crying in the car

[titania]

My 11 week old DD doen't like the car very much and it is starting to cause us some real headaches... She will sleep or travel quietly most of the time, but if she is the slightest bit hungry or uncomfortable she will cry her heart out until we stop and feed or change her. She goes completely red and is drenched in sweat, it is heartbreaking.

This weekend we had two journeys that should have been no more than 10-20minutes become 1.5 hour marathons. I just don't know what to do about it. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Mum&bubs]

Oh i know the feeling! My DD was the same plus every time we stopped at a stop sign or red light she would scream louder then before!
Maybe just trying to make sure she is well fed & changed before the trip; I know thats hard to do some times as babies can be very unpredictable but you can only try :fingerscrossed: she eases up soon!

[LilShenanigans]

Oh you've just brought back my nightmare drive from wollongong to coogee!!! DD Screamed like she had a pitch fork up her backside!!!

And NOTHING was wrong! She was clean, fed, relatively happy... except when I started to drive, it was horrendous!

I've put toys in the car, she also loves it if there's something hanging in the car (like a toy or string of toys from the coat hooky thing - above the window??), On occassion I've had to hand over biscuits which keep her quiet for about 10 minutes....
So far we've only had one other incident like the wollongong one, so something is working??

[the_queen]

I don't have much advice, just wanted to let you know that my little boy is the same. He's 3 and a half months old, and has always hated the car. I've tied ribbons to the over-the-capsule seatbelt now, and that does distract him a little. But if he's tired, or hungry, then he just screams. And because I have a daughter at school, I can't just stay home if he's tired - she has to get taken to and picked up from school. I try to feed him just before I go, but then he's tired when we're driving... It's so heart-breaking to hear him screaming, and I know that he's crying because he can't see me and he just wants cuddles :crying: I just try to verbally soothe him, lots of "it's ok mate, we're nearly there" "mummy is here darling, i know you hate the car" etc etc. Also I make a big happy face as I'm putting him in the car, I say things like "wow the car is so much fun! It's fun being in the car!" etc and then when he's strapped in, I hold his hands, wait for him to look at my face, and I tell him "mummy would love to cuddle you all the time, but I have to drive the car. I'll be in the front seat, and you have to stay here to keep you safe. Mummy loves you darling, we will be there very soon and then we will have lots more cuddles" etc. It sometimes seems to calm him, but it's probably just co-incidence. At least I know that I've done all I can in that situation to calm him down, and although it sounds like I'm "leaving him to CIO" I know that I'm not. I reach back and hold his hand when we're at the stop lights, and if he gets really really really upset I do pull over and we have a cuddle. But sometimes it's better to just get home as quickly as possible (within the speed limit of course, officer ;)) We catch the bus a lot too :D

My daughter was the same, but she was fine once we put her in the front-facing carseat. I think it's got something to do with facing backwards, and with not being able to see anything.

[titania]

Thanks everyone, I guess this is just one of those things I will have to struggle through. I just hate hearing her cry and knowing how stressed it makes her :(

[spring]

I don't know if this would really be the most useful advice but when my DD screams in the car I sit next to her & somehow manage to stretch over her & breastfeed her, not very appropriate if your the one driving & I must admit Iv had a few strange looks when we'v been stoped at traffic lights but I will do anything if it means peace:eek:

[millersmum]

we also have the same issue and I don't go far from home for that reason. I do all our jobs when DH is home and i sit in the back with bubs. I too hope it will pass soon.:hugs:

[the_queen]

Hey all, just thought I should let you know, my boy doesn't hate the car anymore! It might be just that he's a bit older - but maybe it's because of this: I've hooked a rattly thing across the capsule. It is meant to go on a pusher, it's plastic rattly teddybears all different colours, keeps him amused, he plays with them and looks at them, and then eventually falls asleep without crying. I'm so thankful!! :)

[Amused]

I'm so glad I'm not alone here! So many people tell me "Babies are meant to love going in the car", as if that is going to help! I will try hanging stuff around the car. I don't know what sets him off, it is as if the second his bum hits the car seat, it's on! Very distracting.