Travelling with Infant during long journeys

[anujmishra]

I searched Team-BHP for advice regarding travelling long journeys along with infant. I could not find one in forum.

What is the best possible way to travel long journeys when two adults (Mostly husband & wife) & a kid are there in car?

Since, Kid cannot sit on seat along with co-passenger on highways, due to safety reasons. Only choice is there he/she should be there in back seat.

What are the precautions one should take before embarking for long journey?

Wouldn't you feel that child seat is not appropriate for naughty indian kids, that too for long journey? They cannot sit for more time tied with seat belts.

PS: My son is 2 years and 8 months old and he is very naughty.

[deepakhon]

My daughter is around the same age as your son and I am sure she is equally naughty.
As you have rightly pointed out, it was quite a bother for us to make her sit anywhere for anything more than half an hour. There was no way she could have sat on a child seat. But, we had to seat her on the rear seat for long drives.

About 5-6 months back, we did a week long trip to Kerala. This was when I was searching for some ideas on how to seat kids, the naughtier ones especially. I searched through various fora and thought the best idea I got was from one of the contributors in paliousersindia. All we did was put in some beds, pillows in the space between the front and the rear seats and we made the rear seat one flat bed. My daughter spent her travel happily there.

I know it is not that safe an alternative as compared to a child seat, but it is always better than making her sit in the co-passenger's seat.

Now, I have another problem. She wants to wear the seat belt because one certain "Mr. Bean" wears them. I am not sure whether it is a safe practice for kids to use adults' seat belts.

[gd1418]

Install a screen at the back and carry loads of Tom & Jerry's, Spooky etc. and your kid will sit tight with eyes glued to the screen.

[rippergeo]

Car seat is the best option, indian kids are not naughtier than kids from any other part of the world.
We have not trained our kids to sit in a car seat, so they dont do it. If we put them in a car seat from the time they are infants, they will get used to it.
Best of luck getting your 2 yr old to settle down in the car seat.

if you have tried everything and he wont agree, then the non driver among the parents will have to be demoted to the back seat with the kid.

other things to note
1. soft toys, just for use in the car
2.plastic bags for waste disposal
3.plenty of water to wash
4. breaks every hour or so to let the kid stretch his legs
5. nursery rhyme mp3s/rajnikanth songs(my son likes both)
6.spare towels/clothes
7.baby food
8. the non driving parent should also take the oppurtunity to point out things continuously and name them etc. educates and entertains.

[SumitB]

Adult seat belts for kids are a strickt no, no.

Kids too small for adult seatbelts - The Pulse - Health Matters

[anujmishra]

Originally Posted by deepakhon

My daughter is around the same age as your son and I am sure she is equally naughty.

Well said deepak. This is good idea to convert rear seat like bed. My son enjoy ride standing at back and looking to the road. Shouting everytime "Papa Skoda" whenever he see a 3 box sedan on road. He admire Skoda very much

Originally Posted by gd1418

Install a screen at the back and carry loads of Tom & Jerry's, Spooky etc. and your kid will sit tight with eyes glued to the screen.

This is also a good idea. But applicable for big cars. Sure, I will look into this idea when I upgrade my car.

Originally Posted by rippergeo

Car seat is the best option, indian kids are not naughtier than kids from any other part of the world.

Yes for safety point of view child seat is best option. This is much helpful during sudden breaking on road. When on rear seat chances are he/she may fall from seat because of sudden breaking.

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by anujmishra

Wouldn't you feel that child seat is not appropriate for naughty indian kids, that too for long journey? They cannot sit for more time tied with seat belts.

PS: My son is 2 years and 8 months old and he is very naughty.

Dear Anuj,

All kids can be terribly naughty - the country of origin has absolutely nothing to do with it. Indian kids are no more naughtier than kids from anywhere in the world. One has to train the child to sit still in the seat.
My simple suggestion for your child's safety is to use a Child seat and then use the seat belt. The parents will be using the seat belts too so the child can see that it applies to all.
If he gets antsy, take a break every hour.

But teach your child to sit still in the child seat. He is not an infant, as the name of your thread suggests, but a child of almost 3. They can be very sensible.

Take a look at the photo here
They are the niece and nephew of my girlfriend. The little girl is 2 and the boy a little over 3.



The 2 kids in the picture are terrors, awfully mischevious and cannot sit still for a second anywhere. But right from the time they could walk, they have been strapped tightly into those kinderseats everytime they have travelled in a car and that's just the way it is. They know no other way now.

Remember the first time your kid had to wear clothes. And remember how uncomfortable it made him and he tried to take it off, the shoes, the pants? So did you let him be naked all the time? I guess you were firm and insisted and waited till he got used to it, didn't you?

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by anujmishra

Wouldn't you feel that child seat is not appropriate for naughty indian kids, that too for long journey? They cannot sit for more time tied with seat belts.

Originally Posted by deepakhon

My daughter is around the same age as your son and I am sure she is equally naughty.
As you have rightly pointed out, it was quite a bother for us to make her sit anywhere for anything more than half an hour. There was no way she could have sat on a child seat. But, we had to seat her on the rear seat for long drives.

Originally Posted by anujmishra

Well said deepak. This is good idea to convert rear seat like bed.

Oh my god! Where are these misconceptions coming from!!!

My elder son is extremely hyperactive kid, he can't sit in one place for more than 5 seconds. Yet, the child seat in the car is the only place where we used to forget he exists. Now my younger son is going through the same routine.

No matter how naughty your kids are, they will be angels once they are tied into the car seat. They might rebel first few times, but then they will see the light, take a nap.

Don't even think about beds or hand holding, etc. When it comes to kids in cars, especially long distance driving, there is no alternative to child seat.

Our earlier generation had no knowledge about this, and their cars didn't have seat belts. But the current generation has modern cars with seat belts and access to child seats. Please use it and keep your kids safe.

[shuvc]

My son loves the kinderseat. He is 3+. We bought the seat prior to our first major journey with him, when he was 10months old. A few weeks after I bought the Baleno. 450kms return journey went without a hiccup. He's been using it since.

The only issue is - if he falls asleep his head tends to rest/loll on the side and towards the front. Looks very uncomfortable. Hence we carry a soft pillow with cotton filling (helps in positioning it as desired) and wedge it between his head, the seat side rest and the seat arm rest.

Daily trips to the playschool, 5kms from home, are also in that seat. I've located it on the LHS of the rear seat, so that I can easily turn around and keep an eye on him / speak to him at traffic lights etc.

Needless to say, the childlock on the LHS rear door is also kept activated.

[deep_bang]

Totally agree on the car seat being the safest option. I had to go that route for my son, since i did not have a chioce (I was in US when he was about 1 year old). Looking back at it, it seems like a great think. It feels safer driving at high speeds. He also is much more comfortable now (although he does not like to sit more than a few hours).

We plan our journey so he can sleep through some half of the drive (for long drives). If he is cranky, one of us goes back and plays with him.

[Rehaan]

Here are a few threads that might be worth a dekho :

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modifi...e-gurgaon.html (Where can I get a child booster seat / car seat? (in Bangalore / Gurgaon))

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modifi...seat-kids.html ("Car seat" for kids)

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/street...solutions.html (child safety issues and solutions)

cya
R

[tsk1979]

Once a UK car show did an experiment about a 30mph crash with a kid in the rear seat(they used a dummy).
With a child seat the injuries were non existant.
Without it, the dummy flew and hit the wind shield.
If you love your kids use a child seat, otherwise you know what to do

[rkbharat]

I drop/pickup my daughter to/from daycare everyday and its 20 KM drive both ways. I use Car Seat all the time, but have to give her something new to look/mess with, every 5 mins. Things like, my access card, remote, my old non-functional mobile etc etc and keep talking to her. No soft toy work for her. Some fast music cheers her and keeps her urges to move out of car seat away.

We have not yet tried Long drive with her on car seat. We will try it pretty soon. but she get uncomfortable after one hour in car seat.

[shyamhegde]

Already most of the things are covered by other friends here. rippergeo's post should help you to pack the things.

Only thing I want to add is, avoid driving in nights. Kids won't be so comfortable sitting in dark.

Also look at this thread, I find it easy to keep my daughter busy with the portable player.
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/gadget...vd-player.html (Portable DVD Player)

[GTO]

Originally Posted by gd1418

Install a screen at the back and carry loads of Tom & Jerry's, Spooky etc. and your kid will sit tight with eyes glued to the screen.

Is that a good idea, considering that watching television in a moving car can be harsh on the eyes?