My baby hates the car seat!!!!

[Mumtoboys2022]

Please help

my 3 month baby hates the car seat, now I’m not saying he cries then stops
he is hysterical as soon as he goes in it.
I have two primary age children that I take to school and the car journeys are awful.
i never get to speak to them because my LO is hysterical to the point he is red I’m the face and screaming
I am struggling mentally and physically at the moment
I hate going out which is causing me to isolate myself because the impact the car seat is having that’s going to shops, seein friends, going to groups etc
I have no help around me, my husband job is very full on and he does where he can but I can’t keep relying on him to come home and help me as he needs to work

I have shown the impact it is causing me in front of my 7 and 9 year old numerous of times now to the point my oldest is pretending he is poorly so he can stay at home and help.

spoke to Hv and she said she thinks it’s reflux and to go on gaviscon. my LO isn’t a sicky baby but does hate any type of seat I’ve tried him in and can be restless durinf a feed, he isn’t very content After a feed either.
But does sleep well at night but not in the day

please anyone help

I can't help, but I can sympathise.

DS was the same and remained so to some extent. We had to drive Norfolk to Liverpool once, get on a ferry and drive across Ireland. It's a memory that still makes me shudder.

Nothing worked for us really and he would scream, shake and sweat like he was being tortured. We tried hundreds of things, exhausted every possibility. Once older, he would climb out of his car seat, no matter how tight. He hated it. We used the bus as much as possible.

He's 11 and now and while he isn't actually sick, the car makes him feel very, very sick. I don't know if it's an association or if he was always prone to travel sickness.

Try the gaviscon. My daughter was the same. I also couldn't put her down straight after a feed for months....ended up on infacol for that - it wasn't a miracle but helped.

Looking back I think it was tummy issues. She would scream and scream in the seat. Arch her back to not go in. It was horrid so I have much sympathy with you both.

I also think mine had cows milk allergies.....I bf but didn't eliminate dairy from my diet....again with more knowledge I think I should have.....although eldest was OK in car seat.

My daughter still hares car and gets car sick. (She is also very sensory- likes to feel snug and comfy.....maybe the car seat is very uncomfortable....)

Sorry no direct help. But I feel your pain. Do the minimum amount of journeys. And try the gaviscon.

Sending hugs. Sounds like you are having such a hard time and your older children are being so supportive of you that you are clearly doing an amazing job.

Is it a new seat or one you’ve re-used? I ask as my daughter when she was little hated anything with that ‘new smell’ and I’ve noticed that modern products especially foam seem worse than when she was a baby. Have you tried a baby friendly essential oil similar to a pillow spray?

it is also surprising what they understand at three months so I wonder if there is a teddy that you could get your older children to strap in the car seat and then role play having fun or a teddy bear picnic while your LO watches??? Leave the car seat in the house so it feels more normal etc.

just some random ideas but hope things get better for you soon. x

Thank you everyone for replying
nice to feel I’m not alone.
funnily enough I’m doing a car journey to Ireland over Christmas and absolutely dreading it.
im not sure about the gaviscon as I don’t think he has reflux, and just genuinely hates the car seat. He is on comfort milk and gaviscon will make the milk thicker
He likes to be picked up and held a lot.
My boys are so good they always sing to Lo in the car and rock him. It’s just parent guilt as I don’t get the time with them two anymore 😔

x

Thank you
I will try this x