Toddler Does Not Sleep in Car Seat

I cannot sleep in a moving car, either. It's the motion--not motion sickness, just the movement of the car itself--that won't allow me to sleep. Riding in a car for more than an hour wears me out, but I can't sleep while we're moving! It may be the same for your son.

I would just plan to travel when he is not tired, and keep him entertained, plus make stops when you can to allow him to stretch his legs (and change him if needed).

Not much point fighting nature on this one, IMO. ;-)

--A.

Having his eyes closed may be making him car sick. They have OTC meds for this if you want to try that. My daughter used to get car sick and has grown out of it. Try to take your trip when he will be mostly awake. Good Luck!!

Wow I have been there! I am the mom of 2 boys who never slept in the car. Leaving at naptime was awful and just resulted in lots of screaming. We do the complete opposite on trips and never ever leave when they are tired. I also second the snacks, toys, dvds to keep him entertained although he's still a bit young for some of that. It might help if he gets fussy if you just sit with him for awhile as well. We tried the benedryl at the recommendation of a nurse in our family but it never helped with our boys. Opening the window a crack seemed to help a little, not sure if it was the sound or the air. Good luck! :)

Have you blocked the light from him? One of mine had a terrible time handling the light changes when driving in areas with light poles, signs, trees and anything else that makes the sun come and go.

Also, some children are car sick even if they aren't throwing up. I didn't realize it for a long time, but my youngest daughter has a strange kind of car sickness that gives her diarrhea. So she'll be cramping and miserable because any trip longer than 2 hours will result in her desperately needing to hit the rest stop and she'll be too embarrassed to tell me why.

He could be dizzy or feeling head achy from the trip. I wonder if he could have some Dramamine?

Suzi

Hello,
My little boy is 15 months and has never been a good car sleeper. We just got back from an 8 hour trip. We kept him entertained by giving him snacks and a sippy. Also we got a dvd player. I didn't think it would work cause if we have the tv on at home he doesn't glance at it. But it did keep him entertained. As far as sleeping we waited till afternoon to take off. We skipped his morning nap. And gave him some warm milk. He dozed for about 1/2 hour. Then after it was dark outside he eventually dozed off again. But it was really off and on.

Poor punkin'. Poor parents! I don't really know, but my guess would be it has to do with him being a tummy sleeper, so he just isn't comfy. The carsickness thing could be an issue, too, although, as someone who has it, if I'm on a highway and a long roadtrip, I'm less likely to get it (unless I try to read or do something where I'm not looking out the window), than drivivg around town in stop and go traffic. If he seems fine on regular drives and is ok when entertained, I wouldn't think that would be it. I'm not sure Dramamine is safe for him, but maybe Benedryl in combination with the nap/bedtime? I'm opposed to drugging my kids unnecessarily, but if it's rarely done, and the pediatrician is ok with it, it's probably not a big deal. Good luck!

I doubt it would help but thought I'd try.....

When we go on long trips I take the crib toy & attach it to teh back of the passenger seat headrest so it faces his carseat. (The headrest has two 'prongs' so I loop the plastic straps around the prongs & then push back down the headrest to the normal position. It makes my son feel more comfortable.) I can still reach the on/off button.

Again, it sounds like your son just can't fall asleep in a car, but thought I'd mention whar works for us.

J.

L.-

It sounds like your just can't/won't sleep well in the car. Some kids are like this whereas others easily fall asleep in the car no matter what time of day. It may have something to do with the fact that your son likes to sleep on his stomach. Or maybe he's just used to sleeping in a bed and not a car. I would change your trips to start when he wakes up! Good luck!

Sounds like you already know what to do. Just make sure to have lots of toys and things to entertain him when your in the car, since you know he's NOT going to go to sleep.