pmaggiac
Englewood Ohio
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Joined: 10/19/2007
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I am about to take my first trip with my grandson who is eighteen months old and very active and I am unsure of how treat him while traveling down the highway. The options I think I have are
a. Strap him in his car seat for hours at a time watching DVD's or sleeping (this will be a 9 - 12 hr trip)
b. Allow him to sit at the table for some periods of time to play
c. Allow him to sit on the cabin floor and play
d. Allow him to sleep in either the main bed or the converted table bed.
e. Give him total freedom of movement limited only by the concerns of his Grandma and his mother.
Any suggestions from those who have been through this before?
Thanks
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frankandvicki
Niwot,CO
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Joined: 05/31/2007
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I would do the same as if you were traveling in a car. Strap him in a car seat at the dinning table where there are seat belts and have your co-pilot get him interested in the sights outside. Teach him early to enjoy this type of travel and you won't have trouble in the later years. We traveled with our son in a PU camper and then a Class C until he went off to college and he loved traveling in the RV. Never had to play DVDs (no such thing at the time) computer games or handhelds which they did have at the time. He is now 29 and talks very positive about our travels. At the bare minimum, keep him in his car seat -- seat belted to an installed seat belt. God forbid if you were in an accident, you would never forgive yourself. More than JMHO.
Frank ).
Frank and Vicki
Niwot, CO
2006 Itasca Sunrise 35A
States visited/camped in, not just driven through.
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JCWWBT
Georgia
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Joined: 12/08/2007
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My intent on our first trip (18 hour drive) was to keep all 3 of my little ones in their carseats. I did for the most part. Only allowing them freedom to go potty. Our rv does not have seatbelts at the booth seating. On the way back our 8 month old was in her carseat. I had the youngest boy (3 in his carseat) and my oldest (4) strapped in. their carseats are not supposed to be used in the sideways position. Only rear or forward facing. My son's booster is a highback and is only to be used with a 3 point belt. If someone knows of a carseat manufacturer that makes carseats safe to use in the sideways position please let me know.  I was told by a law enforcement officer that you do not have to use a carseat in a motorhome because it is not considered a passenger vehicle. This is in Georgia and I am sure it differs from state to state. I will say I felt more comfortable with them in their seats, but the trip started to become miserable for them.
1996 Itasca Suncruiser 37RW
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ejforwood
Littleton (Denver) Colorado
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Joined: 04/26/2006
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What would you have done while traveling with your grandchild's parent, when it was your child? I think you will find it's the same thing, just a few years farther down the road! JMHO!
Jerry, Dottie & Chan, "the little furry one"
98 Bounder 34V, 99 F-53 Ford V10 chassis
06 Saturn VUE 4I
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GACampnGirl
Georgia
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Please strap that baby in. If you travel at "sleepy" times, he may just nod off and sleep. Keep a brown bag of goodies available to get those last few miles in. We found the big lollipops that take awhile to eat a peacekeeper when our kids were younger. But there will be times that the child will simply not be happy in the car seat and need to run around. Good time to look at that "Next Exit" guidebook and find a fast food place with an indoor play place. Avoid the lunch/dinner rush - arrive early!
Have fun and be flexible
 Spread the word about Campground Etiquette!
CAMPING ETIQUETTE CHECKLIST
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tatest
Oklahoma
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a.
Except that you can stop every hour or two, let him out to run wild for 15-20 minutes, before strapping him in again.
And you don't need electronic entertainment. Someone needs to be sitting with him, playing with him, keeping him busy when he is not sleepy.
Tom Test
Itasca Spirit 29B
2001 Ranger Edge
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pmaggiac
Englewood Ohio
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Thanks everyone for your comments. "A" was my plan but I was afraid I was being too restrictive since I had seen cases where the kids were able to move about with little restriction so I thought I would get a second opinion.
Pete
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Rick Jay
Greater Springfield area, MA
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Hi,
Option a. Strapped in. We've been there recently with our youngest. And if I may suggest, the "Baby Einstein" series of DVD's worked really well for our children. However, whatever DVD they tend to favor should be brought along. And make sure they're taken out every couple of hours for stretching and changing.
~Rick
2005 Georgie Boy 3625 DS on a Workhorse W-22 (Class A)
Rick, Gail, 1 girl (12-Angel), 1 girl (7), 2 boys (8 & 5), 1 plump Golden Retriever.
2001 Honda Odyssey with Demco Aluminator tow bar & tow plate, SMI Silent Partner brake controller.
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Serena
US
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I wouldn't let an 18 mo old roam. Too many switches and interesting knobs in sight. Just figure what's the worst stunt he ever pulled in the house and imagine him doing it in a moving vehicle.
When I was a kid (pre-seatbelt days), the baby got Mom's lap, everybody else had to sit tight. The carsick ones got dramamine, and it was road games, coloring and puzzle books, or sleep for the rest of us. (TT, and no eating allowed in the car, short pitstops now and then to run around)
When my own was young, found any vehicle that rolled was the best natural kid tranquilizer ever invented. She liked the passenger footwell of my 4X best of all. I actually got more peace ON the road with that one. I could've put her under a cargo net in the back and she'd have been just as happy, as long as we were rolling. Still works, actually. Sometimes, even the high-strung kind will surprise you.
Besides the seatbelt laws, I don't think much has changed. Long as he's fed and comfy there's enough new and random stuff on the road to keep most any kid fairly happy. And he doesn't know any 'road rules' yet, so you can strap him in like it's all a super-special occasion, and he won't even know the difference. As long as he can touch a parent or grandparent from where he is, he'll likely be satisfied.
Serena
I Know Where I Been, Cuz I Was There When I Went.
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motorhomi
whitmore lake m i usa
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We have traveled many miles with little ones and found it to be unrealistic to keep and 18mo old strapped in a seat for more than an hour or two. Our solution was to barricade the area at each end of the two couches and let them play in that small area. With Grandma on one couch and Mom on the other they played happily. An 18mo old is not the most steady thing on two legs and with carpet on the floor and two couches on either side they where safe from bumps if they where to fall. Have a great time making wonderful memories.
P.S We also found a small blow up kiddie pool fits in the shower and makes a great bathtub for a little guy.
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