Car Seat Tantrums

Have you tried taking the car seat out of the car and taking it into you house, in the living room or something? My kids just love to play in their car seats if we have had to take them out of the car for any reason. They love to just sit in them and play with the buckles etc.
If your daughter sees it there for a few days she may lose her aversion to it, especially if she is allowed to play with it without being buckled in. Also, and I'm sure you've done this already, just check that there is nothing hurting her in the car seat, sometimes things slip under the seat cover. Good luck, I hope you find something that works.

A.

We had a similar experience with our 3rd child who is now 2 1/2. But b/c we also have a 5 year old and 7 year old, there was no giving in -- I had to pick them up and drive them places. We have all the standard car stuff -- books, etc. -- but in the end had to force him into his seat. After a few lengthy battles he realized that he wasn't going to win on riding in the seat, but wanted to start doing one of the buckles himself, so we let him win there and we've never had a problem with it again. That was nearly a year ago and he's gotten very good at the buckle he does, which also saves time. Good luck.

Three words portabale dvd player. My little one was the same way she is 20 months old and once I got the portable DVD player and let her watch ELMO or baby einstein all the tantrums stopped. She watches for awhile, plays with the buttons, etc by the time we have reached our destination she is still so mesmerized.

Portable DVD player!!

Hi P.,
hmmmm....your daughter's tantrums remind me of my son's.
He had a period of a couple of months where he would refuse to sit on his car seat, it was somewhere around last summer, he turned 2 this week. Out of nowhere, we put him on the seat once and he started kicking, trying to get off, crying, melting-down. I had to force him to get in, because we were sometimes in the street and he just wanted to jump off the car...or it was raining and we were both getting wet. I had to force him, he would cry, and cry, and cry and it broke my heart but we had to get back home from the pediatrician or get out of the rain, you name it. Once the crying stopped, I would try to talk to him (while driving....).
And then, one day, it just got better.

It was just a phase?

I had a feeling that Edouard just was bored of being placed in the carseat and not having a say; and getting strapped and not be able to move must not be fun either for an active toddler.

Maybe, since you know your girl, you can try some things with her to make her "like the car rides" again. Maybe start a little game at home with her, without even getting near the car? Maybe you can have her place you in a couch and pretend you are in the car seat and she's driving. It's amazing how children respond to games and play.

So, I don't have much advice to give other than to be patient with her and try to function as normal as possible. And, remember, this too shall pass.

Good luck - hope you can get your grocery shopping one this week!!!! =}
Ana Luisa

Hi

Did you check the car seat back or the length of the straps, if something is poking, that she got pinched by or hurt but is not able to tell.

Check the seat out maybe something hurts.

If there is nothing, then bring the car seat inside, play dolls on it, make them sit there so she can watch and let her fears slowly fade off.

hm. im a mom of a 3 year old boy. i remember that at that age my son kind of understood emotions, and could say a few words (yes and no, for example) but did not have any idea what the concept of fear was, like he would play that he was scared of the speakers, or something else, but maybe was or wasnt, we could tell he was playing with the term. so my point: without putting words like sacred in her mouth, try to talk with her, when it is not at all time to go out, about how fun and nice driving in the car can be. use simple yes and no questions, and try not to put it on the car or the carsear, cuz it could have been something she saw out the window, or something she thought of. at that age they are so maleable, if you can make the car warm and wonderful, that might work. maybe also try to get a friend to go with you when you drive the few next times to read her books and play with her, so they can be back there with her too. hope this helps!
~ alex

Hi P.-
I had the same problem with my son who is 26 months. I tried two different approaches and they seem to work. First I bought one of those back seat car organizers that attach to the back of the drivers seat. I put some books and his favorite toys in there. When it was time to go in the car seat, I would give him his favorite toy to "hold" it created a distraction until we got to where we were going.
Your other option is to find "traveling songs/ nursey rhymes cd's to play in your car. Tell your daughter that the cd only goes on when traveling in her car seat.
Good luck