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Original poster

I am going to put my baby in a forward facing seat when she is 6 months old

80 replies

morningpaper · 08/03/2006 09:54

(She is 5 months now) It can't be any more dangerous than driving with her screaming, coughing, gagging, vomiting, choking, INCESSANTLY.

I discussed this with a paed. and she said that that hers were so bad she just drove with them on someone's lap because she was far less likely to crash without the screaming.

Any thoughts on the least dangerous way of doing this? Or any other approaches? It's got to be worth a try.

DH has booked this summer's holiday with just him and dd1 because of this. :(

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 08/03/2006 10:13

Can she see out of the window in her current seat? Can you find a next stage one that is higher and can go both rear and forward facing?

Angeliz · 08/03/2006 10:14

I think she's an idiot.
Anyone giving that sentiment out and beleiving it's for the best is.
I do sympathise as my dd hated the car seat too. She's forward facing now but i had to try to drive less when she was tiny as i jsut couldn't concentrate so i do see where you're coming from.
She's 13 months now and still a bit of a whinger in the car.
I just don't think your solutions are the right ones.

LadyTophamHatt · 08/03/2006 10:14

Ate you really serious MP?

Original poster
morningpaper · 08/03/2006 10:14

I currently spend a lot of time motorway driving while crying

The 3 year old has developed a constant loud nervous humming while in the car

Dh won't drive with us for more than 20 minutes any more

It is all about weighing up the risks

And I've got two 40-mile motorway drives today

OP posts:
compo · 08/03/2006 10:14

Have you tried a dummy? That might settle her and hopefully help her drift off to sleep?

Angeliz · 08/03/2006 10:15

I played the crazy frog time and yime and time again in the car as this quietened dd for a bit. Is there a song or something that grabs her?

Kelly1978 · 08/03/2006 10:16

if you are anywhere near london there is a free childrens clinic for osteopathy somewhere in central london. It does really work for some ppl, and with your daughter's safety in question it is worth a shot. If she can't even sit yet, it really is a big risk. Sad

Original poster
morningpaper · 08/03/2006 10:17

There is nothing which stops her, she is totally chokingly hysterical

We have to open the windows because she overheats - she is dripping in sweat when we stop

I have tried dummy and constant replacing but she doesn't even start to suck (she takes it normally)

OP posts:
LIZS · 08/03/2006 10:17

How about investing in one which faces either way or borrowing/hiring one to see if it is any better. Just having a higher, slightly more upright position may help even still rearwards. She might behave completely differently in a few months time, as she can take more interest in her toys and what she can see. dd was rear facing until about 18 months but she could interact much better with ds in the back that way around even thoguh we had episodes as you describe too. Is she generally more clingy atm , possibly indicating the onset of separation anxiety ?

Angeliz · 08/03/2006 10:20

The other thing i did was to move dd1's seat to the middle so they were'nt on either side then the baby could see touch her sister.

fishie · 08/03/2006 10:21

what does she weigh now? my ds is also terribly screamy in the car (although it has improved a little lately) and he is rather small, so still not 9kgs at 10 months.

i understood that it isn't to do with neck control, but general proportions of smaller babies, as their necks are far more likely to break if they are in a forward facing no matter how well they can sit etc. i can see how awful this must be for you and family esp as you have to drive such a lot. but how could you take the risk?

throckenholt · 08/03/2006 10:22

have you tried her in different cars - and in all the different seating options. Or even different seat ? It maybe she doesn't like something about on of those things (car - maybe engine noise?)

nailpolish · 08/03/2006 10:26

mp have you tried a dvd player? iknow your lo is only 5 mths byt she could watch fimbles dvds or something - its a distraction

you could prop it up on the back shelf

and as for the holiday - maybe you could take the train somewhere instead of the car

more fun for everyone

nailpolish · 08/03/2006 10:27

you even get dvd players with 2 screens - so your older lo could watch too with it hanging on the back of the seat in front

rickman · 08/03/2006 10:28

Do you want suggestions? Or were you just telling us what you were doing and have no intention of trying any of them?

LadyTophamHatt · 08/03/2006 10:29

does she do it if she's just sitting in the car seat indooors?

if she's ok in it when not in the car I'd think it was something to do with the actual car, if she hates it full stop(in or out of the car) than I think it's that particular carseat that she's incomfortable in.

oliveoil · 08/03/2006 10:32

both mine went in forward facing when they were quite young, am sure it was before 6 months, as they grew out of the backwards one really early (both 9lb + at birth and long, fat heffers). Does it not work on weight rather than age?

I sympathise but don't really have any suggestions, my two bicker and screech constantly and the only thing that sorts them out is a continuous supply of breadsticks etc.

misdee · 08/03/2006 10:34

have you tried one of those combinationj seats? (britax 1st class?) they are larger and more co,fty than the infant carriers. take her coat off to keep her cool.

lockets · 08/03/2006 10:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nailpolish · 08/03/2006 10:37

\link{http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10151&storeId=10001&categoryId=31338&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=31265&top_category=31265&topCategoryId=31265&crumb=31265\halfords for in-car dvd players}

DelGirl · 08/03/2006 10:47

dont know if anyone else has suggested it and you may have already but what about blinds on each window at the back so she can't see out?

1980cat · 08/03/2006 10:53

Dd did this to never stopped till I moved her into a bigger seat and let her forward face, she was older but stil not the right weight. It seemed she was just not comfy in the baby seat amd as the new seat was higher she could see out the window.
May be worth getting a seat that can both forward and rear face (I use the bebe confort one and it great)so if turning her round doesnt work you can still use it rear facing.

1980cat · 08/03/2006 10:55

\link{http://www.aatrust.com/files/reports/01022004_loose_in_the_car.pdf\Why you shouldn't have your baby on your knee}.

greyriver · 08/03/2006 20:51

its not a bebeconfort car seat by any chance is it? DD screamed blue murder in hers until i relented and changed to a rear/forward facing \link{http://www.kiddicare.com/invt/carconultmaxxlinbb\concord seat (and its in pink....bonus for our beautiful dd's)} Grin its permanently fixed and very luxurious....My dd seems to really notice comfort, as she is quite picky about what she sleeps on as well.... rgds the car seat, initially she was rear facing in it, and once she was the right weight about 8-9 months, i changed her to forward facing in it. the thing i thinked that worked for my DD was that the seat was a better more grown up seat, and allowed her more freedom than being rammed in her orignal seat...she loves her new seat and the view out of the window, and to start with she still had the protection of being rear facing. hth i know how dangerous it is with a screaming babe, i had to stop on countless motoways because i thought DD would fit she screamed so much and dripped in sweat. your poor stress levels must be going through the roof when you anticipate a car journey, i know mine did. HTH

greyriver · 08/03/2006 20:56

btw it was the creatis our dd didnt like

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