If your child enjoys riding in their car seat, count your blessings. Since the day we brought our son home from the hospital, he has screamed, cried and protested loudly to being strapped into his car seat and driven anywhere. After months of ear piercing arguments and a few weeks of downing anti anxiety pills, we decided to try out a few suggestions that friends insisted worked on their kids.
Movies
This has pretty much has kept me from checking into a hospital. After figuring out which DVD’s our son liked, we set up a DVD player on the headrest of the backseat. The first few times, he wiggled and yelled, but after a ride or two with this ultimate distraction, he started to actually enjoy himself. We recommend purchasing 5 or 6 DVD’s to rotate so your child doesn’t get bored and don’t forget to buy a DVD player with a remote or you’ll end up pulling a back muscle trying to reach the play button.
Mirrors
My son loves nothing more than to watch himself in the mirror, not to mention, if you hang it just right, they can see you too. This was helpful from the ages of 2 to 8 months and to this day he can’t pass by a mirror without smiling.
Talking Story Books
We have determined that our son despises his car seat for two reasons. 1) He hates being confined and 2) It’s lonely and boring staring at the back seat for more than 5 minutes. We found a few books that would actually read the story to him as he turned the pages and this really fascinated him and kept him occupied for hours on end.
Favorite Foods
This is a given, but vital! I wouldn’t dare put my child into his car seat without a handful of ritz crackers. Not only does this keep him busy, but it makes him happy as he rides around with mom.
Digital (and Ever Changing) Photo Frames
This may sound a little ritzy, but it is super cheap and my son loves watching pictures of himself and his family as we run errands. Like the DVD player, we hung the 8 X 10 frame, purchased at Wal-Mart for $40, loaded 200 pictures into the memory card and hit play. It keeps him company and has helped him recognize family members that he doesn’t see everyday.
Bio: Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education where she’s been researching both the highest paying jobs and the worst paid jobs on the market. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.
Photo Credit:
http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/Children_g112-Baby_Seat_p9671.html
On Big Blue Trunk, you can find family travel articles with practical tips and expert advice on destinations ranging from estinations ranging from Carmel, Yosemite and Tahoe in Northern California to New York City and Hawaii. Big Blue Trunk also features reviews on hotels, restaurants, things to do and products.
