Any tips to get LO to tolerate car rides a little better?

*sparky* · July 2014

DD has apparently decided she hates the car or her car seat or both. This girl does not fall asleep in the car easily and so she ends up screaming until I have to pull over. Today I had to pick DS and two friends up at camp 45 minutes away. It was torture. She eventually fell asleep but until then we tried everything to calm her down. It took me almost an hour and a half to get them home because of it.

So I need some tips - anything you have - to possibly make it better. Or do I just have to wait it out? We are taking a trip 2 hours away next month and I really don't want the poor thing screaming the whole time. It breaks my heart!

Cecilbear · July 2014

A lot of us seem to be going through this lately, as there have been a few posts in the past few weeks with good suggestions.might be worth a search. When I take dd out of the seat, she's almost always sweating. So I purchased a little fan. I've also had luck with white noise and a super obnoxious toy that lights up and plays music. Seems to distract her.

UnofficiallyLO · July 2014

DS is usually great in the car unless he pees, then all bets are off! The only thing that works for me until I can get to my destination is putting the windows down (noise, air, distraction). Good luck! It's truly a form of torture when they scream in traffic.

*sparky* · July 2014

@Cecilbear - sorry I am always on my phone and I have I idea how to search - I will scroll back a few pages. Thank you!

selina1113 · July 2014

Try a mirror. Works for us

*sparky* · July 2014

Put a mirror in last week but it hasn't helped. Maybe we'll try the fan.

Cecilbear · July 2014

*sparky* said:
Put a mirror in last week but it hasn't helped. Maybe we'll try the fan.

I almost bought this mirror yesterday that has lights, music, and little animals. Maybe something like that to keep your LO's interest? I ended up buying this take-a-long mobile that dd has no interest in! Ps: I never search old threads either! Just thought it was worth a mention,, as there were some helpful ideas there.

*sparky* · July 2014

I will try some toys, etc. and certainly don't mind you mentioning there we either threads. I wish I knew how to search! But I will gladly scroll through the posts if there is a chance I'll find a solution to this.

Jmd527 · July 2014

If you scroll to the bottom where you click to go to the next page or choose a page number, you should see a magnifying glass at the end of the pages #s. Hope that helps!

momofmanyinthemitten · July 2014

I hate to tell you this, but my 3 y/o still hates the car. We just bought a mini van with a DVD player and it has worked magic. None of my 3 have been car/stroller sleepers. So many people say it's the only way to get their babies to sleep. For me, it's the best way to get them worked up into a major tizzy.

AmberLiz99 · July 2014

Here are my tricks for my dd who also hates the car unless she is very tired, when she sleeps.

-makes sure it's cool enough so she's not hot
-make sure the straps are not rubbing her neck
-make sure she can see out the window (she prefers the sun shade pushed back when she's not sleeping so that she can see the lights and movement I guess)
-I keep a rattle in the front seat, and I she cries and I shake it she will stop crying about 70% of the time. Weird but works

Good luck! Screaming babies are no fun

EmmaD312 · July 2014

Someone got us this little dog toy and LO loves playing with it while in his car seat. It seems to keep him company and he likes the noise. Who knows how long it will work but they're buddies for now! https://m.target.com/p/breathables-mesh-toy-by-breathablebaby-blue-puppy/-/A-14413811

*sparky* · July 2014

That puppy is cute! I will try the rattle too. I have white noise on my phone but that doesn't seem to help in the car.

hcam0707 · July 2014

@*sparky* we were given a portable mobile from a friend. My son loves it! Although he doesn't seem to give us much trouble in the car, so I don't know how affective it would in your case. The portable mobile clicks on to so many things and it is incredibly convenient in regards to travel and size.
Eta- here's the product by tiny love
https://m.toysrus.com/skava/static/product.html?type=TRU_product_us&url=/product/index.jsp?productId=24774946&KPID=17010404&mr:trackingCode=F77ABEED-9622-E311-A497-90E2BA285E75&mr:referralID=NA&mr:filter=38523660046&camp=PLAPPC-_-PID17010404&mr:ad=35250039166&mr:device=m&mr:match=&mr:adType=pla&cagpspn=plat_17010404&mr:keyword=&domain=http://www.toysrus.com

nicole mackenzie · July 2014

My LO hates the car as well... And it takes me an hour to get anywhere. An hour plus however many times I have to stop.

I have noticed she travels better in the morning when she's sleepy.

She travels worst at bedtime (5:30-7:30) she just wants to be held at this point and I can't do that while driving.

She does like toys for a while.

She doesn't like being too hot and until my a/c is fixed I've had to take breaks in grocery stores to cool off.

At a certain point after I've stopped and nursed and stopped and changed her diaper and stopped just to talk to her there is nothing I can do but drive home...

I talk to her and sing at that point but there isn't anything else I can do but get to my destination and get her out of the car

strawberrytree · July 2014

I was just talking to a friend this morning whose LO also hates the car. The latest thing she's trying is getting an 8x10 picture of her smiling face to tape to the back of the seat so her LO can look at her face. She only just put it in so not sue if it's going to work for her but if you've tried everything, maybe worth a shot?

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Any tips to get LO to tolerate car rides a little better?

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