To Piggyback Holley A's Question

One suggestion-- if you have toys available, use some of those plastic links to join them together... that way, if one drops, you can just pull them up with that. (I did this for an airplane ride-- was great.) I packed a few favorite board books, toys for my son to play with (slid the links into the loops of the tags) and lots more food and clothing than I thought I would need, because sometimes you get stuck, right? I also packed a few swim diapers-- when the restroom was busy, we could get the old diaper off relatively easily with my son on my lap (wet diapers, that is) and could slide the swim diaper on him. He was about 9 months old when we went. (note: the swim diapers are less absorbent, but if you can't find a place for him to lie down to put on another one, this or a pull-up will work well in a pinch. )

C.,

What kind of bus? A school bus or a charter bus like Greyhound?

If you are going on a charter bus - are you going alone or will someone be with you? If you are alone - how do you plan on going to the bathroom during the trip? The bathroom is VERY TINY so you will need to know what you are doing with your child while you are in the bathroom.

Make sure you have a changing pad for your child - as I don't think an 11 month old is potty trained - right? Make sure you have plenty of diaper wipes as well..

It's NORMALLY about a 7 hour drive. So will you be carrying your child on your lap or do they make you have your car seat? I would say CAR SEAT as you really don't want to sit with your child on your lap for 6 to 7 hours.

Have fun!!

That's a long bus ride for a little one in a car seat. Does the bus make stops or will,you drive thru. Remember you cannot let him walk around on the bus. You would not do that in a car. So lots of toys, snacks, DVD player and patience. He might sleep part of the way. Remember you have the trip,back too. Good luck.

Keep in mind, it is illegal for a child to ride in a vehicle without a carseat. Do not remove him from seat while bus is moving. Please.

If those on the bus are good about it, and your kid isn't an early walker or rife with separation anxiety, you'll do fine.

We had a 4 hour plane trip to the dominican with our 7 month old. He was charming, largely satified to sit and really content with people making googy eyes at him. Everyone was eager to make googy eyes at him. We took him through national forests, in cable cars and trams, through museums, cigar factories to the acquarium and the beach. So long as he was fed, and changed and near us, he was perfectly content.

Best to you on your travels.
F. B.

Where is the bathroom?
Oh but your child is 11 months, still in diapers etc. I assume because your child is so young and not anywhere near 2-4 years old.

Bring lots of extra clothing/diapers etc.
How long is that bus trip?

We've made that drive from OK to Destin twice with our son, the first time at 5 months and the second at 18 mos. Put some of her favorite toys and books aside awhile before the trip, so they will seem brand new when you re-introduce them. Make sure to bring her favorite lovey or blanket with you in the car rather than packing it, hopefully naps will be frequent. If you're on a bus, will she still be able to be in a carseat? I'm hoping so, talk to some of your friends that will be going and ask if they'd mind occasionally rotating through so she gets some new faces. We did that just with our family that was on our trip and a new face and new games can make a big difference. Expect some tears, but don't let it get to you enough to get her out of her carseat, safety always first! I dreaded each road trip we took, and they were always just fine.

Be able to move them around. Not straight sitting all the time. They will be happy to do stuff and they'll want down.

Can you move around on the bus? Like on a charter one? or is it a school bus style church bus? If it's the charter one then you should be able to get up and move from one area to another safely. For instance, if she likes several different people on the bus you can get up and go sit by them for a few minutes then move to sit by another friend. Enough of a variety to keep her mind occupied. Then try to keep snacks for her. Make sure about choking hazards though. She won't have the same coordination on a moving bus as she will sitting in a high chair. I'd made everything under 1/4". No gooey sticky stuff. She might be dry from being in that drier environment so sticky stuff would be double sticky to her.

She will need lots of fluids too. On a charter bus that is. They have AC going and that takes the moisture out of the air really well. If it's an open window school bus type thing then it won't be so dry.

Take her favorite toys plus a portable DVD player. Surely no one would object to Veggie Tales or some other DVD that has a good story and moral.

Bring some kind of pillow or neck ring pillow for both of you. The motion of the bus will probably have her sleeping a lot, so plan to sleep on the bus. You also may want to bring a blanket throw for each of you. Once you get to your destination she may be ready to run and play, plan for it. Take snacks and plenty of water or other things to drink.

When you bring a change of clothes be sure to include socks and shoes. If she wets herself she could leak enough to get everything. You might want to have your slippers in your carry on, they are less confining than shoes.