by Joyce Slaton posted in Products

Car trips are tough on some kids -- and parents. Maybe the motion makes your child carsick, or they can't handle the feeling of the tight harness, or they panic when they can't move around. Whatever the reason, if you have a baby or child who reacts badly to car rides, you know it.
When my daughter was an infant and toddler, she screamed and wailed her way through each car trip. Sometimes singing would calm her -- I remember one airport shuttle ride in which we sang innumerable verses of "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush" in hoarse, exhausted voices and to the annoyance of the other passengers -- but more often, she was inconsolable. And we drove in the car as little as possible.
I wish I had heard some of the following tips, culled from professional car seat installers and inspectors with special needs training.
1. Move around before you strap in
Moving around a bit before being asked to sit still helps many children, so have your child run around the yard 6 times, do 20 jumping jacks, or lift a heavy thing 5 times before getting in the car seat.

2. Consider a weighted vest or tight clothing
Firm pressure and weight calms many children. If your child likes these sensations, you can buy tight clothing or a specially made vest that may help them tolerate the feeling of the harness straps on their body, if that's a problem. We like this Fun and Function Stretch Denim Weighted Vest, which isn't bulky like many weighted therape...