tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384073.post8970111060619631951..comments2023-10-11T10:19:32.029-04:00Comments on Life On The Roof: ECCJ - the testerJennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04264227264937700027noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384073.post-29992551386630578842011-06-29T15:04:54.090-04:002011-06-29T15:04:54.090-04:00On playpens...there are a number of travelling cri...On playpens...there are a number of travelling crib options that are like mini tents - I used a pop up sun shade that folds down to the size of a plateJulia Halehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18322681583659253679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384073.post-18477378094138154252011-06-28T03:45:42.773-04:002011-06-28T03:45:42.773-04:00Ohhh... I love long van trips with the kid(s). Ou...Ohhh... I love long van trips with the kid(s). Our son travelled from BC to Ontario at 4mo and 1.5 yrs and then to MB at 2.5 and 4.5 yrs of age. Darling daughter went to MB at almost 2yrs. Our trick to the long drive was a tip from a patient years ago. She suggested collecting Mr. Donalds, Burger King or any fast food 'toys', go to the dollar store, garage sales or second hand store to pick up toys, thin books, cheap colouring pads/books and simple packets of crayons. These get wrapped in tissue paper (I id on the outside what it is so I know what it is) and a colour for one child and a different one for the other (to make sure proper kid gets age appropriate toy/writing utensil). When a child becomes terribly bored and whiny then out came a 'gift' for the child. A NEW thing to play with and can be done on a very cheap budget if you have time to peek around but longer if you're trying to find 'earth friendly' options.<br /><br />Whether it's a long road trip or a flight over halfway across the country we also pack a small backpack which has a couple of new books, new toothbrush, and a couple other toys and often items co-workers kids are getting rid of 'for free' to occupy them for the first leg of the trip. Oh yes, and we do include a couple SMALL treats as well which is a huge surprise for them. Treats have to be saved til after pee breaks as our hands are freshly washed! The backpack also provides something for each child to store their 'new' items keeping vehicle a little more organized!<br /><br />On that note, boys (or girls for that matter) do not like to pee on the side of the road whilst being bombarded by grasshoppers in Saskatchewan (there are no pit stops between cities and small towns don't seem to even have an outhouse either...WE KNOW..sorry if anyone is from SK). A potty is a handy idea and if its one that you wouldn't mind unloading once you reach the end of your ECCJ. No matter how bad my son has to go, once we pull over and he realizes there's just tall grass or a vault outhouse toilet or one that has spiders in it he apparently can hold it for another 1-2 hrs til we reach some sort of civilization with a flushing toilet! <br /><br />As for toddlers in diapers we use a waterproof change pad and cut a slit for the seat buckle so it can cover the area of the carseat where a diaper could possibly leak. Nothing worse than a leaky diaper soiling the carseat on a hot drive where you have to find a campground with laundry facilities (we've experienced a few times with the boy).<br /><br />I wish I was going with you on your trip as we are all flying this summer :( <br /><br />OH yes, another thing we do is go to Value Village and buy some 'used' shorts and Ts for the kids as the passenger in the front does all the passing out of beverages and snacks throughout the trip and inevitably some of the eats or bevvies spill and some of the stains won't come out by the end of the trip so they can be discarded leaving you with less clothing to fly back with. Could add more but this is already too long.....<br /><br />Good luck and enjoy your trip!Stephanienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384073.post-26176742603181706862011-06-27T22:41:01.263-04:002011-06-27T22:41:01.263-04:00oops here you go. http://www.kidco.com/main.taf?p=...oops here you go. http://www.kidco.com/main.taf?p=4,5Catherinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07876618145890678224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384073.post-45893234798483436712011-06-27T22:39:41.077-04:002011-06-27T22:39:41.077-04:00I saw this the other day and thought it was pretty...I saw this the other day and thought it was pretty cool. It would work for Corben's crankyness. <br /><br />http://www.snuggingo.com/snuggingo/Home.html<br /><br />We don't use a playpen because it's really bulky and have a peapod instead. The Peapod Plus is large enough for Griffin if need be. We also like the fact that we can turn on the lights and not disturb the kids. <br /><br />I'm very jealous of your trip and hope you have lots of fun.Catherinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07876618145890678224noreply@blogger.com