Rafa
Long drives with a two-year-old:
Fine
8.8%
Doable
41.2%
Miserable
20.3%
DONT DO IT
29.7%
Poll ended at .
Jan 15, 2023 at 12:07pmWeb
Show threadMathias GmeinerJan 15, 2023
@rafa you forgot an option: „depends“ 😊
We have three sons. The oldest with two year in a car: miserable. Middle one with two: okish. The youngest (not even two yet): he enjoys it 🤷🏻‍♂️
Show threadJohannes FreundJan 15, 2023
@rafa We’ve done the 1200 km trip from Germany to the French Atlantic coast multiple times with our two kids (started when the younger one was 11 month). Worked out well for us so far.
Show threadMatěj FeldekJan 15, 2023
@rafa you need a good battle plan. Then it can be a nice family memory.
Show threadFrontier MagazineJan 15, 2023

@rafa the answer I’ve found, with two boys we’ve take places both alone and together, is (E) All of the Above.

Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it! Take 2x the snacks you think are necessary. Good luck!

Show threadDima VeremchukJan 15, 2023
@rafa it depends I guess. We were driving for like 6 hours when my daughter was two, and it went perfectly fine. At the same time my friend with 2 year old boy couldn’t drive even for 30 mins without a meltdown 🤷‍♂️
Show threadDave 🧱 Jan 15, 2023
@rafa driving to grandparents, fine. Staying with grandparents… 😳
Show threadjoshbuddyJan 15, 2023
@rafa it really massively depends on the child! and how fast you're trying to get there
Show threadLuca OrioJan 15, 2023

@rafa Timing the drive with naps and a full belly helps but, unfortunately, I think it can get pretty random sometimes.

We managed to drive for nine hours once (three stops) and he was so good for the entire time. It was unreal!

But then we take him to the supermarket (five minutes) and… He’s screaming! lol

Show threadBrian JonesJan 15, 2023
@rafa we did four transatlantic flights and a driving trip from Ohio to Texas and back in that two-year-old range. There will be bad moments but it will all work out. Don’t let it be the reason not to do something fun or important.
Show threadMartin SchilligerJan 15, 2023
@rafa Take the train or make camp-in-your-homeyard-holidays. Trains are perfect for traveling with children.
Show threadCharlie ChapmanJan 15, 2023

@rafa we always had a tub of toys and a whole rationing schedule for slowly doling them out

Also figured out how to tie an iPad to the backseat so we could get a movie or downloaded show in (but that also had to be rationed or it’d lose its magic 😅)

Show threadJWWWJan 15, 2023
@rafa did a 30 hour trip last summer with a 2yo and 5yo. It went surprisingly well - just lots of “new” toys (we simply reintroduced toys that had been put away for a while) and plenty of snacks.
Show threadWinJan 15, 2023
@rafa organized them so they are at the same time as their naps
Show threadMatthaeusJan 15, 2023
@rafa love that the best option is “fine” 😂
Show threadMilosJan 16, 2023
@rafa A lot depends on your kid, but plan the trip based on when your kid usually sleeps and how to get the maximum of that side. Also, snacks help a lot 😀
Show threadSeth Johnson Jan 20, 2023

@rafa start early with whatever you want to be normal. Kids are super flexible. Just plan on plenty of bathroom stops 😅 It’s going to take much longer than you think. Bring activities and snacks. They sleep too. We can drive days with ours now.

Good luck and have fun! 👍

Show threadPilot34Mar 8, 2023
@rafa how did your drive ended up? We’ve recently tried this approach and it worked well: drive 2 hours during the day sleep + 3 hours during the night sleep. And move from the car directly to the bed. We managed to go to the south of France and back almost without the scandals :)
Show threadRafaMar 8, 2023
@pilot34 ended up not going (maybe next year), but your experience is giving me hope!