Please give me suggestions for what I can do for my 4 1/2 month old who unfailingly screams in the car as if she is being tortured? From the minute I put her in her seat, until I get her out, no matter how long or short the trip, no matter the time of day. Although I am very aware of the carseat laws, I tried facing her forward on the advice of several moms who said that worked for their car screamer, but alas, she screamed harder (and it is a nice, cozy, Britax carseat). Go figure.
I don't know what else to try, if there is anything. Talking to her, the radio, singing, ignoring, windows down, nothing works. And she doesn't cry herself to sleep, she simply screams hysterically the entire car trip.
I'm about to flush my car keys down the toilet and just not leave the house.
Please tell me what worked for you.
Belly - possibly, but she often starts getting worked up as I am putting her in the seat, so that doesn't suggest car sickness, but that is why I turned her around, because I get car sick riding backwards. But she screamed riding forward too.
Legs pinched - no, I'm very careful and she screams every time we go somewhere, so surely I'm not pinching her every time.
Belts - I don't keep them super tight and I always adjust them if they seem snug even though they are supposed to be snug).
Here I thought you tried to give a small child a hair cut. :)
Okay, may sound crazy but try a Mozart CD. One of my kids was a screamer but was happy as a clam listening to Mozart. The rest of us cried in that second between songs, no lie, he would cry and then be happy as soon as the next song started.
Have you moved her out of the infant seat in to a convertible seat? My daughter did a lot better after we switched her at 4 months. I think she was not comfortable in the infant seat.
What helped me was bringing her car seat into the house and strapping her into it while I cooked or cleaned something, so that she could see me while strapped into the offending chair. Soon she got used to it and would fall asleep in the stupid thing. Made car trips much easier after that because even though she was in this strange contraption with the scenery flying by out the window, she was sitting in something familiar.
L., did you know people have been looking for you here? Several threads asking "Where is L. P?" So glad to know you are alive and well! LOL!
I have to say that there is nothing you can do but perservere. You can't give in, as you know, and you can't stay home all the time. I guess some cotton in your ears will help you.
Babies cry, they sometimes scream. I wouldn't talk to her - it won't help.
I sincerely hope that you don't have to make any airplane trips anytime soon!!!
Hugs!
Dawn
What if you brought the car seat inside the house and had her sit in it for a little bit each day - maybe that would help get her used to it, and not associate it with only car trips.
And do check the straps, her positioning, etc.
Poor baby
Poor Mama
Its a phase.
Both my kids did that as babies too.
So did my friend's babies.
It eases up when they are say, about 6 months old.
I used to, tie a helium balloon (gotten from the grocery store) in our car... so they can see it and keep "distracted." But of course I tied it so that they could not grab it or get tangled up in.
But you still gotta go in the car and do stuff.
Try calm music.
Try talking to baby.
And to a certain extent, you just gotta grin and bear it. Till they outgrow it.
Nikki. I'm so glad you revised your answer. I was going to have to respond, otherwise!
L., sorry. I have no suggestions.
Car seat toys that attach to the car seat?
Baby music lullaby CD?
Bring a favorite toy, blanket w/you?
Make sure she's not hungry when you go.
A lot of my friends and cousins w/girls did this. It was a stage. My son never did. Sorry I know it's frustrating.
Does she ever fall asleep in her car seat like if you were to take her for a walk in her stroller? Then transition the car seat from the stroller immediately to the car? Just an idea if you need to do some QUICK grocery shopping.
If it's too much (and I completely understand if it is), maybe you could run your errands w/o her when you leave her at home w/your hubby or family member.
Could you take her for a walk in her car seat that goes in the stroller to kind of make a calm transition? You know just a short walk then end up at your car in the driveway & put her car seat in to go? Just an idea.
This stage will pass. Try to rack your brain to find ways to work WITH this issue instead of against it. I know it's hard but it will pass.
Mine did it intermittently and the Fisher Price lights and sounds mirror was enough of a distraction a lot of the time. Othertimes I would have to recite my daughter's favorite book over and over from memory.
I am so sorry to say that nothing worked, but my daughter grew out of it between 5 and 6 months of age.
My heart goes out to you. I know how horrible it is!
It's possible that she is a bit car sick and her belly is bothering her while moving.
It's possible that her leg is pinched
It's possible that the straps are too tight. My daughter once screamed for 2 hrs straight because of this.
After the SWH: Have you tried putting a mirror or activity toy in her view? Adding a mirror to the seat that my daughter was facing so that she could see me, see herself worked wonders.
My son is a bit older, but goes through phases where he hates the car as well. He loves the mirror on the seat back though (i bought it so I could see him, pleasant surprise that he makes faces at himself). He'll cry until he notices the mirror, then smile and point at himself. On days that it doesn't work, I just turn up the radio and sing so I don't start bawling myself. Good luck!
i agree try music. worked for my daughter. i'd keep her backwards either way. my daughter was a reflux baby and screamed like that 24/7 for 6 months I feel your pain!
Maybe she screames in anticipation of being carsick? i mean you said that was the reason you ddnt think she was carsick. at her age shes able to make the connection with carseat and her belly hurting.
Does she scream when you place her in the carseat and then walk with her in it too?
I had to buckle him in IN the house, then transition to the car, he too was a screamer - turns out he has sensory issues - that was apparently a sign according to one of our therepists.
Could she just want to see you? Did you try to put her in her seat and in the car and then just sit in the back seat with her? Maybe she just misses you. It sounds like it's not something uncomfortable with the seat as you said you were careful. It's possible she got pinched once and never forgot it, though :) Do you have the kind of seat that can sit in a stroller? If she likes stroller rides, try putting her in the seat and then going for a walk or doing something she enjoyes...maybe that would help associate the stroller with something "fun".
Have you tried loud, dance music that has a really strong rhythm section? My son always quieted up when I put on Depth Charge or Prodigy. In fact, my son now (at 2.5) falls asleep within 5 minutes of putting on Prodigy. The drums are super calming to him.
It is just a phase. My son did this screaming to. Try different types of music, played really loudly!
Is she in a infant seat or convertible? My middle son was like this. Stopped immediately once I switched to his convertible seat. Although he also had a small case of torticollis, was going to treatment about the same time as the switch. I've really come o believe he didn't like the claustrophobic feeling of the infant seat, and it made his neck hurt. Good luck hopefully it's just a phase!
could something in the seat be hurting or irritating her?
maybe put a soft blanket on the seat before putting her in?
Is the car or seat hot when you put her in? Maybe she's got extra sensative skin.
If the carseat is in the house does she scream when you put her in it?
She probably just hates the constraints for now, I would imagine it's a phase, hopefully one that will end for you soon.
I would invest in a really good pair of earplugs. Sorry but that sucks!!! Hope this phase is a fast one for you ;)
