Help - Hating the carseat!

KNJepp · March 2010

Cameron did just fine in the carseat at first. There was a period around 5-6 weeks when he decided he didn't like it, but then he got over it for a bit. The last few weeks, though, have pretty much been carseat hell. Every now and then I'll get lucky, but even then, it's a delicate situation. Sit at a traffic light too long and it could all end.

It is really starting to take its toll on me - such that yesterday I realized I've started to dread going anywhere and I'm feeling like a hermit. The current state of affairs just isn't working. I just want to be able to go places without Armageddon taking place in my backseat.

Has anyone else dealt with this, or do I have the only carseat-hating baby (ooh, lucky me!)? Any suggestions?

Katieraye09 · March 2010

I remember those days! What worked for me was to put a mirror, toy, something for Tyler to look at other than the back of the seat. He loved riding in my husband's truck because he could "see" out the window (even if it was just the sky) but hated my expedition because all he could see was the back of the seat. I had one of those mirrors so I positioned it so he could see himself, the toys on the edges, etc. He couldn't see me but just having something to look at other than the seat REALLY helped. You might try that

Cajun_gal · March 2010

Is he getting hot in the car seat? I know that sometimes Dylan hates being in his carseat, and when I take him out, he's all sweaty! I started dressing him in lighter clothing to make up for the car seat making him hotter. Will he take a pacifier to help calm him down?

Cajun_gal · March 2010

katieraye04:
I remember those days! What worked for me was to put a mirror, toy, something for Tyler to look at other than the back of the seat. He loved riding in my husband's truck because he could "see" out the window (even if it was just the sky) but hated my expedition because all he could see was the back of the seat. I had one of those mirrors so I positioned it so he could see himself, the toys on the edges, etc. He couldn't see me but just having something to look at other than the seat REALLY helped. You might try that

This too. He loves the mirror, it has little toys hanging off of it. I also hang some toys on the bar of his car seat. Now that he can hold onto toys and stick them in his mouth, I also always give him a blanket or something to play with if he's awake.

KNJepp · March 2010

::sigh:: He has toys to look at, but that doesn't seem to be helping. He doesn't seem to be getting hot, but I'll pay closer attention to that. And he won't take a paci for anything. It's usually like the instant he realizes he's in the car, all hell breaks loose. And boy, he sure can cry/yell loud and for a lot longer than you'd think.

Cajun_gal · March 2010

Only other things would be maybe he's actually cold instead of hot and maybe the seat itself just isn't comfortable? Not that going out and buying new seats is really an option... Are you playing music when he's in the car? Maybe he doesn't like it or he would like it to hear something. Umm... I'm just grasping at straws now.

thehoneybadger · March 2010

Another thought is that some kids prefer the convertible seat because its bigger, so they arent as squished. They also "sit up" alittle more and can see out of the window.

tmp-969886500003101 · March 2010

Aiden went through a brief period like this. We did the mirror thing and toys too. Also my singing (as horrible as it is) seemed to calm him down and he usually fell asleep. Good luck!

LisaK2b · March 2010

Sorry to say...but I think it's a phase that some kids go through. Emmy was like that and she stopped crying around 5 months? When DH and I were in the car, I sat in the back and she never cried while I was sitting back there with her. She only cried when she was alone in the back. There were times that she cried so hard as a baby that she would throw up too. I couldn't take it anymore with her home in the evening time in traffic that DH had to be in charge of pick up. DH says that Ally is now the same way and cries the entire way home (but so far no throw up).

Cajun_gal · March 2010

AggieKristin:
Another thought is that some kids prefer the convertible seat because its bigger, so they arent as squished. They also "sit up" alittle more and can see out of the window.

Yeah, Dylan likes riding in my mom's car more as she has a convertible seat. We're going to switch mine as soon as he can sit up in a shopping cart and high chair.

KNJepp · March 2010

Cajun_gal:
Umm... I'm just grasping at straws now.

Which is pretty much how I feel any time we get in the car these days... Surprise

The man is just hating on the SnugRide 32...

We just did some "carseat therapy bootcamp". I sat him in it and parked it in the kitchen floor while I was doing some things in there and he did pretty well for a while. Had I strapped him in (next step) and/or put him in the car, I'm sure it would have been a different story...

CareBear01 · March 2010

Make sure the straps aren't too tight, either. I remember being so paranoid about having the harness on tight enough, that we would put it too tight, and he wouldn't like it. Try loosening it up a hair so it won't bear down on his shoulders so much.

TexasPaige · March 2010

We generally have a good carseat-rider, but whenever he stressed out in traffic when he was really young, I would turn the radio to static, and it quieted him down almost immediately. He looooved white noise back then.

SigmundsGirl · March 2010

I'm no help with the carseat since Evan is only 10 days old and hasn't been anywhere other than the doctor and hospital for lab work, but as for the crying, evan can cry with the best of them.

I have started singing A Hard Day's Night by the Beatles as loud as possible (so he can hear me over his own crying) and he actually calms down. I think this suggestion was in the Baby 411 book.

Suzi-G- · March 2010

Cajun_gal:
Only other things would be maybe he's actually cold instead of hot and maybe the seat itself just isn't comfortable? Not that going out and buying new seats is really an option... Are you playing music when he's in the car? Maybe he doesn't like it or he would like it to hear something. Umm... I'm just grasping at straws now.

Along these lines, maybe he doesn't like your car itself? Or perhaps your driving?? I'm kidding I'm kidding!! Stick out tongue

I don't really have any useful suggestions, but I'm sorry he's holding you prisoner. That sucks. I think if it were me, I'd go ahead and pick/buy a convertible seat (if you haven't already) and try it for a few days. If it doesn't make a difference you can always switch back to the infant seat for awhile.

kellynkyle · March 2010

I feel ya! I have a car seat/red light hater, too and I wear earplugs (home and in the car)--seriously! They don't mute all sound but it takes the shrillness out of it and I can stay sane enough to concentrate while driving! good luck...

One thing that always works for awhile is playing a Toddler Tunes cd kinda loud...

good luck!

readyforbaby · March 2010

Try turning static on the radio really loud. DS didn't love being in the car at that age either and I found that would help sometimes. Now signing to him will work if he starts to get antsy.

darva · March 2010

we're in teh same boat. Not even me being in the back seat keeps her calm sometimes. It sucks. I may try the mirror thing. We have a snugride 32 also, maybe they just aren't comfortable? Although, I really think for her, it's the half sitting, but laying still position. She HATES to lay down if she's awake. She wants to be sitting up and seeing everything around her.

rayskit10 · March 2010

AggieKristin:
Another thought is that some kids prefer the convertible seat because its bigger, so they arent as squished. They also "sit up" alittle more and can see out of the window.

this was both my boys. as soon as they were out of the bucket, it was a whole new world.

aprilprincess · March 2010

i had a hater too. oddly opera or cracking a window sometimes helped. the opera would throw her off i think, the notes sounded similar to her screaming cries i guess.

lilycat · March 2010

It took time before Sean decided it was not going to be the end of the world after we put him in a car seat. He seemed to just age out. We did start bringing a small toy he likes to chew on.

I think it is a common issue. Baby phases seem long, but actually pass rather quickly. I hope this is a short phase for you.

KKMMex · March 2010

KNJepp:
::sigh:: He has toys to look at, but that doesn't seem to be helping. He doesn't seem to be getting hot, but I'll pay closer attention to that. And he won't take a paci for anything. It's usually like the instant he realizes he's in the car, all hell breaks loose. And boy, he sure can cry/yell loud and for a lot longer than you'd think.

That sounds soooo miserable! Sarah was very much like that as a young infant and it was excruciating. She eventually outgrew it but man!! I remember it being a total nightmare! DH and I would have to station someone next to her in the backseat (usually me) to distract her by talking or singing, but even then she would still scream bloody murder.

When people complain about moms with babies taking advantage of HOV lanes, I always remember Sarah's carseat crying and I try to give the benefit of the doubt!

Quartzcpw · March 2010

This may have already been addressed, but the same thing happened to both my BFF and I when our DC's hit 8 weeks or so. Make sure the straps are adjusted correctly, because the original setting starts to be uncomfortable for them around that time. That was an overnight switch between our screams and sleeping in the car once again... If that isn't it, I would definitely make sure the temp is correct and/or no sun is in the baby's eyes.

princessmah · March 2010

Glad to hear I'm not alone with the carseat hating! When I first put Allie in, she HATES it and will cry. I give her a paci and soft toy and that usually calms her down. She doesn't like when the car stops either so I try to take routes with less stoplights/signs and she seems to quiet a bit if I sing to her. She's the only person who likes my singing

If she makes a dirty diaper while she is in her seat, pretty much nothing will calm or soothe her except changing her diaper. I have a love/hate reationship with paci. It calms her down but if she spits it out or loses it, she'll cry for it and then I have to do some serious arm contortion tricks to reach back there and get it for her once we are at a stop.

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