Crying in the car?

[Gigi]

bilby has gone from being a model passenger (when rear facing) to being an absolute whingy nightmare passenger (now front facing).

it was so bad on Tuesday evening, i was so distracted by her hysterical loud whining, i speeded - thru a police speed trap of course - and got my first speeding ticket in 8 years. the cop asked me why i was speeding, and i said "the noise my toddler was making was driving me insane, i stopped watching the speedo like i normally do, all i could think was - we're 2 mins drive from our home - cna't wait to get there, so this noise will stop".

i dread picking her up from childcare now. she is so demanding that i pay her attention, when i have to watch the road and cannot turn around at that exact moment. that ride home seems so long, with her high pitched whine.

[Ginger]

oh gigi, that sounds horrible you poor thing!
all i can suggest is that for my toddler we actually have a dvd player and screen on the back of the front seat so that he can watch dvds. we don't have it on all the time, but for long trips or times when we might have to wait in the car for a period of time- he loves it. sometimes i can't get him out of the car!
the mirror went really well yesterday for ds2- no crying!! fingers crossed it keeps working

[Glamourcide]

Rainforest, glad to hear it's working so far - hopefully you're onto something and it will keep being a godsend!!

Gigi, does your visor have a mirror in it, or could you stick one on there and then pay attention to Bilby as you're driving, without having to turn around or mess with your rear-view mirror? DD is the same, loves DH and I looking at her and talking to her while we're driving, and our car has mirrors (with a little slidey cover thing) on the visors so that, at the very least, I have the security of knowing I can just glance up and see what she's up to, without taking my eyes completely off the road (it's very handy because she's figured out how to get her arms out of her harness and reach down beside her seat to get toys etc she's dropped - scares the daylights out of me). Maybe if you can make eye contact with Bilby while you're travelling, she might feel better and not put it on for you?
Good luck

[Gigi]

Rainforest - my car has a radio, no cd or tape player, i don't think a car dvd player is on the cards for us. i just feel lucky to have a car at all.

i'm glad that fisher price precious planet mirror, worked well for you. You're using that for a rear facing baby aren't you?

GothMum - i can see bilby in my rear vision mirror (she's forward facing now), but don't have a mirror on my visor. (have you guessed by now i don't drive a newish car LOL)?. Maybe i could superglue a small mirror to the visor? will have a try at this (hope i remember).

i really feel i need to focus on the road when driving, i had a ABI (acquired brain injury) some years ago, and have tremendous difficulty focussing on multiple things at once. ergo - I'm not medically allowed to drive a manual since going thru rehab for the ABI, only allowed to drive an auto (for medical reasons).

i feel grateful i survived the abi (near fatal brain virus), rehab (years of it) was so successful that i can drive again, and i have a car now. but i don't want every car ride with bilby to be a whiney nightmare!