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The ride home from daycare is ROUGH - need suggestions

KathrynMDKathrynMD member
in Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months

DD has never been a fan of getting in the car, but normally once we're moving, she's a happy camper.  Talking/singing to herself, trying to get off her shoes, whatever, she's back there and happy!  The last 2 days she has yelled literally the entire ride home from daycare - maybe 15 minutes.  It is incredibly stressful and upsetting for me and I get home exhausted and frustrated.

I thought she was bored, so I brought one of her fave books to read - no help, threw it down, I thought she was hungry so I asked daycare to give her 1/2 a banana about a 1/2 hour before I get there - this did nothing.  I fed her a few crackers when we got in the car and that was OK, but only until she ran out.  I tried giving her a sippy w/ water - threw that down.  Any ideas??? 

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Re: The ride home from daycare is ROUGH - need suggestions

  • CFOCFO
    DCP fills up a new sippy of milk/juice every day.  She gets it when I come to get her.  She anticipates this new sippy so much, that when I arrive the first thing she does is go for her sippy.  She drinks it all the way home.
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  • kgb1411kgb1411 member

    I think that sometimes kids just need to scream for a little bit.  I imagine it can be very frustrating to be a toddler.  I personally am glad I can't remember it.  My suggestion is to keep up with giving her a snack and sippy if she wants one, but otherwise just turn the music up and drive home. 

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  • Snowy_OwlSnowy_Owl

    Is she facing forward yet?

    Think about getting a toddler crack machine - back seat DVD player.

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  • LaLaSweetsLaLaSweets member
    DD loves sesame street so majority of the time all we have to do is put the cd that I downloaded on and she starts to sing and have a great time. Does your daughter have a fave character that you can download or buy a cd for the car
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  • tmp-354536812503300tmp-354536812503300
    imagekgb1411:

    I think that sometimes kids just need to scream for a little bit.  I imagine it can be very frustrating to be a toddler.  I personally am glad I can't remember it.  My suggestion is to keep up with giving her a snack and sippy if she wants one, but otherwise just turn the music up and drive home. 

    I don't know why but this response made me LOL a bit. I can't tell if you're serious and your direction of thinking cracks me up or if you're being sarcastic and that makes me laugh.

    To the OP, I would keep giving snacks and sippy if that helps your LO to relax. Maybe get her a new sticker book or some kind of toy to play with only in the car. Point out things that you see as your driving.

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  • Mrs.BibleMrs.Bible member

    Katie is normally cranky when I pick her up...I give her half a mum - which she eats...but her crankiness normally comes from her being sleepy.  So I tell her its okay to go to sleep for the lil bit of time it takes to get home.

    Could your DD be a lil bit sleepy?

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  • RubygirlRubygirl member

    DS does that sometimes too.  I make sure I have his paci and snack cup ready for him, and occasionally a sippy of milk (when he asks for it).  Musical toys seem to help.  Check the straps and make sure they're not pinching.  They can grow overnight!

     

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  • mustangsalliemustangsallie member

    We listen to Backyardigans and Imagination Movers songs in the car when she is grumpy. She mellows out or dances along.

     

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  • AngeNAndy4106AngeNAndy4106
    I have a few cds of children singing children's songs.  She LOVES them!  If adults are singing, forget it..but those kids know how to rock it out apparently.  Also, sometimes we look for certain things. I'll say "do you see the school bus? truck? train? birds?" etc.  She loves that game and freaks out now whenever she sees school buses or trucks!   GL!
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  • JARbabyJARbaby member

    A phase C went through and J just entered. Don't let it upset you. I just turn up the radio and sing. Your getting upset feeds the fire, they pick up on your stress quickly. I give them each a snack trap and a sippy cup. J still screams.

    C lasted about 2 months. 

    The crying simply does not phase me anymore, which is a good thing.

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  • k8elee03k8elee03
    Two things that have often worked well (DD is still RFing, if that matters): 1. I sing a song that she likes like the wheels on the bus or the itsy bitsy spider. 2. Play with the windows -- assuming you can do that from the front seat. Open one a little, then the other, then both, then all the way down and back up, etc. This is a great way to distract her from the screaming long enough to try something else like singing. GL!
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  • kimby3679kimby3679
    Every one that's been with me when this happens thinks my solution is funny. B is for Bob. They can be the worlds crankiest babies, but as soon as the 1st song comes on, they calm right down.
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  • MegGaryMegGary member

    I used to commute w/ DD in the car which was over an hour drive. She did this often for almost the entire hour. She now goes to a daycare 4 blocks from our house. Heaven I tell ya.

    Sorry that doesn't help you.

     The one thing that I found to help was a cup of goldfish or her Elmo book. We have this little Where's Elmo book that keeps her mesmerized for awhile. What about singing to her as well. If I sing to DD in the car she stays entertained.

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  • mbtortormbtortor
    DD is usually cranky when I pick her up from daycare as well.  Luckily she's usually ok once we are in the car though.  I am not big on food/drinks in the car but I have given her a cracker or sippy of water if needed.  If that doesn't work I try singing to her or sometimes even opening the window.  We've foudn that distraction is sometimes all we need to get DD out of her funk.  Either way this prob is a phase that hopefully won't last forever for your LO!
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  • AmyDrinkieAmyDrinkie member
    Ian likes toys in the car.  I have the Lamaze moose, a couple of the FP alphabet blocks that have things in the middle that move around, and a fuzzy blanket.  I also have a sippy of water ready and waiting in the car.
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  • xmasbabymamaxmasbabymama
    Mine usually cries when I put her in the carseat, but settles down once we drive. I think it is that she is so excited to see me and then we are separated again so quickly. I think it's probably just a phase and I would try music on the radio, but try not to stress about it.
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  • SenoraKristinSenoraKristin

    I have "special" toys that DD only plays with in the car.  I keep a keep a small basket of books, little plastic animals that make sounds (dollar bin at Target), fake cell phone, a lip gloss container etc.  Also, I play this Silly Songs CD that DD loves and only listens to in the car.  I found that being FF helped a lot too.

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