The best $238 I ever spent

**daddys3chicks** · 06-28-2005, 08:30 AM

We just got back from vacation yesterday. The drive from NC to KY takes 8 hours if we don't have to stop a lot. On our previous trips we borrowed one of DHs co-worker's DVD player. Well, we didn't this time and the girls fought and fussed all the way to KY.

On the way home, we stopped at a rest area, and when we got ready to leave the battery was dead. Called AAA, got a jump and headed a couple of exits down to Walmart. While DH was buying and installing the new battery, I went and got a DVD player.

Impulse buy? Yes. But, the girls were actually QUIET for about and hour and a half. That purchase saved my sanity and nerves on this trip and on future trips!

It will not be in the car unless we are going on a major road trip.

**Mom23boys** · 06-28-2005, 11:46 AM

I am sure the girls will get lots of use out of it.

We have one too. It sure keeps the fighting and fussing down. Sure helps with the nerves!

I am so glad someone was smart enough to invent a portable DVD player.

**YankeeMom** · 06-28-2005, 12:17 PM

We love the entertainment pkg in our van, that and the 0% interest was the only reason we traded up.
Enjoy your new purchase.

**PrairieRose** · 06-28-2005, 07:27 PM

We used to have a small black and white tv and dh rigged a way to hook up our vcr when we were going on huge trips...back in our 1987 Chevy Van....

That helped a lot.

**Chea** · 06-28-2005, 07:34 PM

We have one as well and it sure does come in handy at times!

**kaykwilts** · 06-29-2005, 10:42 AM

I wish we had one of those. We make a trip to Nashville twice a year and one of those would come in handy.

**MirandaK** · 05-22-2006, 12:38 PM

My dad bought DH and I one last year and he got it pretty reasonably on Ebay!

**Kimberlina** · 05-22-2006, 02:32 PM

We have one my parents gave us last year. We use it only for loooong trips to keep Dd occupied when she is going stir-crazy.

**mom2matty** · 05-22-2006, 04:20 PM

I wouldn't even think of taking the kids and going on a road trip without ours!!! It has saved dh and I more times that I can count......well worth the investment!!

**PINKDUCKY** · 05-22-2006, 06:57 PM

We actually use ours sometimes in restaurants when the wait for food is really long, I think its unreasonable to make kids sit quietly and wait for food when its too long. Kids are just not able to do it(esp the 2yr old) and its not fair to them, my older one can sit and converse or color nicely but the younger one has a harder time. Once the food comes my kids know that its time to put it away, by then they are hungry and ready to eat and are much happier that way. Once in a while I've seen people give us a look, but I figure the kids are happy and calm, its not harming anyone (I make the sound very low) and its just to keep them occupied until they get their food. At home I wouldn't make them sit nicely while I cook it, they can play until the food is ready then they sit down to eat.

**Early Bird** · 05-22-2006, 07:32 PM

I'll be the dissenter here. Our kids would love it, but we're firm. Instead, we listen to books on tape. We pick children's books, usually unabridged, from the libray. And then the whole family enjoys and talks about them.

Some titles we've really enjoyed:
* Sign of the Beaver
* The Whipping Boy
* Little Women (I think that was 16 CD's long!)
* Witch of Blackbird Pond
* Trumpet of the Swan
* Kite Fighters
* Tucket's Gold
* Ruby Holler
All from the library. Unabridged. Free to check out.

**amysh** · 05-23-2006, 07:39 PM

Early Bird...

You're not the only dissenter. I do not want a portable DVD player in the car. Although, frankly, we don't take many long road trips, and my kids are now older. If we had made many long trips when the kids were younger, I might feel differently!

We recently went on a 3.5 hour trip in the car, but we borrowed a friend's Suburban, so they each had PLENTY of room to relax. They each read, and we even read aloud a few Five Minute Mysteries to challenge each other. We pack for car trips the same as airplane trips - lots of quiet activities without a lot of pieces. (Sewing cards were great when my kids were little.) The kids actually thought the road trip was great...we talked a lot and they wanted to do it again.

We are making the same trip this weekend...we'll see how it goes, because this time we are doing it in our Honda Accord. LOTS less room. Books on tape are a great idea! We would all enjoy that. I will see what the library has before we go.

Amy

**MirandaK** · 05-24-2006, 09:42 AM

One of the reasons we love ours (we don't have any kids) is that it's so great if you want to lay in the tub and relax but not read. I put it on a stool next to the tub and pop in a fun movie and just drift away! Plus, if my husband is watching something on TV and I want to watch a movie I can lay in bed and watch it on the small player. We only have one TV and it's in the living room. Since we watch way more movies than TV we really get a lot of use out of the small DVD player. Much more often than travelling.

**missymomof3** · 05-24-2006, 09:55 AM

Where in KY did you go?

**missymomof3** · 05-24-2006, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by Early Bird

I'll be the dissenter here. Our kids would love it, but we're firm. Instead, we listen to books on tape. We pick children's books, usually unabridged, from the libray. And then the whole family enjoys and talks about them.

That's a graet idea! I will have to do that when we go camping this weekend!