My fabourite is sleep – leaving when it is nap or night time. But that only works on shorter trips. Snacks work great too!

Leave before you baby sleeps or just after a meal, they will sure be napping

I would expect your 8 month old to sleep for a fair portion of the trip.
If there’s another adult in the car, maybe someone could read a few books if your little one gets restless?

I would leave just before nap time. Also plan lots of stops. I always took a few favourite toys for my twins to keep them occupied.

A little lap tray with some colouring in

For a trip that long hepefully they will sleep for a good portion of it.

At 8 months there’s a fair chance he’ll sleep- for long periods (rejoice!). Otherwise, pack a selection of small toys, and switch them out every hour or two.

A child that young is not going to get ‘bored’ if you’re lucky he will sleep. We did Brisbane to Newcastle with my son when he was a few months old and he was fine.

Try to put lullaby songs in the car maybe this would work

8 months is hard because iPad is always a first thought but at that age it’s not recommended. We often travel in the car up to my mother In laws and the one thing I would say would be to plan to leave just after a bottle/just before a nap so bub can sleep the first little stint in the car then after they wake up you can have a refreshed/energetic bub for the next little bit, then have a break/stop somewhere for a stretch and snacks (2 hours max in car seat they say). Teddy bears with buttons/lights (we have a puppy one that we got from big w and is great), toys that light up, hang some toys from the handle above the seat so they can play with it and have someone in the back seat to help entertain bub

Heaps of snacks for the trip also – good luck, hope I helped even a tiny bit

We play favourite songs like the wiggles on the radio this helps us.

Make sure you download or play a cd that has all the nursery rhymes on it, place a mirror so he can see himself and have various toys at arms reach to swap over. Hopefully he’ll sleep for a few hours as well.

Try these:
Play songs that have clapping –
Teach rhythm with clapping 3/4 and 4/4
Have a baby doll to look after – and shhh to sleep
Toe time toys (check amazon)
Car arch activities
Kid travel tray with activities
Hope some of this helps

I’ve been recommended spinning toys that suction onto the window. Perfect for that age group apparently.

I’d have someone sit in the back with them with their fave toys to keep them entertained if that’s possible

This article may give some ideas
https://www.flyingwithababy.com/best-baby-and-toddler-travel-toys/

At that age it’s handy when one adult can sit beside the baby and gives attention, whilst the other drives. You can sing songs, read stories, touch and feel and interactive books, interactive toys with sound and light etc

Not much for an 8 month old to do in the car. Favourite toys would be a start. Wearing them.out during pit stops so they sleep for a while. I’m sure you’ll be fine

We got an activity mat thing off kogan for a flight, has a few different things on it and can sit on their lap.
Honestly for a 7hr trip I would be bringing my iPad to use occasionally lol. Few different books you can flip pages for them.

Remember to stop and get baby out every few hours.