https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 04 Apr 2026 20:19:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-8-month-old-hates-riding-in-the-car#post-1977127 Tue, 09 Dec 2014 14:09:01 +0000 daniellemybelle 1977127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm assuming you already switched to a convertible? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-8-month-old-hates-riding-in-the-car#post-1977115 Tue, 09 Dec 2014 14:06:05 +0000 LovelyPlum 1977115@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Switching to a convertible really helped us. She hated being so reclined. We switched 3 weeks ago, and it is much better.</p> <p>@Anagram: that sounds terrible :( If it were that bad, I'm pretty sure I would think of flipping, too </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-8-month-old-hates-riding-in-the-car#post-1974245 Sun, 07 Dec 2014 10:23:28 +0000 Little Misters Mom 1974245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like @blackbird, moving to convertible rear facing helped. When he really gets going, I put on the white noise app on my phone and play it loudly over the car radio. Finding toys he could easily hold onto and not drop helped as well (Sophie, the oball rattles). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-8-month-old-hates-riding-in-the-car#post-1974178 Sun, 07 Dec 2014 09:16:17 +0000 Anagram 1974178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>Not safe. Not safe at all.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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".</p> <p>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.</p> <p>All to say.....it may not be a phase, but you can find ways to cope. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-8-month-old-hates-riding-in-the-car#post-1974144 Sun, 07 Dec 2014 08:31:54 +0000 blackbird 1974144@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our car issues disappeared when we moved her from the bucket seat to a rear facing convertible around 7/8 months. She could see out the window, wasn't crammed in there so tight, and was much much happier </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-8-month-old-hates-riding-in-the-car#post-1974084 Sun, 07 Dec 2014 05:15:36 +0000 MapleMoose 1974084@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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. </p> <p>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. </p> <p>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. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-8-month-old-hates-riding-in-the-car#post-1974054 Sun, 07 Dec 2014 02:29:39 +0000 sarac 1974054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Man, I think I'd get a tablet and mount it where she could see it. I mean, yikes, I know - but still, you can't just be trapped at home. Might just need to do something crazy just to get by? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-8-month-old-hates-riding-in-the-car#post-1974035 Sun, 07 Dec 2014 01:00:28 +0000 Applesandbananas 1974035@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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. </p> <p>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? </p> <p>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.</p> <p>Hugs. I know it's rough, but this too shall pass, someday!!! I hope you find some relief soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-8-month-old-hates-riding-in-the-car#post-1974027 Sun, 07 Dec 2014 00:13:40 +0000 poundcake 1974027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Somewhere along the way, my 8 month old developed an intense dislike for riding in the car. </p> <p>If I'm driving and she's alone in the backseat, she cries and screams and screams until I feel like pulling my hair out. I've had to cancel our plans and turn back home on several occasions because I couldn't take the screaming. </p> <p>If my husband is driving and I sit in the back with her, it's a little better but she's still not a happy camper. Usually I have to distract her with toys, a mum-mum biscuit, or youtube videos off my cell phone. </p> <p>We've tried the backseat mirror that lights up and plays music. We've tried giving her little toys to entertain herself with. We've tried giving her a pacifier. We installed a window shade in case it was the sunlight that bothered her. We've tried playing different songs on the radio. None of it works. </p> <p>I am hoping this is just a phase but in the back of my mind, I worry that it's not. What can I do?? I've read from other people's experiences that it got better once they're baby went front-facing but at 17 lbs, that's not going to happen for a while. I hate the feeling of being trapped at home or only being able to go out when my husband is available. Any advice? </p>