Baby who screeches in the car.

[costagirl]

Any advice? My gorgeous, lively 18 month old boy has developed an ear-splitting high pitched screech whenever we are in the car: he hates being in the car/pram and wants to be out, active. I have tried a pile of toys next to him - he throws them on the floor and screams again. Same with drinks, food. Music/story CDs don't help! I KNOW I've got to ignore it, but v v v difficult! The screech goes right through you! Makes concentrating hard - got caught by speed camera last month (slightly over 30, for God's sake.) He's normally a v happy, bubbly boy - but a nightmare in the car!! Anyone found anything that works?

Singing loudly and badly works for us - not sure if 14mth dd is enjoying it or is shocked by the awfulness of it - but it keeps her quiet. Concentrating is hard - I stick to old classics like one man went to mow, one hundred men went to mow.......

I've also tied a few toys to the elastic strap of the car seat so that she can haul them back up when she calms down (after the singing).

Good idea, I will try tying toys into the car. It's the most hideous, blood curdling screech imaginable and he KNOWS it drives me mad & gets him attention!

I don't know if they grow out of it, but it means if i ever go long distance, i drive at night so she'll sleep. I've learnt through experience never to offer a lift to anyone else either after a friend having to sit through an hour of screaming on the way home from Brighton............ Survival tactics only, no solutions.

Actually, things have marginally improved w a bear from ELC which sings (again, the singing thing!) when squeezed. The bear is tied to the car seat and he's the best thing we have.