My 1 Month Old Daughter DISLIKES Her Car Seat....

Updated on September 22, 2010
A.L. asks from Concord, CA
14 answers

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make my daughter's car ride more enjoyable??? She absolutely dislikes getting strapped in her seat, and riding in the car... Help please

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A.B.

answers from Sacramento on

Both my kids went through a phase of not liking the carseat; both of them were like that till about 3 months old. I put a lot of toys up; sometimes that helped, and also the mirror so they could look at themselves. Try some hanging toys and a mirror, but otherwise I would just know that it will pass.... then something else will bother her!!!!

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J.P.

answers from Boise on

My friend had this problem. When they rode as a family, she rod in the back with her for a bit, and slowly weaned her off it as the baby got older.

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C.L.

answers from San Francisco on

I don't know your driving habits however it could be that your daughter feels that she spends too much time in it. Between friends, family, shopping, errands, etc, it could be that she is craving a little more home time. I had the same problem with both my girls so I changed my driving habits (and I'm a single parent), carseat issues went away and they were a lot happier.

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J.K.

answers from Phoenix on

Get her a new toy for car rides. Most kids hate their car seats. Try to be cheerful and fun while putting her in it...LOL That's what I do. =) Good luck!!

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A.P.

answers from Eugene on

My son hated his car seat so we did A LOT of singing in the car. We found two song helpful--we sang/rapped/yodeled "Moo, Baa, LaLaLa" a Sandra Boyton book (one parent lays down the beat, the other does the words). We also sang many, many verses of "Old McSon'sName Had A Farm." To keep it interesting one parent would get to name the animal/thing and the other parent had to come up with the animal/thing noise. Maybe because it took our mind off his crying it did seem to help a lot--and the best part is when they are 1 month old you can still come up with some crazy, maybe even inappropriate noises to make your partner say in car. For our son, it seemed the louder the better--maybe he just realized he couldn't compete with noise coming from the front seat? We did a 10 hour car trip this way as well as many trips to the doctor etc. The only alternative seemed to be both me and my son crying in the car together :) with my poor partner looking a little stressed behind the wheel.

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E.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Do NOT turn you child forward facing before they outgrow their seat rear facing! It is NOT safe!

My daughter and now my son both hated their car seat...or so it seemed. But they out grew it. Then my daughter grew back into hating. I got her a new seat and she LOVED it. I got the new seat when she outgrew her infant seat. Then I realized the difference in the comfort of the seat. The infant seat was hard as a rock! The new seat was cushy. Maybe it IS the seat.

But I'm just inclined to say that babies just don't like the car seat. Mine don't. My son likes to have the car moving and screams when it stops. I play classical music on the radio. I try not to go out when my son is hungry or for too long so his diaper doesn't get too wet. Trying to eliminate any discomfort that I can. And then I just breathe deep and remain calm. It's hard though!

M.P.

answers from Provo on

My son would be fine only if he the car was moving. The second the car stopped for any time he would SCREAM! Finally about 2 months he got over it. Thank goodness!! I used lots of lullabies, baby tunes, I sang, I talked. Pretty much she'll get used to it. They all will.

J.W.

answers from Seattle on

Its very common. Alot of babies do not like their carseat. Of my 3 kids none of them liked it. Just ride in back when you can, talk to her, give her toys or something to distract her.

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K.T.

answers from Dallas on

if you have a DVD player in the car I would play her favorite show and if not they have CDs for almost every kid show now. You could play it for her while she's in the car and give her a fun toy that she only gets when she's in the car. That way if she remembers the fun toy she can only have during the car ride she might not give you such a hard time anymore. Good luck!!

G.K.

answers from San Francisco on

Both my kids went through the same thing for about 6 months. My son until he was about 8 months, my daughter is 10 months old, still going through it, and she's in a regular seat (no infant carrier for her; she outgrew it at 4 months).

It may, but I don't think it has much to do with how often they are in it because we hardly ever drive more than 10 minutes at a time, and there are times when my kids did better for longer drives.

It has to do more with their need to move around and their dislike of being restricted or "held down." If she's crying, find a way to tune it out as long as nothing's hurting her. The crying probably hurts you more than her :) Just my experience...

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J.P.

answers from Provo on

Well, to be honest, a one month old is probably bothered more by being out of your arms than actually being in a car seat. Unfortuantely, it's pretty much something they just have to get used to. My only suggestions are try soft classical music or lullabies, a mirror-type accessory for her to look at might help, or try using the car seat as a resting place OUT of the car like around your house so it becomes more familiar and then when she's in the car it will not be so new and you won't be stuck with a screaming baby in your ear for the entire car ride. But really, more likely it will just take time: all my girls hated the car seat for about three months.

Good luck!!

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C.S.

answers from Victoria on

Mine had this probelm too and i had a child seat that could detach from the base and you could take kid & seat out. I borrowed a friend of mine's car seat, it was a Britax boulevard and you could not take it out with baby, so I had to take baby out with every stop, but they both did so much better. Both of mine had reflux too so I'm not sure if the other seat had them angled such that it caused the reflux to act up or what. So maybe try borrowing a different kind maybe? Also The Britax's are super expensive, but I found through my auto insurance one similar and got it for $25 dollars. Best of luck. Oh and try leaving a item with your scent on it in the seat with her, i took an old t-shirt and cut a heart shape out of it. i then tuck it into my bra up top and wear it for awhile, then the material has your scent and you can tuck that behind her head or neck so she can't get it, but can smell it. Remember newborn's eye sight isn't very good and their sense of smell is. Hope this helps you.

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D.S.

answers from San Francisco on

I have to tell you this one took me by surprise. I am the mother of 5, the grandmother of several one being the same age. A one month old in my experiance doesn't know uch except they like to be held, fed, kissed, snuggled, and changed. Since you are a new mom and are trying so hard to make your childs world perfect -- believe me all moms understand that and have tried the same. Just know it may be that your child isn't being able to be snuggled in the car seat that is the problem . Tha tis something a child has to get over. Our 3 yo hated her carseatbelt until her father had a policeofficer come to the car and talk to her and" sound very serious" about why she could be hurt and her father and mom get into trouble if she was not obedient. THAT WORKED!
With a new little one its hard enough to get the child into one of those car seats and locked into the car that I think I would be upset myself.

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K.N.

answers from San Francisco on

My son was the same way! Are you still using the infant insert in the carseat? As soon as my son was big enough, I took it out and that very day he stopped fussing in the carseat. My son was colicky and I suspect that the extra padding just made his gassy tummy even more uncomfortable.

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