Baby screams in car seat and moans in pushchair

[JackieDW]

Hi, my LG is 6 months old and ever since she was born she has not liked the car seat. She will scream and scream getting herself in such a state.
Does anyone else have any experience of this or bought a different car seat and baby settled down?
We have a silver cross wayfarer pushchair and she now starts arching her back and grumbles and moans when in the pushchair even when sitting upright. Again anyone else had anything similar? Did you swap pushchairs? Baby grow out of it?

She has been diagnosed with reflux when she was smaller but I cut soya out of my diet and her sickness seems to have stopped. She does still seem to arch her back a bit and has really bad wind in the night. It’s got a bit worse since we have started weaning?

I think I’m just after anyone to share their experiences as it seems like everyone else’s babies love the car and just sit and enjoy the push chair 😁

Have you taken the baby insert out?

Honestly, some babies just don't like being strapped in and restricted. Sadly they just need to grow out of it!

No advice, but I’m in the same boat. And dread getting in the car with DD, gives me anxiety. At the minute we don’t really go anywhere, but with restrictions easing, I suppose we will venture out. She is 4months and has done this since 6/8weeks, and has reflux too. She doesn’t like the pram seat either, but atm we just use the carrycot a lot.
We have done a few “ok” short journeys. I’ve found timing is key, not overtired, or just woke up. Give her toys to distract her. Taken the insert out, but left the head one in. Play white noise, open the window, use the seat in the house to try get her use to it, I’ve tried it all. I borrowed my sisters car seat different brand, and it made no difference.

My baby is the same, she is 7 weeks and screams bloody murder when she realises she's in the car seat. She is absolutely fine in the car seat when asleep and actually enjoys the drive but if she's awake or wakes up in the car seat she cries so much she gets worked up and start hyperventilating. It's honestly that bad! I can't go anywhere in the car with her because of this. Not sure what to do and hoping she grows out of it!

Snacks. Snacks were the only way we got anywhere without a fuss. DS2 is the same and I’m looking forward to weaning so I can add snacks to my tactics! DS1 did grow out of it eventually. Once they start walking and running, they get more tired and are usually happier to sit.

My DD was like this for a while. It was awful and it used to give me so much anxiety when I knew I needed to nip out. She outgrew it eventually. I found the more I went out with her in the car (as painful as it was) the more she got used to it. I did have to pull over a few times to calm her down, make sure she had her dummy etc but she eventually got past it and now absolutely loves the car! Have you got anyone at home with you or someone from your bubble that can come out with you on car journeys and they can perhaps sit in the back with her to keep her calm? Failing that, a mirror so she can look at herself and also see you, if you haven't got one already and also car seat toys that you could strap across the car seat for her to play with. They did help my DD.

It will pass. Every little hurdle they go through, it is just a phase. I always try to remember that when we're experiencing something that upsets DD.

My dd was like this when she was in her carrier car seat. Sooo stressfull. Used to end up walking most places to avoid the car and then occasionally carrying her when in her pram because sometimes she would just cry continuously until picked up. Once she was in the more upright pram seat that helped as did pram toys and toys for the car and lots of singing especially 5 little ducks.

I wouldn't give a six month old snacks in the car!! Too little, too much chance of choking especially if they are liable to get upset.

Yes. My DD is like this. She hates being “contained” in a car seat, push chair or high chair etc. For the car, I got her this thing called a lazy arm, it’s like a selfie stick that you can put your phone in to play cartoon a etc on YouTube. Except it bends in whatever direction you need it to. Also a mirror for the headrest seems to entertain her for a little while and you can see what she’s up to.

For the pushchair I tend to take her out and put her in a sling when the whinging gets too much.

For her high chair I give her a selection of household objects to keep her entertained like a ladle followed by a whisk. Only way I ever get anything done

DC1 hated the infant car seat and it was reflux, he was happier in the next seat as it was more upright.

He was also happier when he was upright in the pushchair rather than flat in the carrycot (although I know you said your DC is unhappy even when upright).

When the reflux is bad they'll cry and arch their back whatever position they're in

You said you cut out soya, have you cut out cow's milk and dairy products too? That's the most common allergy in babies and the proteins are similar to soya so babies can often have an issue with both.

DC1's reflux disappeared once we cut out dairy and soya as it was caused by allergies.