car seat screaming

My normally calm baby, who is now 7 weeks, seems to have developed an issue with the car seat. The last 3 days I've been up at my parents during the day. On the way there in the morning, Alyssa is fine in the car, in fact yesterday morning, she was chatting away. However, the nightmare comes when I click her car seat into the car base and start to drive home. She used to grizzle at first but then was quite happy and often went to sleep as we drove. On Monday, she started screaming, and I mean inconsoble crying type screaming, so I pulled over, got in the back seat and stroked her hands and stomach til she calmed down, which she did until we were round the corner from home. I thought that it was because we had put her in and out of her car seat a few times as we had issues with the straps and so this could have unsettled her. Anyway, Tues night, I left earlier, thinking that maybe she was also ready for a feed on monday, and so by leaving earlier would get home before she was hungry - nope, not a chance, managed to get further before the screaming started, however, she did not stop until i got home and pulled her car seat out of the car. So last night, i decided to feed her just before i put her in her car seat, and she was a very happy and content baby until again, she started grizzling as i clicked the seat in and then screaming by the bottom of the hill. I pulled, tried to calm her in her seat, which didn't work this time, decided to change her nappy and knew she was not hungry. she calmed down until she went back into the capsule. I phoned hubby and he suggested checking that there was nothing in the seat that was causing the issue, so i pulled over again, rocked her and she settled within seconds, checked the seat and couldn't feel anything, and so put her back in, again as soon as she was in, she was screaming, and nothing else short of taking her out again would stop her until 5 mins from home when i think she just exhausted herself.
Anyone got any similar experience or suggestions? I thought at one point about abadoning the car and walking the last 10k home! I really don't know what is causing this, as i said in the morning she is fine, and we've not had this issue at night before. Its the most awful thing though, having her scream and not knowing what to do about it.

Thanks in advance
Sam

eta: its a safe in sound capsule, the type you hire from the red cross, and thinking about it, mon morning, she pooed everywhere so we had to pull the lining out and wash it, so this could be related, although if it was, it would be causing issues the whole time and not just at night.

Hi Sammy, its awful when they cry like that esp when trying to drive. I know of a few babies who hate the capsule but travel fine in a carseat. Do you have a rear facing car seat that you trial? It might be a simple fix. Good luck :)

Is it dark when you are driving home - if it is the different lights may frighten her. Maybe putting a light rug over the straps of the capsule, or trying to find a hood for the capsule may help.
if it's daytime is the sun on her face, although usually they close their eyes with this and will go to sleep. Can you play some soothing music, maybe that will help (even play in the morning so she understands that is her travel music (or try something really noisy with lots of beat).

What a pain Sam! The others have some good ideas. Your bub's not windy is she? I found the cradle position sucked bigtime for my windy newborn.

Perhaps try the blanket over the straps (I have used a muslin wrap before, then I don't have to worry too much if it gets pulled down before I have a chance to fix it), perhaps bright streetlights/headlights are the issue, and I know my boys both cried when the sun got in their eyes.

Best of luck sorting out the issue. :)

The baby I nannied for was ok in the capsule for about 6 wks, and then she hated trips in the car. She would do the same thing. So they bought a rear facing car seat and she was an angel. So she didn't like the capsule anymore. Maybe this is the case for your DD? To me they look quite uncomfortable.

If you don't think it is this, then i would do what the others say and try a muslin wrap over the capsule.

Good Luck :)

Oskar went through the same phase. It was terrible! I remember pulling over on the side of the highway with trucks zooming past so I could settle him. I'd almost be in tears myself because it's certainly not easy to drive and not be able to help your little bub. I don't have any suggestions I'm sorry. Oskar grew out of it and I think that I just limited my trips a little and kinda did smaller but more often. Like down to the shops to get veg for dinner type things and over time I think he just got used to it. In fact, now EVERY day he comes to me and says "go car" over and over...lol. He mostly loves it now.

Do you have one of those head support things in the car seat? Not one that is part of the car seat, I mean a separate one that you have put in yourself.

We had the exact same problem with our newborn DS until we removed the extra head support and voila! No more crying in the car seat. He was about the same age.

Our little boy is not a fan of travelling in the car and we find a dummy helps. I bought a chain for it so I can clip it to him and find it to put it back in at lights etc. if he drops it and starts crying.

We also found he started screaming once when we were driving at night. It was the lights as mollycat said as my husband sat with him and covered his eyes and he calmed down.

Is it dark when you go home? We can't drive at night cause Harrison screams and gets so upset when it is dark. He is pretty good in the car during the day unless he is tired. Is he tired when you travel home? If he is maybe give him a nap before you leave.

Thanks all for the tips and advice.
Luckily, my mum has a convertible in her car, so we borrowed that for a few days - and it was great so i was convinced enough to get a new seat - dh was umming and aahing until it came to swap the seats back and we had to drive home with her in the capsule (and back, because I left the house keys in mum's car and then home again) and she screamed all the way there and back! I went out the next day and brought a safe and sound meridian and she loves it - go's straight to sleep pretty much by the time we're at the bottom of the street. Whilst it was worst at night in the capsule, i've found that being out in rush hour doesn't bother her now.

Ren - thanks for the tip with the dummy chain - lo was spitting it out in her paddies and then i couldn't find it so got a chain, and it works great.


Cheers girls:thumbsup: