Surviving car rides?

lisakeiko

So everyone always says that babies love car rides and will fall asleep as soon as the car gets going. Well, our J didn't get that message. He cries and cries, even if we leave right after he gets fed or when he's sleepy. We've tried white noise, trying to drive over as many bumps and potholes as we can, opening the windows, pacifier, music (maybe we just haven't found the right one yet?), shushing, and his toys but nothing seems to work. I'm always sitting right next to him so I'll either hold his hand or put my hand on his chest but that doesn't seem to help calm him down either. I think once he gets a little older and gets more interested in toys, they'll help distract him and maybe he won't cry as much?

Anyone have a LO who hates car rides? Any magical fixes that work for you?

redshoegirl

The first time we put our dudes in the car (at about a week old), they both screamed for 20 solid minutes. Then Dash fell asleep. Then Will screamed for another 10, going silent so abruptly that I made Ben pull over because I was freaking out that he'd choked to death on spit up or something. 

Since then they've gotten a lot better, but generally they both still fuss when we put them in the car - the only solution we've found is just to keep driving. It seems to be a time issue: they will settle eventually (and that length of time is getting shorter and shorter - now it's just a couple of minutes), but they need some time to fuss and get used to being in the car first. How long are you driving for? Just short distances? Maybe try a longer trip (like at least an hour) to see if you can get him used to it? 

We don't open the windows. Partly because it's winter here, but also because the wind on their faces keeps them awake. We also don't bother with white noise, shushing or toys, although we will give them their pacis if they'll keep them in their mouths. Actually, we really don't do anything for them except drive. Maybe we're bad parents lol.

Oh, are your windows tinted? The boys - especially Will - are really sensitive to sunlight in the eyes (and of course UV rays) and our windows aren't tinted, so we have car window shades (like this) up - otherwise the light in his eyes would probably keep him awake.

HulaLove

Can you try out a different car seat?  My friend's son cried and cried every time they went somewhere until she borrowed another friends car seat and he was much happier.

myday1708

At that age, Alexa hated her car seat too. She eventually warmed to it. When she used to get fussy, I had several tricks:

1) I used to sing to her! Wheels on the Bus was my carseat song. She loved it! It always distracted her and got her to smile while I quickly strapped her in.

2) Toys on the handlebar! Use them to distract while you strap them in. You shouldn't leave the handle bar up while driving, but I do have one friend who did because she couldn't get her son to stop crying while driving if she didn't.

3) Paci. When in the car seat, she gets her paci, which is then clipped on so that she can't lose it while I am driving and unable to get it for her. She is able to pick it up and put it in her mouth on her own, so as long as it's in the seat with her, she'll use it when she needs. 

HTH! :-) 

mrs.winter

Ashton hated them!  It was awful to go anywhere (which is basically why we stayed home the first 4 months).  We got the happiest baby on the block CD and the blowdryer noise was the only thing that would make him stop crying. It didn't always work but it worked about 70% of the time. If you want me to make you a copy, I will.  Let me know. 

 

mie

Both of my kids had periods where they hated the carseat.  It only got better as they got older and they were happiest after we were able to turn them forward facing.  I tried everything possible -- having my H sit in the back when I was the driver, toys, blocking the sun from their face.  I hope this phase passes quickly for you!

MrsNJSwimmer

Our LO cries b/c he doesn't like being confined.  He tolerates it for awhile, but when he's done, he's DONE. 

Can he see out the windows?  Usually this keeps our little one distracted a bit.  Sometimes I've driven with one hand and used the other to keep the paci in his mouth - not terribly safe, I know. 

Do you put him in the car seat in the house and then carry him out?  Does he cry the whole time, or just when the car is going?

Married2MrWright

I discovered that Libby did WAY better in the car when I was in the front seat and not next to her.  Weird, but true.  We also installed a mirror that she can see herself in (which is a good distraction) and that we can see her in if we angle the rear-view mirror just right.  She fusses way less now that I don't sit in the back seat with her.

mrspresley

i'm sorry... the other ladies have all given you good advice

miss A loves the car seat and only complains when we are buckling her in (she doesn't like us forcing her arms through the belts) but then she is happy as a clam in there. i do agree that the mirror is great, they love to stare at themselves

lisakeiko

redshoegirl:

How long are you driving for? Just short distances? Maybe try a longer trip (like at least an hour) to see if you can get him used to it? 

Oh, are your windows tinted? The boys - especially Will - are really sensitive to sunlight in the eyes (and of course UV rays) and our windows aren't tinted, so we have car window shades (like this) up - otherwise the light in his eyes would probably keep him awake.

We drive for only around 20 minutes, or 30 at the most.  Maybe when we have a long weekend, we'll take them up to the North Shore to see if a longer ride helps?

No tinted windows, but I keep the canopy on his car seat open so that the sunlight isn't hitting him.  Sometimes I even drape a blanket over the part that isn't covered to make sure I block out all the light but even that doesn't make a difference.  

MrsNJSwimmer:

Can he see out the windows?  Usually this keeps our little one distracted a bit.  Sometimes I've driven with one hand and used the other to keep the paci in his mouth - not terribly safe, I know. 

Do you put him in the car seat in the house and then carry him out?  Does he cry the whole time, or just when the car is going?

When it's not super sunny, I won't use the canopy on the car seat but I don't know if his vision is good enough yet for him to really see the stuff outside?

He's fine if he's being carried around in his car seat, especially if we swing it back and forth.  Sometimes when we're out with the stroller and he starts crying, John will pull the car seat off, swing it a few times and that instantly quiets J down!  

HulaLove:

Can you try out a different car seat?  My friend's son cried and cried every time they went somewhere until she borrowed another friends car seat and he was much happier.

We don't have any other close friends who have a baby and an infant seat so we can't try another out but maybe we can take J to a baby store and have him sit in different ones to see if he's more comfortable in another one?  Someone on another forum said that her baby hated the infant seat we have (Snugride) because it wasn't as padded.  I wonder if that's the problem?

 

 

Jaime and Lori, we may try the mirror and see how that works out.    Renee, if we still have a screaming baby after we try all this new stuff, I'd love to try out the CD and will let you know. 

Thanks everyone for your helpful suggestions.  You all are an awesome group of mamas!

 

mrspresley

lisakeiko:

We don't have any other close friends who have a baby and an infant seat so we can't try another out but maybe we can take J to a baby store and have him sit in different ones to see if he's more comfortable in another one?  Someone on another forum said that her baby hated the infant seat we have (Snugride) because it wasn't as padded.  I wonder if that's the problem?

 

this is a good idea. i also read on another forum that some people had to switch from an infant seat to convertible seat b/c their child hated the recline of the infant seat and was ok w/the conv. seat.  so taking him to a store to see would be great.

or, like some babies he could just not like car seats in general :P

redshoegirl

mrspresley:

this is a good idea. i also read on another forum that some people had to switch from an infant seat to convertible seat b/c their child hated the recline of the infant seat and was ok w/the conv. seat.  so taking him to a store to see would be great.

Hmm, I wonder if this is why our boys are (mostly) OK with car rides - we have convertible seats, not infant ones. At first I wasn't sure if they'd sleep well in the conv. seats since they're more upright, but once they're past their initial period of fussing, they're out like lights.