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Original poster

Help... my 7 month old hates the car seat

28 replies

Cheeseymondo · 03/03/2018 22:09

From 6 months we started to notice our LO was not happy going in his car seat. We had been told all babies hate car seats, and with a bit of distraction it wasn’t too bad. However, now it has suddenly become traumatic. He arches his back as soon as we get him close, he screams the place down. We have had to calm him down and try again, but he won’t have it. Today it took us 45 mins of attempting to get him in. We need to get him in car seat to go anywhere, but I’m now getting nervous for when I’m on my own and if he kicks off like this, I have visions of not being able to go out anywhere.
He’s also started not liking being strapped into his high chair either. He’s a really happy playful baby the rest of the time, but strap him in his high chair or attempt the car seat and it’s like a different baby. Any advice.

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childmindingmumof3 · 03/03/2018 22:13

Are you sure the seat isn't hurting him - nothing digging into his back?

PerspicaciaTick · 03/03/2018 22:17

The only tip I gave is...move fast. Strapping into car seats and highchairs is 100% non-negotiable, so ignore the fussing and screaming, get the straps done up fast (aiming for seconds rather than nearly an hour) and then move on quickly to distraction e.g offering a favourite toy.

bourbonbiccy · 03/03/2018 22:23

I haven't found this myself but women in my group say with some of theirs, it was a dislike for the car seat once their LO was teething due to the vibration if the car movement. But it may also be if their view is slightly restricted in it.. My DS is so nosey lol

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TheRealCinderella · 03/03/2018 22:40

My LO hated the car seat from been new born until we got a forward facing one, I moved her into one a bit early but not before guidelines say it's okay, she was 9 months and 10kg, I know it's not the best but was a judgment call as to what was safer. She actually screamed to the point where she started choking, by this point I obviously couldn't concentrate on the road so it was dangerous. I don't know what type you have but maybe try getting a new one thats more spacious and converts to a forward facing when LO and you are ready for that? We had a cybex that clipped onto the pram and she hated it but got the Joie stages and she's fine in it....90% of the time anyway

m33r · 04/03/2018 05:36

My LB. was like this from birth and blaring out white noise helped us. We still use it now occasionally. He’s nearly 7 months x

Maursh · 04/03/2018 05:49

It sounds like he is in pain - this is what reflux babies do. Can he sit up on his own? Does he eat solids? Does he tend to get a lot of wind?

Unihorn · 04/03/2018 05:52

Mine was the same so I had to move her into the passenger seat next to me so she could see me and she was much better. I tried keeping her in the back with a mirror but she still detested it. She's 15 months now and still rear facing in my passenger seat. We have the airbag off of course.

HollyBollyBooBoo · 04/03/2018 06:23

Presumably you've checked there's nothing sharp poking into him?

Flywheel · 04/03/2018 06:30

Dd1 was like this. In desperation we changed the car seat. Still rear facing but converted to forward facing. It was also much higher so she could see out the window and it made a big difference.

userabcname · 04/03/2018 07:08

Same as pp - we got a bigger car seat that can be both rear and forward facing. It's higher so he can see out the window. Ever since the swap he will even nap in the car! So I guess the previous car seat was uncomfortable and / or boring because he couldn't see out.

IWouldLikeToKnow · 04/03/2018 07:21

I would say it's not that he's in pain or uncomfortable, it's just that he hates being strapped in as you mention he's starting to resist the high chair too. You just have to persist. My 3 yr old still resists from time to time.

RedLemonade · 04/03/2018 07:32

My DD2 was like this.

Initially taking the biggest lump of padding out from behind her bum/lower back helped as she wasn’t as squashed in the seat.

Then things definitely improved when we moved her to the next size up of car seat, and then again when she was old enough to forward face.

She’s still not a great lover of the car though so I tend to time longer journeys for when she’s due a nap!

RedLemonade · 04/03/2018 07:33

Oh and she was the same with high hair and buggy straps. I ultimately ditched the high chair straps thought the obvious disadvantage there is I literally cannot leave her in there for a second with my back turned!

Original poster

Cheeseymondo · 04/03/2018 08:16

We have the cybex one too. Was thinking about getting one of 360 ones. He is tall for his age (91st percentile). So think he feels squashed in it.

OP posts:

crazydoglady6867 · 04/03/2018 08:22

Sounds like he is travel sick, he associates the seat with travelling, it makes him feel sick. My son was the same, we got him some little wristbands and in time he forgot what the sickness felt like and enjoyed our trips out.

Ciderandskatesdontmix · 04/03/2018 08:36

My dd started to hate being in the baby seat, but she's a big chunk and I think she felt too squashed in it. We replaced it with an extended rear facing seat and suddenly the car was no longer a problem. It's much more spacious for her.

Spam88 · 04/03/2018 08:59

OP just bear in mind they need to be rear-facing until 15 months (at least I think that law has come in now, I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong!).

It might be worth trying another seat, you never know, although the fact he doesn't like the high seat either suggests it's just the being restrained that he isn't happy with. 45 minutes to get him in his seat is crazy though, I'd probably give up and resign myself to a life in the house lol. Are you loosening the straps right off so you can get his arms in even if he's arching his back and throwing himself around?

icantdothis2017 · 04/03/2018 10:06

A lot of babies do this

If he does it with e high chair most likely his just pissed off .
Honestly just put him and go .
My 2 year old still does this with the car seat and buggy . It's non negotiable imo

Original poster

Cheeseymondo · 04/03/2018 11:07

Nothing digging in his back. It’s more the whole getting him in it part. Once he’s in, he’s not impressed but he calms down.

OP posts:

Original poster

Cheeseymondo · 04/03/2018 11:09

He can sit up fine and is on solids. He’s ok with wind. He is perfectly happy beforehand, it’s as soon as you go to put him in he arches and stiffens as if to say “no way am I going in there😀😀🙈

OP posts:

TheRealCinderella · 04/03/2018 11:20

Height based seats (i-size seats) mean child has to be rear facing until 15 months, weight based do not, they can be forward facing from 9kg

icantdothis2017 · 04/03/2018 11:21

Honestly just put him in .
I wouldn't be staying in just because they didn't like being in the seat

BoredOnMatLeave · 04/03/2018 12:29

My DD was like this. Mainly we switched to a 360 when we was 4 months as it was slightly higher up and less squashed in, that helped loads (obviously meant you couldn't clip the car seat to the pram but I didn't really do that much anyway). Ultimately you need to just do it quick as possible. If there is 2 of you one can lift him into the seat and the other can do the legs so he can't arch.

sourpatchkid · 04/03/2018 14:53

My son did better went we got a bigger car seat. He didn't look squashed in his first but comparatively he's much more comfy in the new one.

We also play nursery rhymes and if he's really struggling put cartoons on the iPhone

BertieBotts · 04/03/2018 15:02

TheRealCinderella is right - but just because you can turn them FF at 9kg, it doesn't mean it's safe. This is why the law is changing. Try to stick with RF at least until 15 months but really as long as you can.

I agree that the extended RF/convertible ones are often more upright and have more space for them so that they can see out of the window better. The infant seats can be very reclined which can be frustrating for older babies.

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