How do other people do it?!

[MyBreadIsEggy]

My 7 week old DS has decided that the car is his least favourite place on this planet
He's fine being put in his car seat in the house, but the second he is put in the car, the screaming begins. And I don't mean a little bit of "I'm pissed off" crying....I mean full on screaming.
He does have a dummy, but when he gets going it's as if he doesn't stop crying long enough to realise his dummy is in his mouth!

Today, I pulled the car over twice in a 20 min journey to calm him, but the second I started driving again, he was screaming. How do other people deal with it?! It really affects my concentration while I'm driving. I live in the middle of nowhere, so the car really is our only option to get anywhere.
Before we get in the car, I make sure he's fed, winded, clean nappy, a comfortable temperature etc so I know non of those are reasons for his crying!!
Is this just a phase? I remember my DD crying a bit in the car, but this is something else!!

I'd be looking for something making him uncomfortable. Our similarly aged DD cried badly for one car journey (which was unlike her), and when I got out to check what was going on, it turned out DH had accidentally trapped her hands underneath the lapband part of the seatbelt.

If it's not something physical like that (eg. draught blowing on him), then I wonder if he finds the noise of the car frightening. I'd be tempted to get a little dangling mobile that plays music to fasten to his carseat and see if it helps.

Too hot or (less likely IME) too cold are also reasons I can think of.

I can't see any physical factors that could be upsetting him. I'll try him in one less layer or one more layer to see if temperature is the problem, but I don't think it is! He's never bundled up in the car, usually a vest, sleepsuit, light cardigan if it's cold, a blanket and I take his hat off when I put him in the car, so I doubt he's too hot, but I'll try anything at this point!!

DS2 hated the car. Loathed it. I think part of the issue was not being able to see other people.

He was (slightly) better after we got a big mirror for the headrest facing him in the car seat.

Hate to say it but at 13 months he's still not a huge fan, but it's better.

I still have the mirror we used for DD, so I'll give that a go too!

Hmm 7 months now and we still hate the car!! No hope for you from me. You have my sympathies

DS2 went through this phase for a couple of months, it was very unpleasant and did put me off going anywhere other than essential journeys. By about 3 months he'd got over it! I had to harden my heart and just keep driving - if I stopped and got him out to comfort him he would stop crying instantly but then start again as soon as I put him back in, so there was no point really, it just prolonged the agony.

All 4 of mine have hated the car until 1yr ish, though no. 4 is only 14 weeks so she has time to prove me wrong!

Mine are always better in the front where they can see me - so if you can disable your front airbag, might help things?

I have ended up meticulously planning car journeys for when I know they will have the longest tolerance period. I also allow time for stops along the way. And i don't do any long journeys on my own.

When my husband is with us I sit in the back with them and can BF while they're in the car seat which helps a lot.

You have my sympathy, it really does suck.

Medic How on earth do you BF in the car? I literally can't work out the logistics of that!

He is better in the front seat, but I've only put him in the front of my dh's car.
I've just got a new car and don't know how to disable the passenger airbag yet!! I'll have a read of the manual

YY to front seat. DS2 HATED the car - putting him next to me made him slightly better, plus I could hold his dummy in while driving, which helped. He got over it after a few months, thank the Gods.

Ooh I used to BF sitting in the back. You need to be flexible and/or well-endowed (I am both). Lean well over, dangle boob in general direction of mouth, prepare to be quite uncomfortable for several minutes.

It's alright when DH and I are both in the car, as I can reach behind me and hold the dummy while DH is driving, but my arms aren't long enough to do that when I'm by myself!!! I will try him in the front as long as I can figure out how to disable the airbag. I have a feeling there's a little switch inside the glovebox that fits my key in it to turn it off but I'm not 100% sure

Babies can suffer from motion sickness, making car journeys horrible for everyone. Poor things! And poor you too.

Ooh Ha! It's not too difficult once you've got the knack, but just as the other poster said - flexible, big enough boobs and prepared to be a bit uncomfortable yourself.

It makes a massive difference for car journeys for my tiny people though, it's the only way they fall asleep in car seats!

MyBread that's how the airbag lock is on my car, fingers crossed yours has one too

I was going to say car sick. DS1 (severe reflux) was just awful in the car - screaming and throwing up. Fortunately we only used the car every few weeks so didn't have to put up with it too much.

DD hates being in the car too but fortunately we live in town and do most things on foot. If we do need to go by car we time it if possible for when she needs a nap - will he fall asleep in the car at all or does he get too worked up?

We had this at about 4 months. It stopped as soon as it started after about a month. Never figured out what caused it! I found classical music helped to calm him (and me) down and we still listen to it now.