car rides? - Page 2

[octobermoon]

Originally Posted by MyZoeJane

But don't you have to eat?!

I took the kids out in the car when Ezra was three days old and have taken the baby out while Zoe is in school at least every other day since. I'd lose my mind sitting at home, and living in the burbs means I have to drive if I want to go anywhere.

I agree with the person who said that you need to start taking baby out from the getgo or you set yourself up for having a bad traveller! Ezra cries in the car sometimes, but if he's not hungry or in need of a diaper change, I just have to let him cry a bit. It usually doesn't last more than a few minutes.

You can't change your life too much for a baby, in my opinion. I think it makes the difference between having an "easy" baby and a baby who is "difficult" because he is too sheltered.

Get that baby out and about and don't be afraid to let him fuss a bit! It doesn't mean you're neglecting his needs!

we go out in the stroller alone (i live in the city). with daddy we do the grocery store in the evenings when he is home. DH has his own business and was able to stay home with us for about 6 weeks, so i was spoiled with not having to go out alone and having so much help. i do admit i worry too much about being out by myself and wondering how i will do certain things and what will happen if the baby screams or something....i know, dumb. because our baby is pretty easy i'd say. we have been out to dinner with him and all over with DH and he is perfect every time...so i need to chill, for real. i'm going to take him out next week in the car...ya'll are right. i'm glad i posted this. thanks.

[Lovinmum]

Oh wow. Kai was literally 3 days old when I had to venture out with him and his brother alone. Jaundice blood tests. We are a family on the move though. Hardly ever home for more than 24 hours unless someone is really sick. Ditto a carrier though. Its my saving grace.

[tzs]

funny because although i am a bit agorophobic, ada is truly truly happy in the car, in the grocery store, in the stroller, in walmart...anywhere but home.
i dunno, at this point the more people that touch her, the better....builds immunity, ya know?
now the lady at walmart who randomly asked if she could hold her.....that was a no-go....creepy!

[darcytrue]

We started getting out when she was 2 weeks old. I have older children and I also had errands to run.

[pastrygirl]

Originally Posted by darcytrue

We started getting out when she was 2 weeks old. I have older children and I also had errands to run.

Same here. I think preschool started when Caleb was a week or two old. No choice about taking him in the car by myself! He hates the car, so it's very stressful. He's starting to get better, though. If I'm going to be out for a while, I frequently have to find a parking lot so I can nurse him, though. Otherwise he just cries himself hoarse.

Oh, and we have our groceries delivered each week. It's totally worth the extra $10 delivery fee to not have to go out!

[deymm]

I have no choice. DS1 has school every day and physical therapy 3x/week. I *have* to take him in the car.

[confustication]

Originally Posted by 2boyzmama

babies cry, and if i know he's not hungry, i just press onward. in the car is one of those times that he just has to wait. (so is when i'm busy with one of the older boys...third babies cry a lot more than first babies unfortunately)

This is SO true around here. I know that fussing for a couple minutes won't hurt the baby, and sometimes things HAVE to be done- especially for the two other kids. I'm not about to leave the toddler alone in the tub when the littlest wakes early from a nap. Instead, I talk and sing so he can hear me, and get to him when I have the older one out and dry (or at least wrapped in a towel.)

As for the car- it's 40 minutes + to a real grocery store. Sometimes stopping isn't an option, and sometimes- I know that it'll be 10 minutes more to get home and be able to nurse for a good half hour insteead of a few minutes on the side of the road...

[zenproof]

my problem is getting him in and out of the car seat. he hates it. the getting in and adjusting straps on his shoulders and getting buckled in bit.

he is no longer a fan of the moby - but the bjorn has also worked well for us. the head support is good for him - and it lets him look around which the moby doesn't do so well (and provide neck support). although i havent tried facing him outwards in that...

am working on making a maya wrap - can't wait to give it a try - although i have a feeling he's not going to like slings.

erg.

the few times i have been grocery shopping have been when Oban is at home with my husband. otherwise, he mainly is the one taking care of the groceries on his way home from work at night.

and i refuse to take him to the FArmers market. which i miss. its like disneyland up in there (in a huge warehouse - not open market).

i find myself feeling slightly clostrophobic lately when im out in public with my babe...worrying about catching something. i haven't been vacinated...

[littlemomma]

Originally Posted by MyZoeJane

But don't you have to eat?!

I think it makes the difference between having an "easy" baby and a baby who is "difficult" because he is too sheltered.

My easiest baby was very sheltered, my hardest baby was medium sheltered, and my medium easy baby was basically thrown to the wolves. I don't think we can control/influence their temperment all that much- they are who they are. That said, all three of mine screamed in the car. =(

[Pandme]

My daughter screamed so much in the car yesterday both me and my husband were totally shaken up......our son was NOT like this. I am not doing car rides. I don't care if I am influencing her temperment or not (which I don't believe I am). Listening to bloodcurdling screams like that is not my idea of a good time and I am trying to control my own level of stress too. So we only go out when absolutely necessary.

[Lula's Mom]

I feel that same way. Actually this baby seemed to do better in the car the first 8 weeks than my other two. Ds 1 always screamed from the start, but this baby was fine until the last couple of days. Now he's getting cranky when I put him in.

A little fussing is something I live with and try to soothe him through until we get to our destination. But hysterical crying, where his mouth is open in a scream and no sound comes out? Yeah, we're pulling over to nurse and calm down. I don't care if we're late to wherever we're going. I wouldn't let him cry like that at home and have him think no one cares, and I won't do it just because we're in the car.

[StrongFeather]

as for car rides, Sam has almost always been good. The only time when I pulled off the road was when he was absolutley screaming at the top of his lungs, and of course, I was alone in the car. I pulled off and nothing *seemed* to be wrong. I decided to try and make it the 15 minutes more to home before nursing him. When I got home I discovered the reason for his screaming. He had a poopy diaper! And it must have been most uncomfortable for him. I felt bad for not realizing.

I am not really using the paci much these days, but for car rides for sure. It can get tricky when he spits it out in the car though, so I keep a few in the front seat with me.

[KayleeZoo]

We've been going out alone (well, I don't think we ever get to be alone, the baby and I, that is- we've always got at least one other kiddo with us) since she was a couple days old. DH has a weird schedule and isn't available to go with us or watch the baby, so we just go. I remember taking DD#1 out alone when she was 3 days old. I just couldn't stay in the house all the time, and I'm very independant by nature, so it didn't occur to me to wait till DH could go with us.

Camry isn't a fan of the car, but she'll get used to it. Since I always have to get back to pick someone up from school, or get DD to/from practice, etc. she just has to tough it out and cry in the car sometimes. It used to make me sick to my stomach when DD#1 cried and I couldn't stop, but I know that eventually she'll get better about it, and really, we can't avoid driving so it's one of those unfortunate 4th child things- she has to be unhappy sometimes. I don't put her in the car when she's hungry or wet, though.

And I've done grocery store AND Sam's with all 4 It's a little crazier than with 3, I have to admit, but we just make it happen. Actually, I'm more nervous about their Christmas pictures, which are being taken on Thursday, than taking all 4 of them anywhere. Not sure how it's gonna work with getting everyone to smile (and not poke anyone else ) at the same time, but we'll see!

[~Laura~]

Originally Posted by KayleeZoo

Actually, I'm more nervous about their Christmas pictures, which are being taken on Thursday, than taking all 4 of them anywhere. Not sure how it's gonna work with getting everyone to smile (and not poke anyone else ) at the same time, but we'll see!

We just did ours with our 4. What ages are your kids? I think ours went okay since my bigger three are older - 8, 7, and 5. I got everyone ready and at the last possible moment got them in place and snapped away as fast as I could. Daddy stood behind me making farting noises and other equally goofy things.

Laura