15 Weeks Old Baby Getting Scared in Car Ride? Help!

Very interesting. It could just be the motion of the car that she does not like. Also, this is different I will admit, but there are more and more people talking about reincarnation. Here are some links. I would continue to watch this and when she can speak-don't lead her, but let her start talking away about cars.

http://www.childpastlives.com/
http://www.beliefnet.com/Holistic-Living/2003/02/Can-Rein...

http://www.mommadonteatit.com/index.php?option=com_conten...

T. Hall Parker, Holistic Health Counselor
My Food Therapy
www.myfoodtherapy.com
Momma Dont Eat It
www.mommadonteatit.com

Dear Susan,
I feel for you! I know it is so hard when your baby is crying and you just don't know what to do. Many babies, and toddlers, just don't like riding in a car. A friend of mine's son used to get car sick - literally! Now he is 2 and is doing much better. Sometimes there isn't anything you can do. She may even be reacting because of your recent move. Babies can be very sensitive to changes in routine - moving to a new city is a big change! Babies are also very sensitive to the energy- or the way people around them are feeling. Do you get nervous getting into a taxi? If so, she is likely feeling your nervousness. Now she is probably sensing that you are anticipating her crying. (A vicious circle!)
But what worries me is your taking her out of her car seat! Even if she cries for the whole car ride, the crying will not hurt her. But, God forbid, if you were in an accident while holding her that would certainly hurt her! You could lose your precious daughter! What is most important is keeping her safe. Keep her securely and properly restrained in her car seat, and you in your seat belt. Try soothing her with a song or just your calm and relaxing voice - and try to stay calm yourself. I know it's hard to hear your baby cry, but she will likely grow out of this. And keeping you both safe in the car will ensure that you are both together and well when you get to your destination!
Good luck to you!
M.

Something has frightened her in the car and she is associating it will any car ride. I'm afraid of taxi rides and I am not a baby. Is she still facing backwards she may not like the feeling of going backwards. She may be getting motion sickness. I would also try also try some soothing music on the radio to try to distract her. If you are not driving sit in the back with her and talk to her, hold her hand, but don't take her out of the car seat. I know you know how dangerous it is to take her out of the safety seat. As hard as it is to listen to it's not dangerous to just let her cry. I would try to take her on small trips each time, until she becomes comfortable with the car again. My cousin went through this for a short while with her son. She always took someone with her to sit in the back to talk to him and would always have a kid's cd on so the music was a nice distraction. Eventually he got over it. Good luck.

Hi Susan
I don't believe that babies are afraid of movement. However, if she is looking out the window and looking uncomfortable, she is probaby hurting from the sun in her eyes. When they're rear facing, as they must be for safety, the sun can be blaring in through the back window, right into their face. Look into whatever types of car shades, etc are available. My 14 year old used to get hysterical when she was an infant if the sun was in her eyes in the car.
I would not take her out of the car seat, you would never forgive yourself if something happened or if you got arrested.

Hi Susan- could it be that she has motion sickness? My kids had nausea for a long time before we were even on to it. Check with the pediatrician on what you could do, if it is motion sickness. Good luck.

I agree with others who say that maybe the car seat is somehow uncomfortable for your daughter. Check out the straps and belt and make sure nothing is digging into her or causing her discomfort.

Give her toys or attach something to the car seat to distract her -- but whatever you do, DO NOT take her out of the car seat and hold her in a moving vehicle!!!!!!! That is probably the most dangerous thing you can do, and, I believe, against federal and state regulations besides. If you are holding the baby and the car stops short, or if there is any kind of an accident when you are holding her, she can be very badly hurt, if not killed.

Good luck.

Hi Susan:

Reassure your beautiful daughter that she is safe! Do this throughout the day, tell her as she is sleeping and prior to trips in the car. Also, research the benefits of Bach's Rescue Remedy; this may help her with emotionally upsetting experiences.

All the best,
N.
Holistic Maternity Practitioner
www.WholeCreations.com

Usually babies love car rides so maybe it is her car seat that is uncomfortable for her. Maybe something is digging into her skin somewhere? The belt is too tight? I would try a mirror over the rear facing car seat that has lights and plays music if all else with the car seat is fine. This will help with distracting her.

Unlike the previous post opined, I would NOT make the car seat forward facing at this age. 1. I believe that there is a federal regulation staing you can't until the child is either one years old or over 20lbs. 2. In fact rear facing is much, much safer so if you can keep her rear facing as long as possible the better.

Check out the car seat you are using carefully....maybe something about it, on it, in it that is making the child uncomforable.

My daughter also hated the car. We ended up buying a convertible car seat. It was expensive but so worth it! She really didn't like sitting backwards, which of course she had to do until she turned 1, but when she was able to sit a little more upright it really helped. With the convertible seat she could see a little bit more out the window and wasn't reclining as much. It may also just be a phase. That's been my mantra "It's just a phase" :) Good luck!

both of my girls did this.
1. I finally read somewhere that suggested car sickness. So, in her bucket/backwards, I put a thin blanket over it (but she could still see me) and this seemed to help a lot. Might explain why she was looking out the window nervously.
2. Taxi, most people wouldnt understand but most of us in the city do (we are in the burbs now) but when she gets a little older and stronger, wear her in the Baby Bjorn in the taxi if you need to.
good luck
also, in her little 'hut' of blanket and bucket, I put a picture of a bright flower in it so she could focus on it and not the blurring outside the window. We took our second daughter on a 7 hour trip and she didnt cry at all. So Im guessing that it helped.

Have you thought about gas?
My little one, now almost 3, was a great rider. She didn't actually cry until she was about 7 months old. She would fuss a little, but never cry. We used to take 4 hour rides for medical reasons with another of my children (at 3 weeks old), and in the beginning she was fine. After about the 3rd trip, she started fussing more and more, until it was a full scream. We stopped the car and when I took her out of her seat, it was easy to calm her, and as soon as I put her up to my shoulder, she let out quite a burp.

After that, I bought Mylicon Drops for infants and gave her some before every ride we took.

She would usually burp fine after eating, and not spit up a bit, but she was one who needed to burp more than once after eating. It took some time, but when we were home, it didnt seem to bother her much, only when we were driving, maybe it was because she was confined in a seat? I'm not sure why it was worse in a car, but it was.

Try gas drops before you go anywhere in a car, see if that works for your little one.

Unless she's had a traumatizing experience in a vehicle, there shouldn't be a problem with being scared. and any doctor will probably tell you, kids recover from most anything and at 15 weeks, she shouldnt be able to remember something bad happening.

If the gas drops do not help, try putting up one of those window screens to keep the sun off her face, it will also block the view. I had a window stick with pooh and tigger on it, my son loved it.

good luck

Is she still in the baby bucket car seat?

My guy HATED the car until I got him a convertible car seat. I'd say it started at about 3 or 4 months-ish and we finally got the new car seat at 5 months. He's been a great rider ever since.