DS screams in car. please tell me its a phase!

[sally01603]

All of a sudden my 13 week old son seems to hate being in the car. He's fine in his car seat, I strap him in the car and he's ok but the minute the car leaves the driveway he starts to scream. As soon as I stop and get him out of his seat for a cuddle he calms down but soon starts up again once we're back on the road. I've tried putting him in the passenger seat next to me, singing and talking to him, he has some car toys to look at but it doesn't seem to help. We've got a long car journey coming up and I'm dreading it! Please tell me its a phase and he'll get over it- soon!

Actually it is a phase...but it might last a while. Could you do your long car journey in the evening when he would normally be asleep?

My son also hates the car but is getting better. I always give him a feed beforehand. He has a bright play mat thing attached to the seat to look at and if it's dark we drive with the inside light on because he doesn't like the shadows. When he's really grumpy I sing his favourite song, hold his hand and stroke his forehead which has worked everytime so far. Obviously this doesn't work if you are on your own!

I hear it is something they grow out of - by which time we'll probably be stopping for potty breaks!

Good luck.

Sally, my son was EXACTLY the same at that age. When he was 15 wks he screamed non-stop all the way from Minehead to Chichester (where he mercifully sank into an exhausted sleep). He was ok when he came out for a cuddle too so we thought it was the car seat he didn't like and bought a different one. That didn't help! Anyway, we never did find out what it was he hated but he did outgrow it eventually.

Our ds liked it when we put the radio on in the car. That seemed to sooth him

Good luck

thanks for responding. i'm pleased that my son isn't the only one as i always thought babies loved cars. not looking forward to pending trip from norwich to darlington. i can see several rounds of "the wheels on the bus" may be required.