Anybody got any ideas for a baby who hates the car?

[Greggers2017]

I have an 11 month old who absolutely hates the car. Screams all the time. Anybody any ideas that may help?

Are they rear facing still? Would forward facing help? Or a mirror so they can see you?

We ended up moving to forward facing just over a year. I had planned to ERF as long as possible but DDs crying in the car was getting dangerous - I had 2 (minor, luckily) car accidents as was so distracted.

Forward facing made all the difference - we travelled for 7 hours to Cornwall a few weeks later and she didn't cry once!

I echo the others. Obviously rear facing is safer we all know that but for the sake of sanity it's a better option to forward face. The change to forward facing was night and day.

Dummy. Or walk?

I once spent 90 minutes in rush hour traffic listening to the same song on repeat because it was the only thing that stopped my baby crying.

Maybe try a comfort item like a dummy, favourite teddy or blanket?

Or how about a special toy that they only get the car? My DS went through a phase of taking his favourite book on every car journey.

Mine was younger, but I only made journeys when he needed a nap. So he went from crying every journey to sleeping every journey. Now he's not great in the car, but we can make a journey.

My boy has never been good in the car. We had a bag of toys he only ever got in the car. We would rotate them so he had one each journey (assuming it was a relatively short journey). Then I started putting his favourite nursery rhymes on my phone on YouTube using a seat phone holder. I'm not ashamed to say I still do that. He is nearly two. It makes car journeys so stress free for everyone and it makes him happy so I will continue to do it! He is still rear facing. I feel you. It's very stressful when they hate the car

When my LO was 4 months he hated the car but would calm down when I ran the air blower on high. I don't know if white noise would help?

Thanks for the replies. I've turned her forward facing and tried toys which doesn't seem tohelp. I may try a tablet for programmes she likes.

She screamed for 2 hours on Friday until she fell asleep. It's the same every time. 😢

It's so stressful OP and quite frankly very unsafe for you and your concentration. I chose to do whatever necessary to create a calm atmosphere. Do try a screen. Good luck x

Thank you. Unfortunately we have no choice but to use the car, going to work and back and we visit my parents who live over an hour away and take her elder siblings to their dads at the weekend. She uses a dummy but throws it when she is upset.

Are you on your own with her or is there someone who could sit in the back with her and talk/distract her? My DS needed me to be there reassuring him for months. One of those mirrors so he could see me helped as well. If forward facing isn’t helping then I’d put her back rear facing as it is so much safer, and see about hanging stuff for her to look at off the seat. My DS basically needed constant distraction and stimulation while in the car until he got used to it. I think he just didn’t like being trapped and without my full attention.

I went back to work when my oldest DD was 5 months old and she hates the commute. In the end we got a portable DVD player and a headrest case for it and she was fine.

@Greggers2017

You might be aware already, but it's illegal to place them forward facing before 15 months.

Thanks for the advice.
Yes it's my 4th child, I'm aware of the rules.
I did try her forwards out of desperation and to see if it made a difference. It didn't. 🤷‍♀️