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Original poster

Screaming on car seat

19 replies

Piemother · 04/03/2013 20:25

Is my problem! Dd2 is nearly 4 months and bf (I am only mentioning this because I think it might be wind or something but I'm not sure). She screams if I even hold her over the car seat (cabrio fix). She can just about tolerate it if she's been fed to sleep but even then she wakes up after 10 minutes and screams. She even arches her back already to hinder me strapping her in. It's awful I hate hearing her so distressed but I have to take dd1 to nursery etc. this has been going in from about 4 weeks and got steadily worse.
When we are not in the car she is sling carried and she seems fine with that and usually drops off quite quickly buy sometimes screams at first in there too for 5 minutes bore she falls asleep. It's an ergo.
Otherwise she is quite windy with big burps and farts but she seems fine post feeds as long as we are not in the car. She's just fed to sleep now and will probably sleep all night.
I am desperate for help with this

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VisualiseAHorse · 04/03/2013 23:08

I think she is finding the car seat uncomfortable. Have you tried changing the strap position etc? I found my LO liked his seat better when I removed the padding around the main buckle.

BertieBotts · 04/03/2013 23:11

Some babies just don't like car seats!

You could try a combination seat like the Britax First Class, it would still be rear facing, but they are more upright so she might prefer it? If any of your friends have one you could try her in or go to the shop and ask them if you can try the display model.

Original poster

Piemother · 04/03/2013 23:27

Thank you! I would happily shell out for a new seat if it would help.

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Original poster

Piemother · 04/03/2013 23:28

I took tthe buckle padding out. She screams before I strap her in though

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melonribena · 05/03/2013 11:24

My baby was like this, screamed in the car for every journey.

Suddenly, at now 7 months he doesn't mind it. I give him plenty of toys to play with and have the radio on to sing to.

Whatever you do, it will get better. I think he finally just realised he hadn't been abandoned in a car seat, he would be getting out, I was still there even though he couldn't see me and toys helped too!

CitrusyOne · 05/03/2013 11:28

Sounds just like my DD, she's 4 months and although she doesn't scream she grizzles and starts to cry as soon as she's strapped into the car. I have found that singing or talking to her calms her a bit- I think she's realised she can't see us when she's strapped in the car.

Flibbertyjibbet · 05/03/2013 11:30

ds1 was like this if there was only one of us in the car and all he could see was the back window. Otherwise one of us would go in the back. As long as he could see one of us he was happy. Meant that the front passenger seat was empty but it was much better than having all the screaming when both adults were in the front.

When ds2 came along there was no problem as they could see each other.

Original poster

Piemother · 05/03/2013 17:27

Thanks all. Dd1 is right next to her and tries her best pulling faces and talking to her it makes no difference. I'm thinking about putting the seat in the front but I'm quite worried this will distract me driving

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melonribena · 05/03/2013 19:50

Having her in the front would probably be less distracting when driving than a screaming baby in the back!

Nevercan · 05/03/2013 19:54

Try getting a nursery rhyme cd and playing it. My two love it and it always distracts them. Sound silly but try blowing raspberries on tummy when strapping them in makes them giggle and relax

AmandinePoulain · 05/03/2013 19:54

My dd2 did this at around 4mo. What worked for us was putting her in the front with the airbag off. I also took the newborn wedge out (but kept the head hugger in - it's a Britax seat, I'm not sure if that is possible with a maxi cosi).

belindarose · 05/03/2013 20:05

I posted about this. We were desperate to the point of cancelling our Christmas plans so we didn't have to travel. But he stopped overnight at 5 months. Has barely cried in the car since.

Since then, he's moved into a bigger rear facing seat (Concorde something) that is higher up and I think he likes it, but he was in his 'baby' seat when he gave up on the screaming.

MiaowTheCat · 05/03/2013 20:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BertieBotts · 05/03/2013 21:26

That is true - singing used to be the only thing which distracted DS. Had to be "one man went to mow" on repeat for a while too! I'd forgotten that :)

Original poster

Piemother · 05/03/2013 23:26

Ok so tomorrow I'm testing out the raspberries, nursery rhymes....I took the wedge out but the head hugger is attached. Dd2 is a pie anyway she's not rolling around in the seat. I've looked the britax seat up, it's in offer in Halfords just now and is much cheaper than the group 1 seat I would have bought her at 12 months so I think if the above doesn't work I will just cough up for a new seat.

Sometimes I think it's wind but she goes from bright red and screaming and sweating to giggling and smiling on her play may as soon as we get home

Thanks everyone at least I have some ideas to try

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AmandinePoulain · 06/03/2013 07:09

We've been looking at that seat to keep dd2 rear facing for as long as we can and it's on offer in Mothercare - down to £90 I think

melonribena · 06/03/2013 10:26

I second getting them to relax in the car seat first! Ds would start crying the second he went in and would carry on if we didn't relax him with raspberries or peek a boo!
Also make sure putting them in the car seat is the very last thing you do before leaving the house. Even me just putting my shoes on would give ds the chance to work himself up!

Original poster

Piemother · 06/03/2013 19:02

Hi everyone
Today I tried the trying to get her to relax in the seat by singing dd1 and I'd silly song we made up about her. Touch wood I think it really helped! I did it religiously every time I put her in the seat instead of jumping straight in to the driving seat I hung around singing and grinning at her. Huge improvement! Huge!!!
Thank you thank you thank you

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melonribena · 07/03/2013 02:26

Wonderful news! Well done to both of you!

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