Two-year Old Yells in the Car

I like Maura's suggestion and would add: If you're pulled over in a place where it's safe to do so, and she continues to scream, you should feel free to step outside the car and close the door. Tell her she's hurting your ears, and when she's done screaming you'll be able to continue driving. The little buffer against the noise will make it easier for you to wait her out. She really needs to know this is not negotiable - for the safety of your whole family.

Good Luck!

I would ignore it. And tell your 4 year old to ignore it. If she doesn't get any attention for it she may stop. I absolutely would not put your 4 year old in the front seat.

My daughter tried that with me and I nipped it real quick.

It's not only annoying but a major distraction and dangerous.

I got tough with my daughter and told her firmly to KNOCK IT OFF or if need be pull the car over and swatted her butt. Haven't had that problem in years now.

Put your foot down, your the parent!

Carseats aren't uncomfortable with quick 10min. drives, maybe a long road trip 2+ hours or more.It's a control issue, she has to go in the car, she has to be buckeled up, and she has to be quiet. She's just resisting your parental authority.

When you start toward her, as if to let her out, does she calm down immediately or does she keep it up? If she calms down as soon as she thinks she is getting out, it is probably behavioral not physical pain. Some kids just hate being confined. When my kids would act up in a store or in the car, I would stop what I was doing and head for home. I left a lot of groceries in a cart once, but my kids learned that they were not going to win by pitching a fit. In the car, I would stop the car on the side of the road and tell her you would not move until she stopped. If she kept it up, I might even get out of the car and sit on the hood so I wouldn't have to listen to it so close. If she gets a lot of attention for this behavior, it will probably continue, but if you refuse to cooperate with her, she will eventually realize that a trip to the park or grandma's is at stake and it isn't worth the battle.

Have you tried pulling over?

Just pull to the side of the road (or wherever is safest) and tell her that you'll be able to start driving again when she stops yelling and that the longer she yells the longer she'll be stuck in her seat. Then just wait. Don't bargain or explain repeatedly, just wait. Maybe take her for a few drives like this without the 4-year old and without a real destination so that you can stay camped on the side of the road for as long as you have to without worrying about being late to a particular place and without upsetting your son.

Good luck!!

M.

Buy earplugs for everyone and have your son sit up front with you, away from his sister. They also make noise-cancelling headphones.

Let her scream without giving her *any* attention whatsoever, positive or negative. Like someone else mentioned, she's not in pain or uncomfortable during short trips. She may not like the car seat, but tough, it's part of life.