Any tips/ideas for long car journey with 6mo who hates the car?

[howlongwilltheynap]

It would be much appreciated if so.

DS2 is normally a very calm and happy baby - my friends say they have never heard them cry. But he hates the car and if the timing is wrong or if the journey too long (ie past 15 mins) he will scream and scream and scream. And scream. And we are driving to visit the ILs which is normally a 5/6 hour journey (probably longer this time as we will need more stops).

We last went when he was 9w, it was an absolute nightmare, I had to twist in my seat to hold the dummy in, that didn't always stop him crying though. I nearly made DH pull over and find a hotel 50 miles from home as i couldn't bear it any more.

There is no room for one of us to sit in the back between the 2 car seats. I was hoping he would be better by now but he isn't. If he is really really really tired he will sleep for a very short while but that is it. Having some toys to play with helps a little but not much.

Anyone got any ideas please? Also anyone with kids who are travel sick - were they like this as babies as I wondered if that is it?

Thank you!

Have you tried music?
It has to be childrens music not just the radio in our case. Both DS seem to react well to having their CDs on in the car.
Also singing to them use to help.

Good idea, we had plenty of nursery rhyme CD last time we went there (much to DH's delight) but now he is older he probably will recognise it more, he normally responds well to singing, thanks

Travel at night? Leave when he's absolutely shattered so he'll go straight off?

My dd was the same at that age... We used to try and time it so we set off just before a nap and then played children's lullabies - if we were lucky she would sleep for an hour - the rest of the time was spent twisting around with endless toys, books etc - I feel your pain. She is now 7 and is very good in the car

Same issue here - we have a white noise app on the iphone. Works a treat. DS is 9 months and it still does the trick.

I know this won't help but he shouldn't be in car seat for more than 2 hours at a stretch.... My DS2 used to get tummy ache if he was in the seat for over an hour.... I'd had no problems with DS1 but DS2 was a different kettle of fish.

Is he big enough to go forward facing?? It is safer to have him rear facing but I found that the forward seat sat him up more so less tummy ache coupled with more to see worked perfectly.

PS would second leaving at 7pm - not much fun for you but he should sleep

Sparkleandshime he is too little for front facing, but thinking about it maybe we should try him in the big car seat (ie not the portable travel system one) that is suitable from birth too, might be more comfy and maybe he could see out.

I don't think we will be travelling more than 2 hours at a time, given the logistics of weaning, meals, feeds, nappies - aarrgghh!

Travelling at night would be sensible, but I think we would be too tired to drive by the end to be honest.

Thanks everyone

If the ILLs are willing leave at 9pm arrive at 1am. We always did this for MILs before and with DD1. She lived at the far end of Cornwall and avoiding the traffic was just bliss.

Not much to add really:

We found a 0-4 car seat helped an awful lot even though she rear faced in it for ages. Not wearing big bulky coats also helped. We top off with a blanket if necessary & if it's nap time, her bedtime bunny rides with her as a hint.

And kids CDs. Not sure how they know the difference, but they do from early.

We only ever do proper journeys in conjunction with nap/sleep times. I used to have a bottle (now snack pot & drink) handy in case I got caught in traffic and I usually have a pile of small toys & a copy of CBeebies weekly to pass back.

My ds gets car sick - we only do car journeys longer than 20 minutes if it's sleep time.

My dd is the same. White noise app is lifesaver but detuning the radio to static works too (but drives you insane). Travel at night or plan around naps even if it means taking all day to do the journey with long stops. Good luck. I feel your pain!