Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Kia Motors
When my older son was a baby, he suffered from colic and was constantly crying. As a new mother, the worst time for me was when I had to drive him anywhere because he would fuss and scream from his carseat in the rear seat. I would find myself constantly stopping the car and pulling over to comfort and soothe him.
As time went on, I quickly realized that whenever I stopped at a stoplight or for a STOP sign, he would start screaming at the top of his lungs. It became apparent that driving around was soothing to him somehow and that he mostly became agitated whenever I hit the brakes.
So driving around in the car became a saving grace for me, especially when he was particularly colicky and wouldn’t stop crying no matter what I did. I would load him up in the car and drive around for awhile in order to make him less agitated. Eventually, as if by magic, he would always stop crying and fall into a peaceful sleep.
My boys sleeping in the backseat after a long car trip.
My older son is now nine years old and he now has a seven year old little brother. Although I don’t have to take drives anymore just to calm a fussy baby, I still find myself using the car to keep the kids entertained. This is especially true during long drives when the kids tend to get cranky and impatient. My husband and I have gotten very creative when it comes to keeping our boys engaged and in a good mood during long car trips.
Some of our favorite ways of keeping the kids happy in the car include singing songs as a family. We keep a variety of the kids’ favorite tunes on hand at all times to pop in and get them singing and smiling. We also make sure that we always pack all of the chargers and plugs for their favorite electronic devices so they can play them from the backseat. Lastly, we pack blankets and recline their seats so they can nap comfortably when they get tired.
Check out this video from Daphne of CoolMom to see how she manages her busy life with her family “on the go.” What do you think, does this remind you of your own family adventures in your car?
Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Kia Motors
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written as part of a blogging campaign sponsored by Kia. I only recommend products or services I use personally and I believe will be “family friendly.” I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
© 2013, Tough Cookie Mommy. All rights reserved.
I always loved taking car trips with my son when he was little. We’d crank up the music and have a great time on the road!
I’ve been looking at these Kia’s lately. I will probably be buying a new car in a few months, and these look nice. I want something like an SUV or a hatchback–not a sedan with a trunk–but something small and efficient.
Mary, my husband has a Kia Sorrento and he loves it. It’s quite roomy inside and comes standard with a lot of luxury features that my car didn’t come with. This is actually our second Kia and we really are happy with the cars they make. Our last one was driven all over the country and lasted us quite a while.
Wow this is amazing…as you know we have been going back and forth on trying to get our son a new vehicle and it’s now a tie between Hyundai and Kia!!! BTW, I remember the days when I had to drive around a screaming baby!
I used to play a game w/my trio. It was a combo 20 questions/Disney Trivia sort of thing. They’re parents now and still remember and play it.
Love the picture, so cute! My DD still falls asleep in the car (but not at home, she’s given up her naps). Cars are great for that. Thanks for the Kia write up!