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Night time car screamer

snookums2013snookums2013 member
in Babies: 3 - 6 Months
I just went back to work and started my 3 mo old daughter at daycare.  Most nights on the drive home (40 mins without traffic) she has been screaming her head off even with me or my husband sitting in the back with her.  The car is normally hit or miss with her... she either fusses a little bit and then falls asleep or screams most of the way, but the way she's been acting on the way home at night lately is worse than I've seen before.  I don't know if she doesn't like the dark, winding down from over stimulation at daycare, or what.  It seems to help a little bit if we turn the light in the back seat on, but even if I stop to nurse her she sometimes starts screaming again when we get on the road again.  We've tried things that light up and play music and entertaining her with different toys.  We only had a pleasant ride once so far where I entertained her and then she fell asleep for most of the way.  Has anyone else experienced this?  Did you figure out what the issue was and how to fix it?  Do you always stop if the baby is screaming or do you just keep going assuming there's nothing you can do?  Thanks!
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Re: Night time car screamer

  • RevezRevez member
    Does white noise work for her at all?
    My LO HATES the car seat and would scream in the car no matter what we did. One day I just turned the radio on static and turned it up and she calmed down after a minute. It might not work, but it's worth a shot.

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  • snookums2013snookums2013 member
    Yes, I think she does like white noise because she likes the vacuum cleaner and the sound of our air filter.  I'll try that, thanks for the suggestion!  I do have a lullaby app on my phone that used to help her in the car, but she just screams through it at night.  She also seems to like sucking things (like her entire fist lately), but I can't get her to hold onto a pacifier.  I keep thinking she would be so much happier if she could just keep it in her mouth!  I'd appreciate any tips on getting babies to hold onto pacifiers as well.
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  • BelhurstBrideBelhurstBride member
    DD1 hated the infant seat. Switching to the convertible seat made all the difference. 
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  • kristykay123kristykay123 member
    Oh goshhhhh I seriously could have written the same post.  I haven't found a fix just yet.
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  • =Lee=B=Lee=B member

    It is likely mostly due to having had a busy day.  She is exhausted, she's missed you and daddy and now you are there but for some odd reason you have strapped her into a carseat instead of holding her.  If your able to I would suggest trying to spend 10minutes just cuddling her before you strap her in.  Let her get a couple minutes in yours and daddy's arms.  She needs to unwind from a long day without you.  Does the daycare have space in it, away from other people and distractions to do that?  Maybe you hold her a bit, then daddy holds her a bit then nurse her before strapping in.  Start a very solid routine about it so she comes to expect it.  It's a HUGE transition for a little one. 

     

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  • taraleannetaraleanne member
    =Lee=B said:

    It is likely mostly due to having had a busy day.  She is exhausted, she's missed you and daddy and now you are there but for some odd reason you have strapped her into a carseat instead of holding her.  If your able to I would suggest trying to spend 10minutes just cuddling her before you strap her in.  Let her get a couple minutes in yours and daddy's arms.  She needs to unwind from a long day without you.  Does the daycare have space in it, away from other people and distractions to do that?  Maybe you hold her a bit, then daddy holds her a bit then nurse her before strapping in.  Start a very solid routine about it so she comes to expect it.  It's a HUGE transition for a little one. 

    Not that I have experience with daycare, but this is probably the problem. If my LO is overtired or even the slightest bit hungry.... he hates the car seat.  Make sure she's got a full belly before the drive and like Lee said, give her some winding down prior to leaving daycare.  Can the daycare also confirm that she's getting enough naps during the day there? Cause she could possibly be overtired from the day. They need to make sure she naps. She's about 3 months right??  re: pacifiers, it took a few different types and around 3 months I finally got my DS to take one but I only offer it when he's fussy in the car or when he needs to wind down to nap at home. 

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  • emikatemikat member
    Same situation here with screaming in the car seat at night.  The first time LO did it I was driving home from the airport alone after dropping DH's family off.  We were stuck in traffic and my heart broke wide open for him.  I'm sure it's the darkness, plus being alone and all the lights that go by while driving that freaks him out.  There's little I can do when sitting in the back to calm him too.  I was somewhat successful once getting him to focus on me and playing music on my phone for him that he liked.  He doesn't care for the seat during the day either, but it's much worse at night.  I know for sure he doesn't want to be put in there after we pick him up at daycare.  We have spent time sitting and holding him there before leaving, but he arches his back and struggles when I try and put him in.  He just does't want to go in there.  I think it'll get better when they can face forward.  I hope.  
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  • 24karat24karat member
    Since she's fussing more than just at night, it seems like it could be car seat related, at least in part. Some babies really hate their car seats and if nothing else works, it may be worthwhile to look at trying out and buying a different one.

    When DD was an infant my folks had a nice Peg Perego waiting for her at their house (they live across the country) but she screamed like she was in pain every time she was in it. We decided to stop by BRU and ended up with a Graco one. She never cried like that in the car after we switched.
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  • redhead610redhead610 member
    DS only screams in the car at night.  We turn the lights on inside the car and that helps a lot.
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