What Do You Do If Your Baby Always Seems to Cry While You're Driving?

Updated on July 09, 2009
M.Y. asks from Palatine, IL
12 answers

Hello,
My little girl is a little over 3 months old, and as of the last month or so, she seems to hate being in her car seat while I'm driving. She is usually fine for the first few minutes, but if the drive is longer than 10 minutes, she usually ends up crying. It starts off as a fussy cry but then turns into a full out screaming fit b/c I think she wants to be picked up. It is the most stressful thing to try to drive when she does this, and my toddler gets anxious b/c his little sister is so upset. Has anyone else dealt with this problem, and what do you do? Do you just let the baby cry so she gets used to it? Oh..and I do make sure to make sure she's fed and in a clean diaper before I ever take off to go somewhere.Thanks!

1 mom found this helpful

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S.D.

answers from Chicago on

My son loved the Sleep Sheep on the go by CloudB. It velcros right to a carseat, stroller, etc. His favorite was the sounds of the ocean. I give this at every baby shower. See below link.

http://www.amazon.com/Cloud-Sleep-Sheep-Go-Soothing/dp/B0...

Good Luck!

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E.F.

answers from Chicago on

Does her infant carrier have the detachable head cushion in it? She may not need it anymore and it it causing her discomfort. Perhaps her straps need to be moved. If you've tried everything you will have to let her cry. Does she have things hanging from her carrier to keep her eyes busy. Since she is three months old crying isn't bad for her she is just mad or bored and she will eventually realize she has no choice but to chill out. Turn up the music.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.M.

answers from Chicago on

Hello,
My 8 week old baby will sometimes have fits in the carseat as well, which I feel for you because it is very stressful. I have tried a couple of things that worked.. first I try the pacifier, he is in the middle in the back so I can just reach behind.. not too safe, but he will take it quickly if he wants it. I also put on the Mozart for Babies cd and that seems to work, it does need to be pretty loud to get his attention. If nothing works, I just have to let him cry and will "shush" him and after a few minutes he will calm down..

And just yesterday, I realized that the straps on the carseat needed to be moved up and since we moved those, her first car ride since was quiet!!

Good luck.

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A.T.

answers from Chicago on

I know your pain! Our oldest hated the car seat. She would lose her mind whether the car seat was in or out of the car. I couldn't even go to Target and push her in the cart in her car seat. If by some luck of God she fell asleep in the car she better be out of that car seat when she woke up or there would be H to pay. When she was 5 weeks old I had to make a trip from Wisconsin with her alone----she yelled and screamed for almost 4 solid hours. We realized that our daughter was a very curious kid and looking at the back of the seat was boring and pissed her off. I talked to her constantly, played music and sang, had a full supply of toys to toss back there, had toys she could manipulate on her seat, kept about a million pacifiers available and put up a mirror so she could sort of see me. Maybe your son could help by handing her different toys every so often. It was stressful for me so I really do know how awful it is. Unfortunately, our daughter didn't stop being mad until she was a year old and we could turn her around. It was like a switch turning off---once she could see what was happening she was fine. The only suggestions I can make are to switch up her toys constantly (I mean literally constantly--like several times a trip), try attaching a toy with stuff she can push, pull, has bells and lights, and if your son can reach her hand maybe even holding her hand might help. Our daughter never "got used to it", the best we could hope for were momentary diversions. Hopefully, you can hit upon the golden cure. Good luck during this very rough time.

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J.

answers from Chicago on

I like the other suggestions, but just to add a word of encouragement, my son was the same way. Hated the car. Luckily we don't have to drive much or very far. He grew out of it eventually (by about 6 or 9 months) but I think maybe it made him carsick or dizzy. (he has some vestibular issues and has to be careful not to read in the car for too long or he gets carsick.)

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J.B.

answers from Chicago on

My son is the same way in the car. I agree to turn up the music. Try different types of music. One day the song Groovy Kind of Love by Phil Collins was on and for some reason it calmed him. Needless to say, that song is on EVERY homemade CD I have.
Sometimes it takes a while, but you'll figure out what works.
Hang in there!

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S.B.

answers from Chicago on

Perhaps temperature is an issue? My son used to cry horrifically in the car during the summer months because he was too hot. Even if you feel fine, the sun and the extra padding in the infant seat might be too much.

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N.P.

answers from Chicago on

every single time I come across this issue in one of my daycare kids it is solved by simply giving the baby a blanket to cuddle in the carseat. I was amazed it was that easy when my first had the issue!

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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

I have the car mirror that plays music and lights up. The best part is that it has a remote, so when my son falls asleep, i can turn it off. it works like a charm!

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M.R.

answers from Chicago on

Hi! The other responses I totally agree with. Also when you have checked all of those perhaps try a different music station or cd in the car. My son was like this when he was first born. I had to put on my Enya Cd to calm him and it worked like magic. Drove me crazy but I rather take Enya than crying. You may also want to check if the sunlight is hitting her at all. That was another issue I had with my son. The sun kept hitting him and making him uncomfortable. I don't know what eye color you daughter has, but if she has blue, blue eyes are 10 times more sensitive to sun rays than darker eyes. Good luck and trying anything and everything, it will be okay.

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D.K.

answers from Chicago on

Hi Mom Y,
Congrats on your little one. This isn't abnormal. What I do is check to see if there's an issue, and if all is well, I put on music. In my family, we've always said "music soothes the savage beast" and it does really help a cranky baby. Sometimes it has to be loud - they can't hear it over their crying. But I have found with all three of mine, if I put on music, any music, it helps.

Good luck and enjoy your precious little one.
D.

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L.T.

answers from Chicago on

Hi,

I liked the first responses ideas, also they have little pads to place on the straps if they are causing discomfort. I would also suggest taking a ride with Dad driving and see if you can see anything you can't while driving:)Otherwise, it is a good lesson in how to respond in less favorabl situations and patience!!

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