Name: Maggie

San Jose, CA

Number of kids: 1

Ages of kids: 8 Months

Problem: My son dislikes car rides since he was about 2 months old. I've tried everything from changing the car seat to hanging toys in the back, using sunblock shades, bringing along his favorite toy, etc. Even a short 2 mile trip, will get him aggravated he starts crying and doesn't quit until I get him out. It seems every parent with a young child like mine loves the car. This presents quite a problem, since I find myself not taking my son out as often as I'd like to. Any suggestions.

Solution submitted by Julia from Boynton, OK: I have two little girls and both of them had the same problem. On top of that we live a half hour from the next town, and one hour away from a town we frequently visit. My best solution was, to wait until naptime, nurse them, give them a snack or a drink and let them go to sleep. Otherwise I had someone ride with me and play with the kids. That was not always very successful, since they wanted me (grandma was best). Sometimes I pulled over took them out, calmed them down and then put them back in, just to end up getting them even more mad!! Yes, a lot of times I ended up not going anywhere for the kid's sake or sanity! Believe me, kids grow out of that, once they can read a book (always have plenty of those), look out the window, listen to kids tapes or just play with some toys. Sometimes you just have to bear with each other:) I bet we all go through the inner battle of seeing our child flying through the windshield or having them get mentally insane in their childseat. We, the "few" parents of the kids that struggle for their freedom;} Peace and happy parenting!