My baby won't let us leave the house

I'm hoping someone can tell me this is normal behaviour and my DD will eventually grow out of it! My 11 week old girl is generally really happy, laughing and 'talking' non-stop while we're at home. The problem is as soon as we head out anywhere - be it a walk around the block or a trip to the supermarket, she screams uncontrollably the whole time. I'm guessing it's all too much for her and she is over stimulated - but can some one please tell me she'll grow out of this soon?! I'm going a bit stir crazy not being able to get out of the house!

How do you get out of the house? If you're using a pram she may not like it and feel very alone and unable to cope with the stimulation. A baby carrier/sling could be good.

yeah i 2nd the idea of a sling - or trying different ways of taking her out - pram, carrier/sling, car etc. you cant be all cooped up all the time - something will work i am sure!!

I have to agree with the other girls...try a sling if you havent already...my DS loved it, and at 10 months old still does!

Thanks ladies but I've tried both the pram and the sling and she hates both! Unfortunately we don't have a car so there's no other options apart from carrying her in my arms which she's just too heavy to do for long! I don't think it's the pram that's the problem as I've tried getting her used to it by sitting her in it at home and she's fine. But as soon as we're out the front door the tears start coming. I also talk to her while we're out so she knows I'm there but that doesn't work either. Not sure what else to do!

What kind of sling do you have? My DD hated the bubba moe but loves the ergo - so that could be another idea? walk around the house - go in the backyard and out the front to get her used to it.

is it possible the sun is in her eyes? or she is cold/wind in her face? something like that???
probably not just trying to think what it could be...
what happens if you persevere and just start walking? my DS (a LOT older) cries when we put him in the pram but calms down as soon as i walk and get a little bit pf pace up!
does she have reflux or something that means she doesnt like lying down in the pram? have you propped her up? (this was the cse with my nephew - he ended up hating his pram and also his car seat - and got over it when he was big enough to go upright)

:

---

What kind of sling do you have? My DD hated the bubba moe but loves the ergo - so that could be another idea? walk around the house - go in the backyard and out the front to get her used to it.

---

My son is the same, loves the ergo, hates the peanut!

I hope something works and you can get out soon :hug:

tried a dummy
?

I think it would be the pram. Sitting in it at home and being in it in a strange environment are 2 different things.
What sling have you tried? A Mei Tai might be a better idea, or a hug a bub. Some babies don't like slings straight away but after a few times get used to them.

Maybe stick her in the pram in the lounge for awhile before you actually take her outside?

My DD used to hate going out too. I tried everything. Sorry I can't advise anything for you that hasn't been already been said. DD eventually started to like going out. It took her longer to like the shoppng centre though.

I'd mention it to a Dr or ECHN if you can get there. I have never experienced it myself so I'm no help, but I'd hate to think its something "deeper" than just "not liking" leaving the house IYKWIM.
Dont mean to maybe worry you, just trying to help.

I hope things get better soon so you & your baby can enjoy going out :hug:

I think you are probably right when you said it was about over-stimulisation. Can you perhaps put her in her pram and put a rug over it to block out the world when you are out? Maybe try to put her in her pram like this for one nap a day at home so she gets used to it, then it will seem safe when she is out.

It probably will get better with time. The world is pretty overwhelming for a baby, they really don't have much of a way to make sense of it, so it can just seem scary if they are at all sensitive. As she gets older, she will be able to cope with more.

hi there
mine was the same, they DO grow out of it... for my dd it was around 5 months... i know that probably feels like an eternity away though.... think yourself lucky for not depending on a car, as it was the most stressful thing, to be on an hour plus car trip and have her SCREAMING BLUE MURDER all the way in the back seat without anybody to comfort her....

she was the same in the pram and just about anywhere really, a very unhappy baby with reflux... then we actually went through a good few months where she LOVED being out (when she could sit up a bit in the pram) and it was actually easier being out than at home....

keep persevering..... life has to go on, imagine if she was the second or third child and you were running about after another doing drop offs and pick ups etc etc, your baby would just have to fall into place, so don't be put off by getting out there and doing what you have to get done... one of these days something will click and she won't be so upset....

i wish i had of pesevered with a sling more with my dd, and when i have another i plan to use it whenever i can... my theory is if they are fed, burped, changed etc and are having a fussy day/week/month then put them in the sling and go about doing your thing, they are close to mum and their needs are being taken care of, and really thats all you can do...

hang in there she'll be a social butterfly in no time :-)

DS was similar. He just didn't like to be out. Though he normally started off ok, just couldn't be out for too long. It didn't matter if he was in the pram or carrier. I would only go out with DH or someone so we could share the burden.

Hollye is right... A dummy use to work, sometimes. I wouldn't leave the house without it. I never used a dummy any other time.

He DID grow out of it. Slowly but surely. Now he loves going walking or shopping.

This happened to a mum and bub at my Mothers Group. It turned out that the poor little bubba didn't like the forward facing pram as he couldn't see his mum. When she put him in a rearward facing pram he was much better.

I'd be curious about the type of sling you are using too. If she is okay in your arms then it could be that the sling you have isn't comfy. An ergo or wrap. like Hug a Bub, are very similar to holding in your arms (I usually wrap my arms around too for a hug) but it's not tiring on your arms!

Is she actually okay when in your arms? If not then I would see a doctor as maybe it's a light sensitivity or something?

Thanks for all the replies ladies!

We have the ergo carrier but maybe she just needs more time to get used to it. Thanks for your suggestion Arimeh I'll try putting her in the ergo more around the house.

Preagainpan I always make sure the sun isn't on her face, that she isn't cold and I don't go out when it's hot so I don't think it's a climate issue. If I perservere when she's just grizzling, a couple of times she has stopped but the majority of the time the grizzles turn into full blown screams and I have to pick her up and carry her. She doesn't have reflux and we changed her from the bassinette on the pram to the upright seat about a month ago thinking that she might just not like lying down, but it made no difference.

Hollye I've tried every type of dummy but she just refuses them!

Indie24 I'm so glad to know my dd isn't the only one! When did your bub grow out of it?

Amberj I've tried putting a rug over the pram and also the sunshade cover (we have a mountain buggy) but she hates being covered more than uncovered!

Emma glad to know your bub grew out of it - 5 months isn't too bad, as long as I know this isn't going to be forever I think I can cope lol!

Georgi I'm the same - I now only go out with dh - mainly because I can't push the pram and carry her at the same time very well! How old was your ds when he started to like going out?

Alicia the rear facing pram is definitely something I'll think about if she doesn't improve soon. Thanks for the suggestion.

Ren she is ok when she's in my arms but only for short periods of time. I don't think it's a light sensitivity issue but I might play with her in the backyard more and see how she fares.

Thanks again everyone for all of your help!

everyone has already said this but i just want to add to the list and tell you it WILL get better....we went through months of DD HATING the pram, she would be ok for a few mins then just as id get far enough from home she would start SCREAMING. would always end up trying to carry her home and push the pram!
Luckily she liked the sling so it wasnt to bad till it got to hot and she got to heavy to carry round all the time in it. And i, like you, tried everything...she would even have a few day sleeps in there in the day and didnt mind it but wouldnt go out!
Some one told me it could be the vibrations through the tyres, if its one with inflatable tyres try letting them down a bit...or pumping them up! just an idea, it didnt work for us though. :) She just slowy got better, we would get further and further each time and now she will walk for hours....and we do!!
I can really sympathise!! luckily we live right near the river so i used to pop over there and sit on the grass. You need to get out the house other wise you start to feel like the only person in the world!! Lots of hugs and good luck!!

Thanks Beckoes it's nice to know I'm not the only one!

sorry...double post....just read the last message you posted...i too have a mountain buggy and always thought that if i had a rear facing one it would be better..she could see me and might have been better. something i did that helped alittle...i arranged a light colored throw inside the hood so it wasnt this big dark cave...like i said..it only helped 'a little'!!

what way is she faceing in the pram to u or the world , maya would scream until i brought an alt pram that she could face me in , and she hated laying flat try raised alitte . i could not use a sling or carrier after a emerg c section , so i hope this helps ...

I have a pram that faces me & it didn't help at all. He slowly got better over time. I guess he was around 3 months (corrected age) when he was completely over it. I'd say you're not far away. I know you said you don't have a car, but if it helps to know, he hated the car too. The only thing I could really do that was 'OK' was go walking. As long as I didn't stop moving.

Are you using the ergo infant insert? My son only liked the hug a bub at that age and we couldn't use the ergo till he was a few months older and he could sit comfortably in it.

I agree- I couldn't go anywhere in the car for ages either. My son cracked it in there but he loves it now so it does get better!

Thanks ladies I think I'll buy a rear facing pram and make a HAB sling - hopefully one of the two will work! :crossfingers:

Something that has been working recently for my 4 mth old in the car (rearward facing seat), is to lay the fold-out reflector windshield (that you usally put over the front windscreen when parking the car) over the top anchor straps of his carseat, so it's not touching baby and the top of his head is exposed for airconditioner, but makes the capsule dark and safe-feeling - he calms right down, maybe something about reducing the visual stimulation? Also keeps him cooler as it's been so hot in the car lately - I check by feeling his head and the air still gets through that space.

Credit to my mum for that one, she discovered the magic of "the cubby" a few weeks ago !

Might be worth a try ?

Late add: sorry I didn't read that you didn't have a car! but maybe that tip might help others