Traveling with a 5 Month Old That Hates the Carseat!!!!

First if he's not in a convertible get him in one they are much more comfortable. You might try a portable DVD player with something like fantasia on it, my daughter LOVED 101 dalmatians as an infant . Black and white with movement. Caught her attention every time. Also traveling at night might help. Feed him and then leave.

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he'll survive, prob not much you can do... is he still in an infant carrier type car seat? maybe buy a new convertible carseat for the ride - a really nice, well padded one - britax marathon or britax boulevard. maybe some more space and a new "ride" will soothe him a little. beyond that, pack some advil and tylenol for you and your husband. and i'm not a fan of the stop for 30 minutes every hour and a half garbage - that just prolongs the agony! good luck!

J., I say feed him before you go, and buckle him in and just drive. Give him things to chew on and hold and just drive. He will cry, but he will get tired eventually and fall asleep. You will be able to drive for hours this way. I think they just have to get used to it and know it is something they have to indure.Have a great trip.
NOW 8kidsdad, times have changed since your kids, (and mine) were small and back then it was just starting to become law to use carseats. When my son was born there wasnt a law saying I had to keep him strapped into his seat. I didnt even have to own a seat, but I did so he would have a place to sit and not have to be held and wouldnt fall off the seat. Times have changed and there are a lot more cars, more roads, higher speeds and we use cars and go places way more than we did back then. Accidents are more common, and cause way more damage and deaths than they did in the 50s, 60s and 70s. You really need to catch up with the times and realize the "good ol days" are gone and not suggest to anyone they not obey the law and play fast and dangerous/stupid with their kids. You are fortunate yours grew up healthy and happy and none of them were involved in an accident while not buckled in a safety seat.

I recommend a convertible seat over an infant seat if he is still in one. I have four children and finally realized on #3 that it was the infant seat making them cry. DO NOT turn the baby front facing or take him out of his seat-- a fender bender can be a fatal accident for an unrestrained or improperly restrained infant.

What kind of carseat does he have? When one of my LO was that age, he hated his carseat. We got a Britax Marathon, and he was much happier.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=430678...

*you might be able to find it cheaper, but thought you might be interested in the reviews.

Good luck!!
Hope you have a nice trip :)

I put a mirror up on the backseat so that my son could see himself and be entertained that way. It was also great because it had music and toys on it, and it was nice because while driving I could see him and he could see me. Made things so much easier.

Also your 5 year old is going to be riding next to the baby so maybe they could keep the baby happy for awhile.

Bring lots of toys and things that will keep baby happy, things that work great at home, bring them.

I am sure the baby will be sleeping a lot of the way because its such a long drive.

Also maybe the carseat needs more padding? And maybe baby is too hot, too cold? He is probably just mad because he wants to be with you and not strapped in lol. My son always hated that.

Have fun, and hopefully he will surprise you this time and be perfectly happy!

My older daughter would scream and scream in her car seat at that age. It was so miserable for everyone! (BTW, the only thing that finally made her happy was turning her car seat facing forward, which we did out of desperation when she was 10 months!)

Anyhow, since you have a 5 year old as well, can you sit them right next to each other, so your baby can see his big brother? Maybe big brother can keep the stash of toys next to him and help entertain baby brother. My younger daughter used to like that when she was a baby, since she clearly worshiped her big sister! (I miss those days! Now they just fight! LOL)

Does he sleep well in his carseat? If yes, maybe you can plan to begin your journey during his regular long-sleep hour, so that he may end up going to sleep?
For the other time, maybe you could try squeezing next to him (and your 5 y/o, lol) for short intervals, where you could talk to him. Would keep him from crying perhaps..
Good luck!

Have you tried music? My daughter also hated the car and made trip miserable for us, but music does seem to soothe the savage beast! :)

A mirror might be a good distraction for baby and mabey your 5 year old will find ways to entertain baby brother!

I am sickened by the "advice" to forgoe the carseat, Absolutely sickened. No child deserves to be the victim of an adult's stupidity. My sister's highschool friend never made her daughter ride in a safety seat and the child CAUSED the car accident that paralyzed her mother from the neck down. The child was also severely harmed but they are both lucky to be alive.
J., I assume that you are an intelligent mother who will overlook any encouragement to break the law. I wish you a peaceful trip!

Is he still in the carrier seat! We took our little one out of the carrier for long drives. Much more confortable. She now sits in a convertible facing backwards now and is Much much happier!

try to travel at nap times or bedtime..I raised 3 and we would go on long road trips to from Delaware to Georgia. 12/14 hour trips, we'd leave about 7:30pm drive all night .. they were under 5 so they'd normally be sleeping that time anyway if we were home ..that's the only way I made it. By the time I got there they'd be ready for the grandparents and I'd be ready for sleep. have you tired making his seat more comfy?maybe the belts are too tight.

good luck.