Community› The Bump Month Clubs› December 2015 Moms
December 2015 Moms
New Discussion

DD HATES car seat. Help.

jenEPjenEP member
in December 2015 Moms
My DD hates her car seat. Until about 5 weeks, she was totally fine in it and would usually pass out right away. Since then, her hatred of her seat has grown. It's to the point now that she screams every time we drive somewhere. Sometimes she will scream for 10 minutes and then fall asleep, but other times she doesn't stop. She also hates it when it's on her stroller. I've made sure the straps fit properly and I have a toy dangling to help entertain her. It's gotten to the point that I don't want to leave the house unless I have to, which is hard because I like to get out every day. It's so hard to hear her scream and not be able to soothe her. When it happens, I start to have all these irrational thoughts like I'm ruining our attachment because I am not responding to her cries :( Anyone else dealing with car seat hatred?
Report Reply to Post

Re: DD HATES car seat. Help.

  • Court11152325Court11152325 member
    One thing we've done is put DD in her car seat on the table while we eat. Then she's not always associating it with the car and being by herself. I think it's helped her get used to it more.
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • angbrienzaangbrienza member
    jenEP said:
    My DD hates her car seat. Until about 5 weeks, she was totally fine in it and would usually pass out right away. Since then, her hatred of her seat has grown. It's to the point now that she screams every time we drive somewhere. Sometimes she will scream for 10 minutes and then fall asleep, but other times she doesn't stop. She also hates it when it's on her stroller. I've made sure the straps fit properly and I have a toy dangling to help entertain her. It's gotten to the point that I don't want to leave the house unless I have to, which is hard because I like to get out every day. It's so hard to hear her scream and not be able to soothe her. When it happens, I start to have all these irrational thoughts like I'm ruining our attachment because I am not responding to her cries :( Anyone else dealing with car seat hatred?
    This could have been written by me. I dread leaving the house now. :(
    Report Reply
  • angelicac06angelicac06 member
    I'm with you. We just left Sams because he started fussing and he's too heavy to carry around for long periods. He hates being carried more than being in the car seat. On the weekends we only go out when both DW and I can go together so that I sit in the backseat next to LO. I show him sesame street videos on youtube (ones with singing preferred) and he 90% of the time stops crying.

    Report Reply
  • laurabwalkerlaurabwalker member
    Do you have a mirror so you can see each case other? Some babies don't like if the car seat is too laid back, some like to sit up more (my cousin switched car seats because this was the case and the crying stopped).
    Report Reply
  • kdoak2015kdoak2015 member
    I was almost going to suggest mirror, soother or white noise machine? No experience as DD will sleep as long as she has her soother. 
    Report Reply
  • BellaM110BellaM110 member
    I've been dealing with the same thing but it's only became an issue over the last couple weeks. Never had a problem before then.  Im not really sure why either. I have a mirror, toys for entertainment, I sing to him,  made sure the straps aren't to tight to where they are digging into him, etc. I don't let it stop me from doing what I have to do though, since he will usually stop after about 10 or so min. 
    Report Reply
  • dmendo01dmendo01 member
    DD hates her car seat also. Unless she goes in drowsy she will likely scream. I blare white noise over my speakers via Bluetooth and it works most of the time unless she's hungry or extremely over tired. But I feel the same. Helpless as to what to do and feel bad that she thinks no one is coming to answer her cries. It doesn't stop me from going but if I'm going more than 10-15 min away I make sure someone is with me like my mom so she can get in the back with her if needed.
    Report Reply
  • HoldmommaHoldmomma member
    My DS has always disliked the car seat. A couple of weeks ago it seemed worse than ever. I had already adjusted the straps so I knew it wasn't that. And he started crying the minute I put him in, so it didn't appear to motion related. Then it dawned on me that we still had the infant insert cushion strapped in. I checked out manual and sure enough it said to stop using once baby reached 12 pounds, and my guy had just reached the 12 pound mark. I took it out (along with the neck strap cushions) and he has been much happier since. He still cries sometimes, but no more screaming all the time.  
    Report Reply
  • RachDaRachRachDaRach member
    Download the Baby Got Colic "music," put it on a CD or your ipod, and play it in the car. It's not the most pleasant thing to listen to, but neither is a crying baby! Hopefully your LO likes it as much as mine and will stop crying immediately. 
    <3 Rachel <3 
    BabyFruit Ticker 
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Report Reply
  • EmmyMommy123EmmyMommy123 member
    Same same same!!!!! I read one suggestion somewhere to play them some music around the house during happy times and then to play that same music in the car. It worked one of the two times I've brought him out since starting with the music. We've got a trip coming up that includes driving and being in his stroller and I am getting increasingly anxious it's going to be a disaster! He will rarely stop crying once he's started even if it's for 30 minutes!! And the strange thing is sometimes he's fine for 10 minutes and THEN starts crying. I know he runs hot so I've only been putting on a light blanket but I think I'm going to ditch that and like pp said maybe ditch the infant support and shoulder straps. It seems counter intuitive to me at first, but maybe its adding to him feeling hot or restricted?
    Report Reply
  • redfallonredfallon member
    Holdmomma said:
    My DS has always disliked the car seat. A couple of weeks ago it seemed worse than ever. I had already adjusted the straps so I knew it wasn't that. And he started crying the minute I put him in, so it didn't appear to motion related. Then it dawned on me that we still had the infant insert cushion strapped in. I checked out manual and sure enough it said to stop using once baby reached 12 pounds, and my guy had just reached the 12 pound mark. I took it out (along with the neck strap cushions) and he has been much happier since. He still cries sometimes, but no more screaming all the time.  
    My DS was also uncomfortable in the carseat and I remembered that there was a certain point to take out the infant insert when DD was little. Looked up and he had exceeded 12 lbs so we took out the insert. 

    Jamie


    Lilypie Third Birthday tickers


     Lilypie First Birthday tickers

    Report Reply
  • Knottie65841689Knottie65841689 member
    I was thinking if the temperature in the back seat is not too warm? The seats make babies sweat sometimes and considering not all car cool the same way in the backseats, you might want to take a look at that too ;) 
    Report Reply
  • jenEPjenEP member
    Thanks for all the helpful suggestions! I'm glad to hear I'm not alone. 
    Report Reply
  • rzarembarzaremba member
    My DS has also started this behavior, screaming if no one is in the back with him. He gets to the point that he's choking on the spit generated by his screaming. Its really terrible! I will try taking out the infant insert, but I think it's because he realizes he's alone now more than before. The change happened around the time he started fighting daytime naps. It really makes me not want to leave the house without someone else in the back.
    Report Reply
  • Knottie65841689Knottie65841689 member
    rzaremba said:
    My DS has also started this behavior, screaming if no one is in the back with him. He gets to the point that he's choking on the spit generated by his screaming. Its really terrible! I will try taking out the infant insert, but I think it's because he realizes he's alone now more than before. The change happened around the time he started fighting daytime naps. It really makes me not want to leave the house without someone else in the back.
    I just took the insert out. She doesnt even say a coo. Try and see if it works ;)
    Report Reply
Sign In or Register to comment.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"