my 6 week old is a pretty easy going baby, until we get in the car then she screams almost the whole time...I've tried feeding her right before we leave so she's asleep, but the second the car moves she's awake and crying...we've tried getting a different inset for her carseat, putting a mirror on the back seat, but nothing is helping. its almost to the point where i don't want to go anywhere...any tips? i should add that she won't take a paci i have tried also her seat doesn't stay in the car so it doesnt get hot and shes fine in her seat she's happy until we start driving, and we have a convertible but it won't fit in my car rear facing so we can't use it yet anyways
Also Since my son sits back there no way I could sit back there...
Both my kids were like that and it was because they were too hot - even this early in the year. Is her back sweaty when you take her out? We dress then extra light in the car, no blanket, and use a baby bee cool (http://www.babybeecool.com/) to keep the seat cool while we're out of the car.
my son was like that too. The ONLY thing that helped was when he was old enough to turn him around to forward facing. Before that, we just had to make our trips quick.
it actually might be the seat, if you guys can, get the convortable seat that can be rear facing and see if that helps. a different seat can make all the difference
I think it's probably just the fact that she's facing backwards. My daughter didn't like it either.
You mentioned that you've tried feeding her before you leave to make sure she's not hungry, but have you tried not feeding her just before? She may have motion sickness and feel nauseous.
For some reason, my daughter liked having music on, and not quietly. I guess it distracted her.
She actually turned out to be a fabulous traveler so hopefully this phase won't last long for you.
Best wishes.
It may just be the rear-facing. Our kids both loathed being rear-faced and cried buckets. Second they were forward-facing, night and day difference. If all else fails, just count down until the time you can forward face. We did!
just putting it out there.........but could it be the car seat ?
Some babies have motion sickness. A friend of mine uses Benadryl for long trips, but tries to keep other trips as short as possible. Ask your doctor first of course before trying Benadryl.
Car seats need to be tight enough to protect the baby but some just are too tight. Check that and be sure she isn't being too squeezed and too much unable to move at all. If nothing else works and you are going out together, you and your husband, you could sit back there and see if that helps.
My son had the same issue--and it was car sickness. While my daughter would drop off immediately, he never did, and he'd start screaming pretty fast, too. The only true comfort I can give you is that once the carseat is turned around (at one year) she'll be a lot better. But it's very hard.
Do you have a mirror for her, one that lets her see you? Any crackly sorts of toys/blankets/manipulatives? She's a little young for them, but as she gets older they may be able to distract her. My son often responded well if his sister rubbed his head, but every baby is different.
I feel for you. My son is seven, and much easier in the car, but he still rarely falls asleep in the car, even on long trips.
I had 2 carseat screamers. It's no fun. There's really nothing more you can do than make her as comfortable as you can like you are already doing. Turn on the radio (maybe classical music will soothe her?) and just tune the crying out. I don't remember how long this phase lasted, but definitely before they turned 1 (when they can go forward facing). You'll get better at ignoring the crying as time goes on. You know she's safe and will stop as soon as she's out of the car. Hang in there!
Both my older two were like that, they didn't like to be rear facing. It got better after they were forward facing. Since your still a long time away from that I would just try to make trips short and turn the radio on and don't stress she will be okay. When they were about 5 months old it got a little better cause they could be distracted by toys.
Both of my kids were like this. Fingers crossed for the next one!
One odd thing that always calmed my son (even when he was very little) was loud music. W/ a good beat. Particularly instrumental music. Lol.
We stumbled upon this accidentally, but I've since read (here) that my son was not alone in this like.
It's worth a try! GL!
My tip is stay home. Are you having to go somewhere on a daily basis? If not stay home with her till she is older. Please dont take that tip personal either, I'm just saying when I had my babies the first few weeks the only place I took them out to in the car was to the doctor.
