Going on a trip across country, driving, with a one year old who HATES the car and her car seat. Any advice?

Emily - posted on 02/20/2009

My 17 month old daughter absolutey hates car rides! We drive 12 hours from KS to MN about twice a year. As bad as it sounds, we drive through the night. We just take turns driving and sleeping. Greta sleeps for 90% of the time so that helps. Even on short trips she screams though. I've found that if I can ignore her for about 10 minutes she quiets down and finds something to entertain herself with.

Tammy - posted on 02/19/2009

Yikes! My youngest was a screamer too! We took them on very long car trips and most of those trips were brutal. I was even tempted to sell my screamer to some hitch-hikers on the highway. Because we travelled so much, my screamer child actually loves to ride now....she is 5 years old. It's a horrible, rotten stage but they do outgrow it!!! Thank God!!!

Sheena - posted on 02/19/2009

I wanted to thank everybody for their input. It sounds like this is goign to be something I'll just have to figure out when we get there. I'll let oyu all know what works. I'm going to try snacks and toys and hopefully the movies my other daughter will be watching will help as well. We're also going to try to stop as little as possible but when we do we'll bring a tarp so that she can crawl since she's not quite walking. Also, I think we're going to be driving a lot at night. At least a good 4 to 5 hours so hopefully, she'll sleep. She's so young that she doesn't really have a favorite anything and she's a fiesty little thing so when she gets mad, it all gets thrown. I really hope it goes well and I'll let you all know when we get there. Thanks for the input!

Brie - posted on 02/19/2009

I don't have too much advice, but can totally understand where you're coming from! My 6.5 month old has always hated the car, and this past Christmas we were going on a 10 hour car trip, and I was dreading it! Well, for whatever reason she didn't cry! Her big sisters sat in the back with her and played with her, sang to her, and just entertained her. She was completely fine the whole way. Maybe having her sibling back there to have fun with her may help? Good luck!

Kelly - posted on 02/18/2009

I personally never had a problem with my chldren not liking car rides, they love them in fact, but i do know some people whos kids have not liked them, my suggestions would be to give them their favorite toy or thing they love the most for security, "ask ur child what would help make them feel better" for the car ride, and staying in the carseat is always a must when it comes to safety u need to be firm and make sure they know this and why! Talk to ur child and prepare them for the trip, even at 1yr they are more intelligent then we think, explain what's going to hapen and tel them to practice" for the car ride with u and make it positive and fun, hope this helps!

Carol - posted on 02/13/2009

My daughter also HATES the car seat! She's 15 weeks and has never enjoyed travelling in the car since she was 8 weeks onwards. It's definitely difficult for myself and my husband. We love travelling and taking her out, but I dread the car rides!

I've tried sitting her in the car seat at home to get her use to it, but doesn't work, she just cries and cries until I get her out. I also added toys, sang to her, white noise in the car (radio station) everything, you name it!

I'd be interested to hear what others have to say about this and what worked for them.

Jessica - posted on 02/12/2009

Elvis always worked with my girls. Unlike most little ones mine hated the car and every year we drive from michigan to myrtle beach and Elvis music seemed to help.

Sheena - posted on 02/12/2009

We try that regularly! She's just a punk because it's more that she's mad rather than anything else and she's STUBBORN!!!

Gloria - posted on 02/12/2009

Sing songs!