Will car trips ever get better?

[ann_of_loxley]

Will they? He hates it. He puts up with it with me sitting right next to him in the back seat if he is happy and awake. But as soon as he gets kinda sleepy - and cars will do that to you...even make me sleepy! lol - he doesn't want any of it. So we don't bother going anywhere if it takes longer than 10 minutes but thats not very far in this country! lol

Will it really get better?

I have read in many places that when they go into the next car seat (instead of a bucket) that they suddenly like the car...is that true? The next car seat we are getting is RF up to 55lbs - but its not a 'bucket' style one. Will he like that better?

Its just. When he is tired and wants to sleep - one of two things does it. A boob or the sling. Impossible when we are in the car and the car is moving! lol I have tried feeding him whilst he is in his seat but that doesn't work in our car!

Also - for those of you who use a soother only in the car...how does that pan out long term? He took it once and went to sleep - that has happened only the once though. Hasn't worked out since. In fact....he just isn't consistant at all! What works one time in the car...only ever works that once and never twice! lol But if we can get it to work for him more often, do they get hooked on it? Do they eventually no longer need it for car trips?

Is there a light at the end of this tunnel? lol

TIA!

[TSomm]

Mine cried and cried until she was 3 mos. *hugs*

[Sri Radha]

My baby HATED the car until I bought a convertible car seat. She likes the car now. She will cry occassionally but nothing like before. In the infant seat she would scream and even choke! It was horrible.

It's worth a shot. You will need to buy one at some point anyway.

[Knitting Mama]

When Cecilia was having big carseat troubles I tried the convertible carseat like everyone suggested, and no dice. She cried and screamed just as much as she did in the bucket seat. Now, that's not to say it won't work for your little man, but it definitely didn't for Cecilia. She's gotten a lot better at it on her own these days. She still has whiney times and unhappy times, but the good times outweigh them. I think the lights and sound mirror (didn't pay $30 for it, that's for sure! LOL) we got for her helps a lot, as does her ability to hold toys and play with (read: chew on) them herself.

[belltree]

It has gotten better for us, but I'd say that 50% of our car rides still include screaming fits of our now 9.5 month old. We have to drive to places, public transportation is not an option, so usually my dh sits in the back and tries to distract him, that works often, but not always, toys sometimes help, sometimes music.

I've found, that trying to drive during naps is one of the best things to do, and breaks to walk about for longer car rides.

[aramat]

Our 3rd hated the car until maybe 6 mos, but we hardly ever drove, so she may have acclimated earlier, and she also didn't get a chance to develop a negative association w/the carseat (I wonder if this is why babies like the switch to convertible?). Previously, she would wail if the car wasn't moving, but now (8 mos) she's perfectly content looking around until she just falls asleep. I usually keep her awake before a trip, then change her diaper and stuff her full of milk right before strapping her in. We don't use a pacifier but did with my other babies.

[carmen358]

Hating the car seat phase is SO hard. I would often end up in tears too and actually avoided going out in the car on my own with DD. I think it was around 3 or 4 months that she started not liking it. It lasted about a month (maybe a bit more) and now she's fine in it again. She fusses a bit when she's really tired and then drifts off to sleep.

We have the True Fit convertible so she was never in a bucket seat...so that obviously wasn't the issue with us.

I try and catch public transport or walk when I can just so she's not sitting in the car every day too. Not sure if that's an option for you but it's a nice change of pace.

[redvlagrl]

Originally Posted by Sri Radha

My baby HATED the car until I bought a convertible car seat.

this. with DD. DS doesn'y mind it. nak

[1blueheron]

wrist rattles (can't be dropped/thrown) got us through the toughest phase. she sometimes takes a pacifier in the car and sometimes at night, zero interest in it at other times. 6 months old now, fine in the car unless she's overtired/not feeling well.

[snoopy5386]

Something that did work with my DD1 was to get her in the seat and get her to sleep before we left, either by rocking, swinging, strollering or even nursing her in it and then put it in the car and go. Could that possibly work for you?
Convertible didn't work for us either and this one only naps in the car for a max of 30 mins so it's been hard. She's gotten a bit better now that she can hold and chew on toys.