Coping with crying

[Biscuitmad123]

How are we coping with baby crying in car?
due to take 8 month old and 3 yo on trip (7 ish hour journey).

both children ok on shorter journeys but this will be longest we have gone by far!
my baby does have a habit of fighting sleep, becoming overtired and hysterical. It gets very overwhelming in the car, as soon as he is out and cuddles he is ok. Obviously will stop lots, but I hate when he cries, I get so panicked. Dummies etc do not work! Any tips? Are we mad for travelling this far for a weeks holiday? Thank you

Just ignore, they l arm real

Just ignore, they learn really fast, obviously make sure they have had food, drinks and nappies changed, then you know for 2 -3 hours you’ll be ok. I did thousands with mine and you quickly learn the difference between boredom crying and something actually wrong. Worst bit is stuck in motorway traffic jams as the lack of motion means they wake (ditto dogs). Try not to worry

Personally, I wouldn’t do a trip involving this much driving with the kids this young, it’s just not fair and will be unbearable for you all to listen to your baby being so distressed for so long. Even with regular stops. Babies can get themselves in such a state in the car they can make themselves sick. And don’t forget you have the journey in reverse to look forward to, it’s not just surviving the getting there. If the journey there went horribly, the journey home will likely hang over you the whole holiday. Please don’t put your baby through this, it’s not fair.
If you really are insistent, we found timing journeys with nap times helpful, but probably has best results if your baby is already on a fairly predictable nap schedule at home.

If you know the little one will cry, why go? It’s not fair on your other LO

Is it all in the car? I would say white noise machine (or playing through your phone) if that’s something you use at home, window blinds, soft music or lullabies for getting them to sleep and a small bag with some stuffed animals, teething toys and sensory bits and pieces for any time awake. Bring enough that when they inevitably get thrown you have more. I would also bring a selection of stories to rotate through.

Sorry that’s all I can think of for the little one, I’d have more ideas for entertaining the 3yo. We have done a lot of long travel days and my 4yo is a pro.

I wouldn't do it. My DD has a baby like this 3 months old, screaming as soon as the car stops. She does very short journeys..they are a distraction, unless you are amazing. A friend of mine,lost her sil, she turned round to chat to her screaming baby on a bend, she didn't survive, the baby and other children did.