How old is the kid?
If they like to run around I can recommend ditching the car/ferry and travelling by train for getting to France. It takes about the same length of time and your sprog might cope better if they have the freedom to move instead of being strapped into a car seat.
However, if your child is a screaming nightmare then you will spend the journey trying your best not to piss off the other passengers.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Thu 2 Feb 2012, 8:42, 2 replies, latest was 14 years ago)

19 months
so still at the 'walk short distances, stops to examine every small blade of grass, falls over regularly' stage
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Thu 2 Feb 2012, 8:45, Reply)

If they fall over a lot the train might not be so good then.
They scream louder in small enclosed spaces containing pissed off businessmen.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Thu 2 Feb 2012, 8:50, Reply)

simply attach a hose to the exhaust and redirect the fumes into the car
remember to crack a window though, we're looking for a shortterm coma, not death.

/Mccanns
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Thu 2 Feb 2012, 8:45, Reply)