20-Month-old Won't Nap in Carseat

IF she is getting car sick which could be, You might try fastening her in the front eat on center seat belt. I am assuming because of we you might have a husband. You might try riding in the back with her. patting holding hand. But car sick kids do ride better in the front seat. My old 1965 car when my son was little had a center seat belt. I fastened his seat in the center when someone rode with me and in the passenger seat when it was just the two of us. She has to adjust to seat belts and carseats of some sort in the car.

Also if it is just a matter that she needs to lye down to sleep how about stapping in a small portable crib. I had one that was half the length of the back seat and about 3 ft wide. Fit perfect.

My son loved his car seat and would simply fall asleep in it I hope some of this helps M. W PS my child is grown now (31)

Never thought we would break down and do it but we had a trip recently from NOLA to Dallas to Little Rock and back to see all of the relatives and we would not have made it without getting a portable DVD player to keep her busy. It only comes out on longer trips but at some point it is just not safe to drive with the constant screaming. We stick with Sesame Street and Baby Einstein and it keeps her occupied. Have to be sure to take it out when you get home though b/c then you have the problem with wanting to watch going to the grocery store etc. Good luck.

since my son was born he would scream to get out of anyting that restrained him. he wanted to be where he could move. Now he is 2 and gets very car sick and alot of problems stem from that. including the fits and migranes and fevers with vommitting. so rule out any medical and then try the other stuff becouse she may be hurting and you may not know.

My son acts like this. I put a DVD player in the car and it has helped so much. He watches it without crying and then he dozes off later into the movie. I keep his Baby Einsteins movie in it and we play it over and over.

N.
All children are different. Even as an adult, I cannot sleep in a car. It is not like going to sleep in my bed and waking up knowing exactly where I am. I have a van, so if I go very far my daughter,who is 12, liked to take her portable DVD player and hook it up to the back of the seat and watch movies. Sometimes she likes to listen to the music. Maybe try something that is small to hold in the hand, but also will occupy her as she holds it. Something that talks or plays music. Maybe even a talking book to look at. If all else fells, talk to your doctor about a light medication to settle her down. It does not have to put her into a deep sleep, just something to help her nap for a little while.Some children just do not like to travel long distances. Good Luck Let us know how it works out.
S. MIller

I have a (nearly) 23 month old daughter who loves to see it all as well. We recently traveled from OKC to Springfield, Missouri and Hesperia, Michigan; and had similar problems. We were quite confused, considering she falls asleep in the car fairly easily here in town. I finally figured it out, though. Our air conditioner is broken in our car, so we have to ride with the windows down. When she rode to Missouri, the air was (for some reason) working, and when we went to Michigan we traveled in a van with working air. Well, it turns out that she would get really angry at her hair blowing in her face, because she can't keep her eyes open. Also, the heat has an exhausting effect, so she's sleepier than if she were in air conditioning. I'm not sure if you're willing to suffer in the heat long enough to try it, but I've got another suggestion.

My husband and I had to sit next to our daughter on the trip to Michigan, and we covered her seat with a sheet or blanket. We covered her, head to toe, and help the corners and sides down, so she couldn't push the sheet aside to peek out. She was M-A-D! But, after about 20 or 30 minutes of fighting sleep, she finally gave in. She's really alert, like me, and very energetic, like my DH, so she fights sleep A LOT! I definitely know what it's like. I hope I helped at least a little! :)

You may have tried this but some soothing music (as long as it doesn't put the driver to sleep) or a DVD player for the car if that helps her relax. I don't like to use these much, but for long trips I allowed one with limited use for my daughter (especially when it gets dark and she can't see to do anything else.) Also a full tummy could help-as long as its not car sickness that causing her to cry.

You may have to stop every few hours and let her run and play for about 15-20 min. Just know that before your trip. She can have a drink or snack and use up some of that energy. It is much easier if you plan your stops ahead. Every town has a park. Also, get some soothing kid CD's to play. You might talk to her pediatrician. She may be getting carsick and just not feel good. She may recommend something like benidryl to help her sleep.

it could be that she gets car sick. or that her carseat straps are a little to tight.

Sounds like she's just one of those babies who likes to stretch out when she sleeps. Does she do this when she's just sitting up and still? Trying to rule out any possible tummy problems she might have. For maybe a year or so, I had to ixnay long rides because my daughter started doing that, even when since she was a baby, she'd fall asleep most of the time. Could be the carseat's just uncomfortable. My daughter is four and I just got her a booster seat, just the seat, no back. It's convenient and cheap but boy is it worthless on long trips. I grew up in the country and I have those fond memories of riding in the back windshield, ha!

My 25-month-old is just like your child. We travel to Atlanta at least once a month, a 6 hour trip with kids. We have even tried skipping his afternoon nap and leaving at his bed time. He cried the entire way and did not sleep (we got there at 3am). The DVD player is helping a little. But it just doesn't seem that there is much you can do. I am not sure about car sickness- or how you can really tell if that is what you are dealing with. Sometime we crack the window next to him, just to mix things up. My child has not slept in the car since 3-months. Some babies are just made that way!

Not sure about car sickness, but if you think that might be the case, try the appropriate dose of childrens benadryl. Our ped. recommended it for flying and it was a huge help. The active ingredient in benadryl is closely related to the drug used for otc motion sickness medications and should have the same effect.