My DS HATES the car...help!

bklyninri

We aren't in the car much because we live in NYC.  We are going to be travelling quite a bit starting now to our vacation home about 3 hours away.

My DS screams in the car seat.  We have tried almost everything!  My DH sometimes sits in the back and entertains him (which in my opinion is a bad idea because there are plenty of times where I will be with DS alone so I feel like that is creating a bad habit), we have tried snacks, a DVD player, and even turned him around just to see if that would help (which it didn't, so he is RF again).

We have tried leaving at nap time, which sometimes helps, but sometimes we just have to leave at times when it isn't naptime.  

We have tried to let him CIO.  It is SOOOOO hard to listen to!

Do you think it is because we aren't in the car much?  He is a super active kid and I think that it is frustrating to him that he is latched in the seat and he can't go anywhere.  

PLEASE GIVE ADVICE!  I am at my wits end after this past weekend's trip!

shoeboxx

Does he have a lovey at home?  Maybe try that. 

bklyninri

Yes...and a paci!  We always bring both

mistywhite400

Emerson went through a phase like that around your LO's age.  We just kinda dealt with it.  We tried to make car trips as short as possible, but sometimes she just had to fuss.  I gave her a sippy & her snack trap & that would help.  Also just random things to keep her occupied.  Like a spoon & a plastic cup were a godsend! 

GL & just keep trying. 

shoeboxx

bklyninri:

Yes...and a paci!  We always bring both

My LO sleeps in the car most of the time, but he has one of those sound books in the backseat he presses the same button over and over.  Also, is there a kiddy cd he likes at home?  I have a Disney CD I play in the car for him...I rather enjoy the music myself. 

As Misty said, try some non-toy entertainment.  I know one bumpie said she gives her LO empty plastic water bottles, they seems to like those.  Maybe a mirror. 

Good luck! 

nndidiamaka

What kind of seat is he in?  Curly HATED being in the car when he was in his infant seat, but as soon as we switched him to a RF convertible seat, he was a totally different baby.  Maybe check and make sure there isn't something poking him or irritating his skin in his current seat.

 Good luck!

superaunt

mine is in the car with me every day and i think that's why she's, for the most part, ok with it... but i do have some backups in case a meltdown occurs: *my* singing, a cookie monster chatter toy (she loves this thing but i carry it in my bag so she only gets it when she loses it which is very rare), empty water bottles (no caps- they can be choking hazards), and sometimes songs on the radio by Lady Gaga, Ke$ha, Britney work (songs with bass and repetition)

melody921

I'd definitely travel at nap time as much as possible, so at least he will sleep for part of it. Otherwise, how about a favorite toy or blanket, some fun music or a sippy cup?

essey1234

at that age the only thing that really helped was a kids CD. silly songs...it also helped to start the long drive right before nap time. that was hard the first few times. but tiredness made up for that . That was LO falls asleep for about half the drive then wakes up and has CD, books and sometimes cookies. Books have been great as well, since those are his favorite

SnowshoeMom

My son does ok.  But on our last four hour trip, I listened to 3.5 hours of wheels on the bus on repeat.  That disc is going to have a hole in it by the time he's two.

Another non-toy entertainment for him is shredding napkins.  I just don't let him do it if I'm not in the backseat with him as he often tries to eat the pieces.  Otherwise empty water bottles, singing, or talking to Grandma on the bluetooth car phone thing help.  But not everyone's mom may be game for singing on the phone.

Good luck!  Enjoy the vacation home!