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Wow, that's rough! LO used to cry in her carseat, but only when we weren't moving. She'd be fine until we hit a red light. Hope you find a solution!

That does sound rough. I would turn the seat around and see if that helps. We did it at a year since my LO was crying while seated rear facing. The LO still really hates getting strapped in so that is another daily battle but she is usually OK once we are moving. Does your LO like the stroller? My LO hates the stroller as well. She doesn't like geting strapped into anything. We stopped using the stroller soon after she started walking.

Oh no! That's a tough one. Our LO went through periods of loving/hating his car seat. Unfortunately the only thing that worked for us was to turn him forward facing. But we did this at around 18 months. Before that, we did what you're doing, just schedule long drives around his naps. =\

@LivsMama: Do you have a mirror set up so she can look at herself and you can see her too? I got a plain mirror and decorated it by hot gluing little animals and butterflies to it. She loves it!

@LivsMama: have you tried sitting in the back with her if your husband is driving? I don't have any other suggestions, my son never really complained in the car.

DS hates to be strapped into anything, but usually settles once we get moving. He's had phases where he is calmer and more easily distracted in the carseat or in the stroller, and phases where he is more cranky.

Typically I would advise anyone not to turn the carseat around, since the safety benefits to your LO if you are in an accident while the are rear facing are HUGE. Their spinal columns are just not formed well enough at that age to handle a front impact collision, which most accidents are.

But, if your LO is really distracting you and is screaming/crying as opposed to fussing, you are probably more likely to be get into an accident. Have you tried a DVD player? I know they make things to strap iPads and portable DVD players to the head rests, and maybe that would help LO while in the car.

I remember when DS was really little and was screaming while in the carseat. I was so anxious as a new mom and would be really agitated until I could pull over to get DS out of the seat and calm him down, usually by changing his diaper and nursing him. DH was really worried I would get into an accident trying to pull over quickly. It was really hard to listen to DS scream while I tried to find a safe place to pull over.

Also, does it help if you or your partner ride in the back with LO during longer rides, or whenever you are driving together? That helped DS in the first few months.