amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

ThinkCloth · 07-13-2006, 06:02 PM

.. and we have to make a 12 hour drive next week.
My 3 month old seems to cry the majority of the time we're driving. It doesn't matter if I've just nursed him or changed him. He hates it!
Any suggestions on how to handle the ride?

EMTonya · 07-13-2006, 07:24 PM

if your dh is driving, sit next to your ds & nurse him in the carseat. my ds usually fell asleep nursing, so it worked well for us.

ThinkCloth · 07-13-2006, 08:39 PM

The nursing in the carseat thing worked for my now 3 year old when she was 3 months old... but now I have 2 carseats in the back... and not much room between. I might be able to squeeze between the two, but probably not with enough room to also nurse.

Maura · 07-13-2006, 08:42 PM

I'm sure this won;t nbe a good idea, but I'll suggest it anyway...Could you pump and give him a bottle if he gets upset? What about a vibrating toy placed on his tummy? maybe he would feel soothed??

Electra375 · 07-31-2006, 11:00 AM

I did pump and feed my unhappy traveler while sitting next to him. I also put the nursing blanket up against his face, it later became his comfort item and today is a knot of threads which he will not let go of.
I also found if I put the two carseats next to each other, he could have the entertainment and familiarity of his brother to look at. It also gave me a bit more room to sit and if I was driving, his brother could try and talk to him or show him a toy.
His brother was alone in the back and I had about 20 pacifiers I would keep next to me while I drove and kept popping one in his mouth. It worked, but I've never used a pacifier on any other child.
I sometimes have had success with just placing my hand on their cheeks or body.

ThinkCloth · 07-31-2006, 11:25 AM

Well, we're back!
The drive there was easier than the drive home! We stopped 3 times (an hour for each meal). He did pretty well. I only had to climb into the back seat once on the way. On the way back, I was in the back twice, and DH was in the back twice.
We figured out that he is now teething!

His sister cut her first tooth at 4 months, so I guess it's his turn. He's been SO fussy lately. Oh well... at least we're home now!
Thanks for all the advise!