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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Baby screams in car - does/has yours?

33 replies

tek78 · 21/10/2010 21:33

So I've posted here before about my baby screaming in the car at every red light or when I stop the car at all. She's now 3 months old and it still hasn't stopped. When does it end??? Other Mums had the same experience I just wanted to know if it's any time soon as it's so harrowing listening to her crying on long journeys but I just can't stop driving altogether. I do however think twice about taking the car nowadays... Public transport and waling has all of a sudden become more attractive.

OP posts:

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chitchat09 · 21/10/2010 21:43

Oh my goodness, yes I do remember this! DS2 did this all the time, being stuck in traffic on the M25 was sheer murder and I almost went out of my mind!!!

It does stop, can't quite remember when but think it was around the 5 - 6 month mark, when they start being interested in their surroundings a bit more and can hold things in their hand properly. Sometimes music helps, especially if they enjoy music, especially nursery rhymes that you can sing along to.

MrsTimeOut · 22/10/2010 08:37

My 3 month old does this too and its soooo distressing. Her nursery is 4 miles away but in rush hour takes 45 mins which is a nightmare as it's just bumper to bumper.and it's not just normal crying - it's SCREAMING, like she's in pain.I've had to pull over to take her out and cuddle her but of course it all kicks off again when I put her into car seat.in fact she also screams gettinn into the car seat.have no idea what to do to comfort her.although I am encouraged to hear they grow out of it

Galena · 22/10/2010 09:05

Really sorry, but DD only stopped screaming in the car when she went into a forward facing seat. We managed to get a little peace on long journeys before that by buying an in-car DVD player, but she still wasn't great. Now she's forward facing we've done 4-hour journeys without any screaming...

dana4nyc · 22/10/2010 11:14

My DD is 7 months old and screams so loud and for so long she's made herself sick. About a month ago we were in America on holiday visiting my family and I was driving home after a long activity filled day. I thought for sure she'd go right to sleep, but instead she screamed bloody murder, to the point of choking. I had to pull over and get her out and give her a good slap on the back to get her breathing again. Scared me to death, I still cry when I think about it. It was the first time no one was sitting in the backseat with her as well, although she screams if someone is back there too, just not as much. Her forward facing carseat just arrived the other day and I hope that that will make a difference. Sorry I wasn't much help, I just wanted you to know that you're not alone in this.

AdelaofBlois · 22/10/2010 14:32

I'll start this by saying that, given the age of your DC already, I'm sure you have nothing major to worry about at all. I was very unsure about posting, but thought I'd better 'just in case'.

Our DS2 screamed in the car a lot. At 3 and 5 weeks he stopped breathing, both times in the car seat, and had to be put on assisted breathing machines (he's fine now). He had hidden reflux, which meant that he was throwing stomach acid into his lungs and throat. The car seat was clearly not causing the problem, but it was significant both attacks happened in the seat, when he was unable to move freely. He never stopped breathing again, but there were times until his first birthday when he would start screaming, be very unsettled if the car stooped suddenly, and often have a bout of very forceful hiccoughs.

Your DC now so old I wouldn't think you have any major worries, but you might like perhaps to think about whether anything similar could be happening-indigestion or mild reflux causing discomfort. dana4nyc's post seems very similar to my experiences, and she has my sympathies.

wannabeglam · 22/10/2010 15:30

Mine stopped once in forward facing car seat. Once took me an hour to do 4 miles. I used the car as little as possible. She had silent reflux and the position of the seat just made her really uncomfortable.

MoonFaceMamaaaaargh · 22/10/2010 19:11

I caann't quite recall when it stopped (about 4m i think) but I think sometimes he was too hot in the .awfull polyester monstrosity. [hsad] in spain they have sheepskin liners. Even now in winter he is happier with his window open. Good luck sorting it out. [hsmile]

justbeme · 29/10/2010 21:04

My 4mth old does this too - I found that turning the radio up loudly seems to stop him after a few minutes and then I can turn it back down! Very stressful though!!

allbie · 30/10/2010 09:23

Our DD3 did this and didn't stop till We put her in a forward facing seat. We cancelled a holiday cos we could not stand the prospect of her howling all the way. To be honest, she is now 11 and still howls with a passion about anything that doesn't suit!

littleweed10 · 10/11/2010 22:46

Two ideas
is your baby too constricted or hot in the car seat? The advice I think is to remove layers of clothing like a cardie or coat so they don't get too hot
and some seats are very snug or made of non breathable material which could be quite warm. I used to line mine with a muslin square...
Utterly grim, I feel for you, good luck

TheUnmentioned · 10/11/2010 22:51

interesting - dd has reflux and hates the car

eldritch · 11/11/2010 12:50

Is it possible for little babies to feel car sick, especially in their rear facing seats? I've often wondered about this because facing backwards in a bus/train is guaranteed to make me feel sick!

jaycay · 11/11/2010 13:09

Hi,

Both my boys hated car setas and travelling in the car, on EVERY occasion and i can't remember when it wore off but it was months. My daughter on the other hand was a car- sleeping baby.

Like you i would use the car as little as possible as it was so distressful for both me, baby and other kids. I took bus or walked as much as possible but was not always ideal as lived in middle of nowhere.

I tried everthing, even borrowed a different car seat off a friend and bought a second hand britax first class, but it was no use. My boys were never diagnosed with reflux but were very demanding babies in general, the little one cried alot but doctors found nothing wrong.

Travelling in the car really sent their screaming into a whole new level and it was very stressful, we had to cancel any plans to travel any long distances (more than 30 mins) as the babies were very very distressed.

We never found the reason why.

sorry this is no help but i couldn't find any answers to it, maybe it was reflux or car sickness but my little boy cried in the car back from hospital and we went from there. He is 3 now and falls asleep in the car.

Poll32 · 11/11/2010 13:10

Mine screams when he is hungry and if his nappy needs changing. I have learnt to make sure he eats before going on a long journey and that he has a clean nappy on.

Mobly · 11/11/2010 13:11

I think it ended with DS1 when we got him a rear facing stage 1 car seat, you know the upright ones where they can see out of the window.

DS2 hates being in the car seat too, but he is 1 now so it won't be long before we get him his upright, rear facing car seat.

Remember that you can get upright rear facing car seats, when the time comes, which is safer than forward facing up until the age of 4 or 5yrs.

Southwestwhippet · 11/11/2010 21:34

DD used to really really scream in the car right from the start. It was the only time she would get upset (I think because the rest of the time I would pick her up and comfort her if she cried but couldn't in the car so she associated the car with not having her needs met).

Thankfully, she is 9months now and has largely grown out of it. She does cry and fuss sometimes, especially if she is tired but she rarely screams. I'm hoping that she will be big enough for a forward facing carseat by January and that will knock it on the head completely.

Until then, having her in the front really helps (airbag off of course) as does listening to nursery rhymn CDs or classical music.

Mobly · 12/11/2010 08:19

Those of you who haven't yet bought your upright car seat- please see this website dedicated to information about rear facing car seats www.rearfacing.co.uk/index.php

sheeplikessleep · 12/11/2010 08:29

DS2 was exactly the same. He is now 8 months old.

He's got gradually better with time. TBH I put it down to the fact he couldn't get off to sleep sat in the car seat. Up to 5-6 months of age, he was obviously napping quite a bit and therefore, crying in the car quite a bit! Now he can get off to sleep in the car, he doesn't cry as much. May also be a developmental thing too.

No help I know, but just to say it does get better. We put off various long journeys, but happy to do them now. When he does cry, it's when he's tired. He isn't yet in forward facing car seat.

Mobly · 12/11/2010 08:32

Actually, I shall rephrase that- anyone with a child under 4 who travels in the car should check out the website I just linked to.

Simic · 12/11/2010 10:14

We had the same. We just switched completely to public transport until he was about 1 year.

Southwestwhippet · 12/11/2010 21:11

Have bookmarked that page for reading with DP, many thanks

NColette · 13/11/2010 21:04

My DD is now almost 5 months and has just recently stopped screaming in the car, although I don't want to speak too soon as now and again it comes back. It is absolutley horrible, I used to dread using the car.
Taking her out for walks in the car seat seemed to help a bit as she got used to being in the seat but being able to see me pushing her. It also depends a lot on timing for us. I always make sure she's fed and winded just before we leave.
Saying that, she really makes me work to keep her calm as I have to sing to her the whole journey or until she falls asleep.
Good luck and try not to get too stressed out about it.

MammyT · 13/11/2010 21:59

YES YES YES!!!

I nearly lost my mind.. My challenging baby roared in the car seat, buggy, basically anywhere she was confined. Oh, she screamed a lot of the rest of the time too :)

I honestly don't know how I didn't crash as she didn't just cry, she screamed. It all started to get better between 1-1.5 years old when she started talking (an early talker).

She is now a gorgeous, bright, creative 4 year old.. I just don't think she liked being a baby.

MammyT · 13/11/2010 22:00

^^ She also had reflux.

Househunter · 14/11/2010 22:09

My refluxy dd screamed in her carseat until she was about 18 months but after a year it got much less. Sympathies. It is awful. DD2 has her moments but is mostly happy enough in her carseat and it makes all the difference to how I feel about getting in the car.

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