[RedWine]

I am trying to minimize car use as much as possible, but sometimes we do all have to use it. My 2 1/2 month old HATES the car and cries and screams nonstop every time we use it. I feel awful, this is as bad as CIO in my opinion, because I can't pick her up and she doesn't understand why mama isn't there. I've tried music, radio static, talking to her, singing to her, pacifiers, my little finger in her mouth, holding her hand/arm, and silence. I pull over and pick her up as often as I can (sometimes every 5 minutes). This calms her down immediately, but the second I put her back in the car seat it starts all over again.

I was stuck in traffic for 25 minutes today and could not get to her to hold or comfort her. She cried hysterically. I feel so bad, so awful!

Any suggestions out there? Has anything worked for any of you?

 

[PortraitPixie]

Hang in there! My son was like that! All I can really do is give you hope and encourage you; IT WILL GET BETTER! She will get used to it with time. ANd the singing and talking to her I know doesn't seem like it helps, but it really does. She knows you are near. My son got better gradually, and MUCH better by 6-7 months.

Do you have a mirror she could look at back there? I bought one with lights on it at W.M. (SHHHHH, I know, don't tell anyone.

: ) That may help a little.

You are a good mamma--she will/you will be ok! It does get better.

Sarah

 

[jilly]

My Ds was the same in the car. I just didn't go very far when he was little -- made dh do almost all the errands, etc. ONe thing that would work for a while was a cloth book I had with really mesmerizing patterns and animals -- I would put it where he could see. Once he got to about 4 mos and could play with toys it got better, but he's still not great. I've also found there are about 2 or 3 songs that work to calm him -- in his case, Patty Cake, This Little Piggy and the Itsy Bitsy Spider. I have Patty Caked my way through the whole alphabet in desperate straits!

Hope this helps! I feel your pain.

 

[Mama2Bug]

Just wanted to give you a

. My DD is 6 months old and still gets like that pretty often. We got this toy for her to look at and kick. It helps a lot for daytime trips, but anytime it is dark in the car...total nightmare.

We're thinking about getting one of those light-up mirror things.

 

[zavierchick]

oh, yes...we have been there too...DD HATED the carseat- and especially when the car stopped...would just WAIL, she is 2.5 yrs now...it does get better, but for a while I knew every shortcut and all the routes to my mom's without stoplights. things that helped: talking to her, avoiding stoplights, oddly enough loud music (my fave was NIN), although it probably didn't do her ears much good, and mostly just time...she was mostly good at 6 months...

hang in there...this too shall pass (as I keep telling myself...DS is 4 months and repeating the pattern...uggg!)

 

[alegna]

My dd was not fond of the laying down position in the baby car seat. Once we moved her to a convertible car seat she was much happier.

-Angela

 

[kimfaith]

it's so stressful to have your babe screaming bloody murder, isn't it? my dd is over 1 now and does this constantly still.

it's sooo hard! no advice from me- not much works, and she even has her brother to entertain her. but i do offer my sympathy. let's hope we all get through it soon!

 

[RedWine]

Thank you all for your kind responses.

I guess the only thing left to try is to put different things for her to look at back there. She has a mobile, but that doesn't do any good. I think she becomes frightened at the creatures on it, quite frankly. We should try a different one. Or a mirror, so she can look at herself. Thanks for all your suggestions and hugs. Hopefully this will pass quickly!

 

[RedWine]

I put bright colored, striped socks on her feet today, and she stared at them in fascination the entire time she was in the car. She was in awe. So I think the solution might be to rotate socks each time we're in the car -- and make each pair really bright and interesting to look at.

 

[jasper28]

My ds was the same way until around 4 months. Now he tolerates the car. He doesn't like it and if he is tired, he still cries. I bought a CD of white noise including the hairdryer and vaccuum cleaner. Also, I have a toy that I only give to him in the car. The different colored socks worked well for awhile for us too! He still is amazed by his feet so it is getting better. I agree that it is worse than CIO. He cried himself to sleep twice in the car and it was horrible. I try to pull over and comfort him as much as I can, but sometimes, it isn't safe to do so. I also try to comfort him by nursing because sometimes that will put him to sleep and I can quietly slip him back into the carseat. Good Luck with everything, it is really difficult not to feel trapped at home when carrides are soooo stressful.

________________________-
Bethany --- Mom to Liam, 2/12/05

 

[boysarecool]

i have to agree with everyone here--toys! toys! toys!
i have things hanging for him to look at, toys tethered to his seat, a mirror, etc.
the more, the better in my son's case
the day we put these in, it really shifted for him (i think he was bored!)
and it does get better...he's six months now, and the only time he cries is when he's hungry
good luck

 

[wordprincess]

Oh, wow, I was just coming to post the same question after a particularly miserable jaunt in the car with my 4.5 month old. It was so bad I was almost in tears. And she's right next to me, too, since I have a p/up truck, so I try to use the toys to distract her while I am driving when I can. I am starting to wait to do errands with dh because at least when he's driving I can nurse her and that's the only thing that works.

We went to lunch with a friend the other day (I drove) and she said, "I thought most babies liked their car seat."