When did your car-hating baby start being ok with longer journeys?

[cath~]

H isn't the biggest fan of the car.

She'll nod off sometimes but usually only for 20-30 mins, then once she's awake again it's not long before she starts crying and gets really upset   

We're not traveling around so much at the moment as a consequence (eg my parents who live about 1.5hrs away are visiting us and we've only been down to theirs once since H was born) but sometimes, like this weekend when we went to a wedding that was 3.5hrs drive away, it's unavoidable.  Of course we do break up the journey with stops which helps a bit but not completely.

I know there's probably no "fix" at this age, but i was just wondering when babies like this became happier car travellers (or better at sleeping in the car at least)?  We'd love to go up and visit SIL and bil and their LOs but not if it means H being in so much distress for so long

[Khalam's Mama]

when they could forward face and even now I limit car journeys and use public transport where necessary.

[clazzat]

I can't remember exactly when it happened but it did - I think over 6 months, which is a bit of a shame. The  only thing that calmed our car-hating baby was guns 'n' roses! Maybe you could try different music to see if there is something that she likes?

[Haribo2012]

My LO hated car and especially rear facing seat! We did 3 hour drive when he was about 16 weeks old and I made sure he was really active before drive and that we went at nap time otherwise would've been a scream fest all the way there!
Must admit I turned my DS forward facing as soon as was over required weight as found it more dangerous driving stressed with him screaming! Once forward facing was different child in the car xx

[becj86]

When we turned him around, L was happier. He was happier again when he could climb in by himself.

[*Liz*]

When she was turned round  .

Still a total fuss pot though - dropping stuff - wanting stuff - these days talking so much I can't think  .

Music on loud works now thankfully  . Frozen sound track all the way.

She still never sleeps.....

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

So far still hates it. Bought a dvd player for her so hoping that works as I plan to rearface for quite some time.

[Skadiver13]

Honestly about a year when we could interact and play music from music class etc. But even then he wouldn't last too long. Once we turned him around and put in a DVD player things got a lot better. Can still be a fuss pot.

[eva026]

Also when we turned her around at 1yo. We try travel only for nap time now so we can get 1.5h of driving in with her sleeping and then another hour with her getting steadily madder;) That limits us to a 2.5h radius around our town.
Our friends solved their travel problem by leaving at bedtime and their kid would sleep in the car. Ours never did that:/

[Martini~]

Our son is well in the car but only when it's nap time... Thanks God, we also may travel after bath as he goes well after BT routine. There are moments where he hates it and I totally do not know when the tantrum will start:). What's helping:
Asleep:
- traveling during naps and after BT
- putting blanket on the car seat to block visual when asleep
- dummy when he got one:)
- white noise from iPhone
Awake:
- entertaining him so sitting next to him
- traveling just after feeding as he is in the best mood then

[cath~]

Thanks everyone.

Looks like we're going to have to wait until she's fwd facing then.  Good job she's not a tiddler!

Yeah, we always time it with naps, and I give her a top up feed before we set off on a long journey, but she almost always only sleeps for 20-30 mins and then that's it

[*Becky*]

martha never slept on car journeys either (still doesn't!)but thankfully she did not cry/scream much after about 3 months if I remember right...so stressy having crying/unhappy kids in the car!

[eva026]

I made a collage of faces I'd cut out of the magazine and stuck it to the seat in front. It kept her happy for a bit

[Mom-of-boys]

Something we have done with our boys is having certain "car toys" that stay in the car, so they only get to play with them while we're driving.  When they're old enough to have snacks also helped for us, because we could sometimes time driving with a snack, and that always helped to keep DS1 happy and occupied. . Now with 2 I think DS2 is entertained by watching DS1 as well, but even still, 45 minutes seems to be our maximum car ride time, and after that it's fussiness all the way.