Hour Car Ride

I have traveled alone with my 2 girls flying for 4 hours and driving from San Diego to Vegas. I found several things to help make the trips easier
* pack a kids backpack with smallish toys (airplanes, cars, dinosaurs, horses, dolls)
* small aquadoodle cards or pads (no worries if she sucks some water or gets it on herself & the car)
* NEW DVDs of characters she loves (my girls love Diego because of the animals, Baby Einstein, and My Little Pony, Aristocats, Blue's Clues, Wonder Pets)
* Snack packs of things she can feed herself (don't even worry about the crumbs on the floor) cheerios, Gerber fruit nuggets, animal crackers may be a bit more messy, soppy cups of water & juice.
* sing songs with them: wheels on the bus, itsy bitsy spider, slippery fish, old Macdonald, 5 Little Ducks, etc...
* enlist your 3 year old's help to entertain & hand your little one new toys from the backpack.
* plan to stop frequently so they can run & stretch their legs (a porta potty (potette) has been a lifesaver if your older daughter is potty trained and their are no potties in sight/for miles.
Good luck!

Have you explored the possibility that your 13 mos old is motion sensitive? Perhaps the motion bothers her enough that she is uncomfortable and cries, but doesn't throw up. If that is the case, check with your pediatrician to see if a medicine like Dramamine is appropriate and SAFE to give a child that young????

Other suggestions would be to leave on the trip at her nap time or later at night at bedtime or really early in the morning when she might fall back asleep. Good luck.

Would hanging a mirror on the back of the driver or passenger seat so that she can see her own reflection help?

How about a heavy blank or quilt to help her feel more grounded in her seat?

Giving her a bottle when you reach higher elevation on the 15 fwy will help relieve the pressure in her ears.

Playing soothing music like the Baby Einstein CD's always help to calm my children down.

Singing rounds of Old McDonald can be very distracting for some kids.

Boy, I forgot how much work it is to have a toddler!

I have traveled many miles with my toddler and I found it best to sit with her in the back with her. And I interact with her and keep her happy. She is 15 months and does not sleep in the car like she used to. You have all the things she could possibly want and need. So maybe trying to sit in the back with her may be a more peaceful trip. Good Luck......

Maybe go late at night??? Maybe she will sleep.