Baby hates Doona car seat/ buggy

[Washingtonmachine]

Is this normal? She is 2 weeks old and should be sleeping when being in the buggy. But she seems to hate it and cries.

I've had to take her out several times and walk around with her in my arms whilst someone else pushes the buggy around.

In the car she also seems to dislike it.

My little boy was always fine in his car seat luckily (we travel regularly for a number of hours to see family so he had no choice 🙈) I did find though that he was far more fussy in the car seat if someone was in the back, he could see them and wanted to be out. We made it a rule to sit in the front if it was just me and my partner and this is did help.

He did however hate the lay down pram to start with. He would tolerate a few minutes and then cry and I would put him in his carrier and push the pram- which made me laugh as whilst pregnant it was one of those things where I would look at people and think why would you do that lol. This lasted until about 3 months and the he was fine.
As many people have said, the doona does not come highly recommended and is definitely not the ideal position for a very young baby like yours. I would definitely consider trying a lie down bassinet initially whilst so young. Unpopular opinion I’m sure but I would never use one.

Hi, read up on the ‘fourth trimester’
totally normal for newborns to behave in ways we wouldn’t expect based on societal norms and expectations.

It’s hard being a new parent to such a little baby. The Google search of the above helped me come to understand their ‘quirks’ a little better.

Is it a pram or buggy/stroller?

Slings are a lovely way to compromise and lots of how to’s online these days.

Sorry but my dd is nearly 6 months and hates car seats and prams. Only likes being carried and being in the baby carrier. I avoid car trips as much as possible. She's a bit better now I've switched to the buggy seat thing. My older child was the same.

We had this and it turned out out baby had acid reflux - didn’t have the typical symptoms but once she was on ranitidine she was like a completely different baby. Before this, she screamed almost immediately in her car seat, pram etc.

They’re all different, my son only wanted to be held, he’d manage maybe 30 mins in car seat or pushchair before crying! I’d visions of lovely long walks pushing park so I could get rid of baby weight and he’d be sleeping in the fresh air and it never happened 😂 he also hated the baby car seat until I moved him at 1 to a more upright extended rear facing seat that he loved and never once cried in.

Shes testing your boundaries and wants held. The more you pick her up the more she will do it. Babies learn quickly what buttons to press.

Absolutely not this.

That is a two week old baby who is asking for comfort and reassurance. It's either because they have spent 9mths living in a tiny cosy space and is now out in a big wide noisy world and is scared or because they're uncomfortable in some way.

She's not manipulating anybody and should not be left to cry. That's just teaching her there's no point to crying because noone will help.

This is absolute nonsense. She's 2 weeks old and understandably wants the comfort of her parent. Google 4th trimester.

OP put out of your mind what she "should" do. She's still tiny and new.

As PP have said, try the sling. She's clearly not happy in the Doona so put her in/on something else.

Doonas provide a bad fit at that age. They also promote over use of the carseat. A baby until they can sit should be flat as much as possible. They shouldn't be in a car seat for more than 45 mins max and no more than 2 hours a day until they are in a next stage seat. Please use the bassinet. Positional asphyxiation is a real thing and its also a silent thing, you won't realised its happened till its too late. If baby doesn't settle in the bassinet pram try a sling. Check for local sling libraries they can help with best fit and type for both of you

your baby is barely out of your womb and doesn’t know where you end and she begins. Try getting a baby carrier and enjoy the lovely bonding. This is so normal so don’t worry

I have the Moby sling and have used it to go to the local shop, but I can't use it in the car. I would still need the car seat.

I don't agree with the idea that babies can be spoiled or testing boundaries. They have needs that need to be met at this age. That way of thinking is old fashioned . I tried to live like that with my previous babies when my mother in law would constantly say " they will get used to your hand, put them down."

I just want her to be comfy and happy whilst I also get some time to go out and feel a bit normal.

You are not out of your depth, this is quite normal. There are two separate issues here and bundling them together because there is a common factor is getting tangial responses.

1. Not want to sleep in pushchair travel system out and about - normal to want cuddles, easy to address with sling and backpack as youve done. A lie flat pram is best for long outings/sleep but pushing it whilst baby in sling or constantly stopping to settle baby doesn't make sense.

2. Objecting to car seat. Unpleasant for you but a safety factor and you just have to keep going with the journey until they tire themselves out or get used to it. Stopping and trying to settle repeatedly just draws out the journey. It should be a phase that they get through, but as long as there's nothing sticking into them, they're the correct temperature etc. You just have to put up with them expressing their displeasure in the only way they know, reassuring yourself that if they're crying they're breathing. I had it with one of mine but though it felt like ages at the time it didn't last long in the grand scheme of things. I never tried to carry them about or push them around in their car seat though. It was just for the car. (I disliked the screaming at the lights in tesco phase much more)

" If you hold your baby to sleep, he might get used to your comfort⁣
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If he gets used to your comfort, he might expect it there all the time⁣
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If he expects your comfort, he might cry when it’s not available⁣
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If he cries, you’ll have to comfort him some more⁣
⁣
If you comfort him when he cries, he might think you are reliable⁣
⁣
If he thinks you’re reliable, he might expect you to understand him when he’s upset⁣
⁣
If you understand him when he’s upset, he might learn to regulate his emotions⁣
⁣
If he regulates his emotions, he might have an easier time forming relationships⁣
⁣
If he has an easier time forming relationships, he might become well adjusted⁣
⁣
If he becomes well adjusted, he might become self sufficient⁣
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And if he becomes self sufficient… Chances are… He won’t want you to hold him to sleep anymore⁣"
⁣

lol. Sorry, but yes this is normal. Try a sling. My eldest hate hate hated the car seat and pushchair until he was at least 8 months. I’d pull over twice to try and settle him on a 30 min journey to a baby class every week. It was stressful. Him and my youngest v similar and that they just wanted to contact nap.

also, as others have said, lay flat if not contact napping, car seat not safe for lots of long naps.

Wow. Are you of the baby boomer generation? That’s the kind of nonsense I’d expect from my own mother, of which I heavily ignored.

ill hug and sleep with my babies for as long as they want, because they won’t want it forever.

Do you have a normal pram as well. For walking Ds hated being in pram still, but if I walked it he settled in a few minutes. I added a carrycot sheepskin liner which helped him settle better. I think it’s comfier and means they don’t slide around.

Car seat wise, either a more lie flat one might help, otherwise a 0-4 year type that stays in car might work. It’s much higher up usually so from small they can see more outside.