In Search of a Happier Car Ride

Mine did the same thing from birth. She still doesn't love car rides, but she tolerates them more now that she's 2. Singing helped a bit and listening to her CDs. Good luck!

Has she always been this way or did it recently develop? Is she front or rear-facing? If rear-facing put a mirror up for her to see herself. Also offer juice or water in sippy cups and snacks, her lovey or blanket she sleeps with at home, and play quiet, relaxing music with no words and talk soothingly to her.

Another thought is possible motion sickness, so if absolutely nothing helps you might try a product called Sea Band that she wears on her wrist, it contains no drugs and works with accupressure.
http://www.amazon.com/Original-Seaband-Children-Colors-Va...
I also saw them at Target the other day for about $8, and while they say 3 and up one mom reviewed them and said her daughter, 2, used them and they worked. Otherwise, I'd consult her pediatrician, to assess the situation and make recommendations.

And, BTW, my DIL used to give my granddaughter Tylenol whenever they would travel by car or plane, but Tylenol is a strong drug with major possible side effects, the manufacturer has recently lowered the recommended dosage, so I'd be leery to use it but have seen suggestions elsewhere to do so.

What kind of seat does she have? My daughter HATED car rides. I replaced her seat just by coincidence with a nautilus and now she loves car rides. I would make sure she is okay, have a sippy cup for her, snacks, and then put on some toddler tunes or something and just tune it out or breathe and calm down. I would check into her carseat, does it have enough cushion? Is it tight on her in the chest or legs? Search out for clues as to what is wrong and if not just do your best to calm her but keep yourselves calm.

Thank you for that suggestion GrammaRocks, I didn't know they made those motion sickness bands. She could very well feel ill on car rides.

just throwing out some thoughts that come to mind...

Could her seat be uncomfortable?
Has she always been this way?
Sun in her eyes?
When both parents are in the car can 1 sit next to her?
Would holding her hand help?
Sing-along cd's?
Snacks? Sippy cup of juice?
Making silly faces at her in the rear-view mirror?
Talking to her and narrating your trip?

Is it possible that she's carsick? Might be worth discussing with the pediatrician. Good luck!

Is she still turned around?
My daughter screeched too until we turned her around. She still had her moments but they subsided quite a bit. She is 16 and we now know that if she rides backwards she gets terribly dizzy and sick, even when she rides forward sometimes but not as much.
She cannot take any amusement park rides that go backwards either.
We turned her around way early, but she was fine.

I know this sounds crazy... but have you checked the car seat to make sure there is nothing stuck under the pad that is poking her? Are the shoulder straps too tight? How about the heat of the car seat? I threw a towel over mine when we got out of the car for my girls because it would get uncomfortably hot.

How about a favorite blanket? My kids always cover up with their blankets on trips. I don't know why, but it works. Try turning on the Disney radio station or Kidzbop cd.

have you taken off the cover of the car seat to see what's under it? Most of them have a thin pad over plastic. the cure is to pick up some foam at a craft store like michaels or hobby lobby or even walmart and line the seat with some cushioning. also, make sure the seat belt isn't hitting her neck and rubbing her wrong. all this done, I'd let her wail. she'll grow out of it when she realizes you'll do nothing on this count. Best wishes.

Ignore her. Or wail back at her. I did this with mine anytime she cried to get her way. She thought I was nuts I'm sure, but eventually she knew that the crying was pointless.