Help: DS screams in the carseat!

g8orell

DS is okay when I put him in the carseat, but the minute we drive off, he starts screaming bloody murder, to the point where he starts choking. This weekend I drove with him and DD from a friend's surprise birthday BBQ, about 40 min, and I had to pull over 6 times (2 on the highway...but luckily there is a wooded area to the side, so I was able to pull way off) to calm him down, give him a paci, etc. DD was NEVER like this! She would pass out the minute I took off!

Any suggestions?!! I have a mirror with hanging toys on it. He sometimes coos at it but today i took it down thinking maybe it overstimulates him. The a/c is on, he's cool, comfortable, I don't know what else to do!!!

momofmanyinthemitten

If you find a solution, let me know! LO screams from the minute she gets in the car to the minute she gets out. In fact, she screamed worse on the car ride to her 2 mo appt, than when she got her shots! It's a major bummer because our families live 3 and 4 hours away.

thatsmary

I try to make sure DD is very fed right before getting in the car. Sleeping is even better.

g8orell

thatsmary:

I try to make sure DD is very fed right before getting in the car. Sleeping is even better.

He's always fed before and I'll put him in the carseat and rock him til he falls asleep. Wait a few minutes to make sure hes' asleep and as soon as I start driving, WAHHHHHHHH

mishu917

Yea, we used to feed her when she was new to the car seat. We have a mirror which she spends all of the car ride looking at herself these days lol. On long distances, she sleeps. Maybe you could try traveling with someone else in the car to help calm him down? DD was like this in the beginning and I'd always sit in the back and give her a paci, etc, calm her down. Now she's super comfortable traveling and there is no need for anyone to sit in the back.

mishu917

I also saw someone recommended (car radio) music or more white noise on here.

Steph&Jay

we do a fully belly right before we leave.....and our baby loves music! I have two cd's that she loves...one is colbie calet(softer soothing music) and one is a mix of hip hop type music with alot of bass...she LOVES that one. I turn it up fairly loud and sing along with it and she calms down right away!

GL!

Danalyn13

Try turning the radio to a station that is just static?

Gidgetwho

DD was like this.  We tried everything: full tummy, sleeping, window down, music, toys, fan, etc.  Nothing worked.  Unfortunately you may just have to wait for him to outgrow it.  DD stopped doing it at about 6 months (she started it at about 8 weeks).

KelleyBelly11

Have him take a few naps in the car seat while at home.

Put LO in the car seat when drowsy and swing it side to side and front to back in a soothing motion to get him to fall asleep.

LO and car seat need to "become friends" haha!

Just an idea.  

sometimesalwayschaotic

We bought on of those bears that have a little soundbox in them for her crib.  We took the soundbox out of the bear and strapped it onto the car seat and play the tunes the whole ride.  As long as it doesn't shut off, she is usually fairly calm.  It has helped car rides be much more bearable.  We joke that it's her theme music since it goes everywhere with her.

lauti

Gidgetwho:

DD was like this.  We tried everything: full tummy, sleeping, window down, music, toys, fan, etc.  Nothing worked.  Unfortunately you may just have to wait for him to outgrow it.  DD stopped doing it at about 6 months (she started it at about 8 weeks).

This for us too, though DS is only 5 months.  It's getting marginally better, but w're still dealing with it.  For us, it's that he doesn't like to be strapped down to anything so feels constricted in the seat.

dNoodle

My son is the same way, and we have found that it's not the car seat or the ride that he hates, but the sun.

g8orell

Thanks for all of the replies.

I don't think it's the seat b/c he will fall asleep in it. i do rock him / swing him in it until he falls asleep. But the minute he wakes up in the car, he's a mess! I'm wondering if it's more separation anxiety. Someone suggested sitting back there with him...but who can? Usually my husband is at work, my friends are all working, and my family is over an hour away, so that's not feasible. DD is back there with him, but she's only 19 months, so that's no help. As far as static...DD started screaming in the car around 13 months. We bought a minivan just before DS was born, and we got a DVD, so thank God that has saved us from her screaming. Unfortunately, she'll cry the whole time if the DVD player is NOT on. Most of the time she's with us, but next time she's not, I'll try the static. The minivan has sun-shades on the window and I make sure his canopy is down (and I constantly check in the mirror to make sure the sun is not in his eyes)...so it's not the sun bothering him.

I guess there's not much I can do. I just feel horrible leaving him crying. It's warm down here (Miami)...today is about 82, so even with the A/C on, when I take him out he's sweating so much from crying