Baby hates the car/carseat

[CRM96]

Hi I’m looking for advice.

DS is currently 6months old and he hates the car/car seat. He cries and gets really upset, I have to pull over and take him out to settle him. How do I stop this upset, as I have to drive to get us to groups and to see friends/family?

i have bought the next size car seat, however this make no difference to what seat he is in?

Please send advice!

Lower your expectations. Historically babies were carried around by their mums until they could walk. It's a myth babies all sleep in the car. Many don't like the separation, the sensation of being strapped in or the movement.

Things that might help (one journey but not the next at times): the happy song by Imogen Heap, a special car only toy safe for unsupervised play, a blanket that you've worn down your top and singing etc. It'll ease in time or baby will become a toddler who can tell you they feel car sick!

My baby absolutely hated rear facing car seats, driving anywhere was torture! Loved the forward facing seat. I walked as much as I could at the beginning and did most of my shopping online.

I’m afraid like PP we just had to lump it. We hardly ever drive anyway, but it made us do it even less - DD and I are veeeeeery well acquainted with public transport and thankfully she’s great on that.

It’s better now she’s three and can reliably either sleep (we time most journeys for when she’s likely to nap) or watch CBeebies.

My dd was the same, absolutely hates the car seat. She got better as she got a bit older be we found a playmat on Amazon that attaches to the headrest that really helped Taf Toys Play and Kick Car Toy Travel Activity Centre amzn.eu/d/1TLlm0x

No advice, just solidarity and sympathy. DS HATED the car and car seat as a baby and also absolutely hates it at 3.5. And he gets car sick about about 15 minutes and pukes everywhere, so that's great. He gets carsick even faster if we give him any kind of book or screen, so that's no help either.

We live in a city and rarely drive, but DH just came back traumatized from a day in the suburbs with my inlaws because DS was an absolute disaster in the car and they have to drive everywhere.

My first screamed unless she was in the front with me. She also gets car sick in the back so has always ridden upfront.

A mirror so he could see us helped for DS. For DD screens helped a bit but she only really settled in the car when we turned her forward facing, but don't do that at 6 months! Before that I used to time long journeys for nap time and walk/bus everywhere we could.