Even the calmest, most perfect child can turn into a crying
scream machine in the car. A wet diaper, an uncomfortable seat
belt, or the pangs of hunger or thirst can send any child into
a crying fit that can test the patience of even the most
subdued of parents. An angry or screaming child can also make
the drive itself more dangerous as you become more distracted
by the screams of your toddler. Bad moods are contagious. If
you allow yourself to become angered by your child's crying you
may drive more offensively and be more prone to doing something
stupid while behind the wheel. There is no simple or fool-proof
way to avoid having your child cry while you are driving him or
her around, but these simple ideas may make things less
stressful and more safe for you and other motorists.

1.If it is obvious that your child is not going to calm down on
his own find a place to pull over (if it is safe to do so) and
check to see if there is a simple reason for the crying. Did he
spit out his pacifier, is his belt cutting into his shoulder, or
does he have a wet diaper? NEVER try to take care of retrieving
a pacifier or giving a cookie while you are driving. We have
all tried it before and we all know that it is not a wise thing
to do, especially in rush hour traffic.

2.For children that are old enough to understand a few basic
words try using a de-escalation method such as counting down
slowly and calmly from five to one while attempting to make
occasional eye contact in the rear view mirror (if possible).
This de-escalation method works more effectively if you
practice it at home as well. Any time your child is throwing a
tantrum instead of immediately putting him in time-out try
getting him to calm down by sitting down with him face to face,
make eye contact, and do the slow, calming count down. If you
can get him to calm down at home using this method he will
eventually be able to calm himself down while in the car with
your verbal help.

3.Use a sibling as a helper. This isn't an option in all cases
of course, but if your crying child has an older sibling in the
car consider placing their car seats close enough together that
the older child can play with or otherwise distract the younger
child for a few minutes until you reach your destination.
Obviously, the older child should never be allowed to unbuckle
his seat belt while the vehicle is moving.

4.Never allow your child's crying to affect your driving or
your attention to the road. At the same time never allow your
child's crying to build your stress to the point that you yell
at the child in a desperate (and futile) attempt to make him be
quiet. A child that is too young to understand words will only
be startled by your yelling and will likely cry even more. In
addition to this yelling at your child can cause other
psychological problems down the road. If you are nearing the
end of your rope, pull over and find out what is wrong. Always
calm yourself down before opening the door to check on your
child.

There is never a perfect method to deal with the stress of a
crying child, especially in a confined space. But consider
these four simple tips and always stop and think before doing
anything unsafe while driving a vehicle. Pulling over may slow
you down or make you late, but driving faster or more
erratically because of the distraction of a crying child can
make you a danger to yourself and others while on the road.

About The Author: C. Criswell is a professional educator and
parent of three wonderful children. For more great articles and
advice please visit http://www.musicedmagic.com.

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