Wont Go In The Car... Help

[~Trish~]

Sounds like you already have a nice comfy car seat. I reckon it's because she can't see you.

I used to say "mum, mum, mum" to my DS over and over again while I was driving and I think the sound of my voice calmed him because he would stop crying. The bonus was that his first word was "Mum" LOL! DH said I brainwashed him!

[spring_ag]

Trish, LOL at mum mum
DS can babble 'ba ba ba' and 'da da da' but not 'mum mum'. Perhaps I should try and brainwash him

[Ozziehoffy]

Oh I hate it when they scream in the car! It's soooo stressful to try and drive at the same time. Oskar "grew" out of it I think. Once he could see a bit better is when he seemed to calm down a bit more, so probably around 5/6 months he got really good. I used to wind the opposite rear window down to distract him if I wasn't on the highway. The mirror works a treat too. There's several you can try, they go at bub's feet and some of them have a "toy" thing they can kick too. I hope that she gets better with the car for you asap!

[Jac]

Without wanting to worry you, my DS now 13mths and forward facing in the car STILL cries/whinges/screams if driven longer than 10-15 minutes. He has been like this since a tiny baby, doesn't matter which car seat or car although is better with someone sitting beside him in the back. Just wanted you to know that you are not alone and for some children this is normal. Also, he never sleeps in the car unless ill!!!

I have tried many different above mentioned (and other) techniques to improve the situation but TBH he really only calms down when we stop and he gets out. While I don't like him to cry I still go out in the car all the time as I would be driven mad if stuck at home. We won't be taking any road trip holidays in the near future though!

[Ezz]

DS doesn't like the car for more than about 10 mins either (and we've got a mobile, a playgro tie-on toy, 2 lamaze toys & a mirror on the headrest! - each of which work for a short space of time). But if I'm going to be driving for a while, I try to go when he is REALLY tired. Then I put him in the seat & pat him to sleep before we leave (sometimes I tuck in a muslin wrap over him & the harness to make him feel more secure). Although it can take 5-10min for him to go to sleep before we leave, at least I know I can drive in peace for 40 mins.

[Dragonbub]

I am going to admit something and please don't pass judgement!
I turned the car seat around when Caden was only 7.5 kilos. It was just a trial, as he too screamed in the car constantly no matter what I did (music, toys, mirror, etc). I find that if I am turned around in my seat to play with him I get terribly car sick, so maybe that affected him also?

My justification was that driving with a screaming baby was enough to CAUSE and accident, even though rear-facing was safer IN an accident. DH drives like a bat out of hell if Caden is driving and I worry about this causing accidents also.

So I turned it around as a one-of trial, thinking if it didn't work I could always turn it back around and at least he is a safer screaming baby.

Well, it worked like a switch! Now he is so content and often falls asleep in the car where nothing else works. Mind you, now he is over 9 kilos so weight is no longer an issue. He is in the middle so he can see us and the front windscreen, and is so much happier.

Your choice though, maybe just wait until he is old enough to turn.