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My LO went through a phase like this. I don't recall the exact age, but I want to say it was 9-10 months. I remember tearfully relaying a friend that I couldn't go anywhere, that even attempting to put him in the car seat was a nightmare, then he'd scream his brains out until we arrived. In our case, it was thankfully a phase, but one that rears its ugly head for a week here and there.

Snacks help our LO, the light up mirror with music helped, high value toys, fun music, etc. but it sounds like you've tried all that. Are you able to travel during nap times?

Has your LO always hated the car? What type of seat do you have? Maybe it's hard for her to see what's going on? Once my LO was able to see out the window, he was much happier.

Hugs. I know it's rough, but this too shall pass, someday!!! I hope you find some relief soon!

My LO hated the car from 3-11 months and it made things so difficult. It didn't matter what we did or didn't do, she flipped out either way screaming and crying. I pulled over all the time thinking something was hurting her but she was always okay, just extremely upset.

Over time the meltdowns started decreasing. We keep her pacifier strapped to the carseat and that helped once she was old enough to put it in her mouth by herself. At 12 months she became attached to a lovey and that always comes in the car with us now. Plus she started understanding when I said we are going to Grammy's house or we are going shopping meant something fun was coming.

Not that she doesn't have an occasional meltdown every now and then while I'm driving but life on the road is so much better now. Hang in there. I hope this phase passes quickly for you.

I was (and am!) in the same boat. My LO has always hated the car seat. She's still RF at almost 17 months because I bought a Clek Foonf so she could rearface for basically the rest of her life, but there's not a day that goes by that I don't think about turning her, for our safety.

We commute together for 50 minutes each way, twice a day. In the beginning it was about 45 minutes of solid scream crying. There is nothing in this world more distracting that your baby screaming their heart out behind you, and you can't do anything. I would be turned halfway around in my seat, throwing toys into her seat, singing her songs, etc.

Not safe. Not safe at all.

And it's a horrible way to start and end your work day. Eventually, she improved a bit. We started commuting at the beginning of Sept, and now in Dec it's more of a dislike than a hate. We have some days where I still have 10-15 minutes of crying before she figures out we're stuck in the car and there's no mount of crying she can do that will get her out of the seat....but some days with only 5 minutes of crying! Sadly, there is always still crying.

Things that have helped are just 1)time and exposure. She has to get in the car seat for almost 2 hours a day, no matter what. 2) Special car toys that I refresh every week or so 3) 2 kids' music CDs. One that is "calming" and one that is "happy".

I've figured out that she screams faster and louder if I play talk radio like NPR (sad face. that was my favorite commuting station before), she is entertained for about 5 minutes with music radio before the screaming commences. But her favorite are her CDs. We can get through almost the whole 50 minutes if I play the CDs continuously.

All to say.....it may not be a phase, but you can find ways to cope. Good luck!

Switching to a convertible really helped us. She hated being so reclined. We switched 3 weeks ago, and it is much better.

@Anagram: that sounds terrible If it were that bad, I'm pretty sure I would think of flipping, too