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10 week old DS hates travelling in the car - any advice?

12 replies

wombatinwaiting · 05/02/2012 16:44

We have a maxi cosi rear facing car seat that we use on the back seat but on any journey longer than 5 mins, DS really kicks off. He's generally a well tempered baby and even when really hungry will only cry, not scream, yet when we're driving, he will reach blood-curdling screaming levels which is naturally very upsetting for me and DH. He even had tears in his eyes today so it does seem genuine distress. He's absolutely fine after about a minute after we take him out and give him a cuddle which makes us wonder if he just gets lonely in the back and is screaming because there's no one with him.... When we've taken the car seat out to put on the buggy base for short shop visits, he's fine with it so I don't think it's the car seat. We've tried talking and singing from the front seats, adding a mobile to the frame and turning the music up really loud but nothing helps other than stopping the car and giving him a cuddle.

Has anyone else experienced this? What suggestions do you have?

I'd love to be living in a place where I could walk anywhere and everywhere, but unfortunately that's not an option where we live and I do have to drive....

Many thanks in advance!

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cheekyseamonkey · 05/02/2012 16:52

No real answer I'm afraid. It will pass & I can pretty much guarantee it's more stressful for you than him. Sometimes one of those dangly toys you hang from the car seat handle might help. Singing to him. But dd did this for ages.

RubyrooUK · 05/02/2012 16:54

Yes, I had this too. The only thing that worked was waiting till DS needed a sleep so that eventually he would pass out. And if DH was driving on a long journey, I used to lean over the seat and breastfeed. Blush

DS grew out of it as he got older. By the time he was 6mo, we could do small journeys. And getting a forward-facing car seat at 9mo really helped too.

We never found anything that really made a difference. Sorry. But he did grow out of it and now loves going for rides in the car. Most of my friends had children who loved the car from birth but now DS is one of them too.

RubyrooUK · 05/02/2012 16:58

Oh, we also sung very loudly too which helped a little. We repetitively sung "there was a farmer had a dog and Bingo was his name-o, B-I-N-G-O...." all the way down the road. We looked nuts.

wombatinwaiting · 06/02/2012 05:19

Thanks ladies - it really is distressing for me but good to know it shouldn't last forever.

Someone suggested taking the passenger seat airbag out and having him rearfacing in the front seat - is that allowed / legal?!

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TitaniaP · 06/02/2012 06:22

Oh that sounds so familiar. My DS is 7 1/2 months and has only just started to get better in the car.

What helped for us:
He's in the front passenger seat with the airbag switched off. Not as safe as in the back, but I figured driving with him screaming wasn't safe either.
Attaching toys to the car seat or to the chair in front of him with flashing lights/ make noise. I've now got one of those bars that goes across the car seat with a steering wheel and various buttons on it. But 10 weeks might be a bit little for that.

Singing loudly.
Planning car journeys around his nap times.
Ensuring that he's well fed and changed before any car journey.
Taking him to see a cranial osteopath to ensure no underlying discomfort.

I really feel for you as I know how distressing it is. I hope it eases soon.

cheekyseamonkey · 06/02/2012 10:30

I tried the airbag off, seat in front. She still screamed, but was loser & I could see her face, it was much worse!!!!

We're still rear facing at 2 & the last time she had a bad journey was 5 months. My 'xxinsert child's namexx' lies over the ocean, sung loudly, over & over for us!

ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged · 06/02/2012 10:37

Stay at home Grin

For the first four months of DS's life we stayed at home as much as we possibly could because the alternative was horrendous! Some time around four months it just changed & now he's fine for daytime journeys (when he can look around) and if we have to travel in the dark DP drives, we put a little light on in the back & i sit next to DS & sing.

HipHopOpotomus · 06/02/2012 14:35

We had similar with DD2 - sometimes it got bad enough we would pull over & I'd get her out of the car for a hug to calm her down. Usually she would then have a big burp & then be lots better - so some of it is general misery, but don't totally dismiss discomfort prhaps from trapped wind.

I agree with trying to time journeys when she needs a sleep.

DD is now 9 months and generally pretty good in the car now.

Iggly · 06/02/2012 14:41

DD gets upset if she has wind or is tired. Or cold! Or if her head gets wedged - she's a bit long but as she's only 9 weeks I can't take the support out yet. Or if I don't get the straps right and they dig in. An endless list Grin

Is he warm enough in the car? Do you wrap up warmer when using the pram base which might be why he's ok when out on wheels.

I don't drive unless I have to at the moment. DS was the same but fine from 4 months.

wombatinwaiting · 08/02/2012 14:56

All excellent suggestions ladies - what would we do without mn! thank you Thanks

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soandsosmum · 08/02/2012 20:16

Also its worth noting that 1 min in a car with a crying baby feels like 20, so time it. Our LO cries a lot in the car but rarely for more than 20 mins.

I feel your pain. The noise is horrendous

HipHopOpotomus · 09/02/2012 10:30

oh yes - there is no escape. Everyone feels on edge when a baby is crying in the car. Deep breaths and keep calm.

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