If your baby hated the car, please come in!

My 4-month-old DD goes absolutely crazy in the car. She screams and cries until she passes out. When she was a newborn she'd cry, but would stop when the car got moving, now she cries whether we're moving or not.

When will this get better? Please tell me it will get better.

We are planning on driving to Florida in May when she'll be 6 months. We don't want to fly because we want to bring our dog, who is too big to bring on board and no way will I put her in cargo. Are we crazy for considering the drive?

Re: If your baby hated the car, please come in!

It started to get better for us at 5.5 months. We just drove back from FL and it was much easier than he drive there when DS was 2.5 months old.

If your baby hated the car, please come in!

My DD screamed and cried (to the point I would have to pull over every few blocks) until 3 months. Now she does what we call the hump dance - she humps the straps and pulls like she is trying to get out, but she doesn't cry.

Hope it gets better soon - I know how stressful it is driving with a screaming child. And the worst part is when you tell people that DD doesn't like the car and they say "but all babies love being in the car - puts them right to sleep." Not my baby!

You know what really helped us - the Tiny Love mini mobile - have you tried that? Good luck!

Re: If your baby hated the car, please come in!

well my son was the extreme i think, but it didn't get better until we turned him facing forward at a year (which was the rule back then). Even at that point, he'd still cry 1/2 of the time. It wasn't until a year and a half that it stopped all together. But i swore that my son had sensory issues so that could be why.

and yes you are crazy for wanting to drive. THere is no way i would have driven with my son back then to florida. I would have had to self medicate.

these didn't help us, but do you have a mirror up? some babies like watching themselves (thinking it's another baby). Or do you give her toys to hold yet?

Message edited 3/12/2013 6:33:53 AM.

Re: If your baby hated the car, please come in!

It got better when they are more aware of what they were seeing around them and could see out windows (so closer to 8-10 mos), but technically not until a year was it really better and we switched them forward facing. I remember those car rides of screaming...not fun. I avoided going anywhere alone. I had more than 1 screamed and no I would not have driven far at 6 mos.

Message edited 3/12/2013 6:51:11 AM.

Re: If your baby hated the car, please come in!

DS hated the car from 4 months until 6.5 months. At the time I commuted from NJ to work in Brooklyn, and DS had to take the drive with me 3 times a week. At the time, he took a pacifier, so that helped a little.

I know its rough, but this too shall pass.

Re: If your baby hated the car, please come in!

Message edited 3/18/2013 6:57:44 PM.

Re: If your baby hated the car, please come in!

It does get better. I don't remember when, but I'd say by 6 months I don't remember DD acting up in the car.

Re: If your baby hated the car, please come in!

My first child hated the carseat. The crying and fussing did not go away until she was forward facing.

My third child is 6 months old. The crying is slightly better, but once she starts crying there is no stopping her until I pull the car over and take her out.

I feel for you because it driving anywhere is such a pia. I personally would not take that long of a drive with a six month old.

If your baby hated the car, please come in!

My friend had this with her baby who is just about to turn 4 mos old. She would SCREAM in the car seat and nothing worked. So, she switched her to her convertible seat and she doesn't cry anymore! I'd definitely try that.

As for driving to FL, I wouldn't do that without a crying baby, so I think it's certifiable to do it with one!

ETA: OF COURSE, that's a rear-facing convertible car seat!

Message edited 3/12/2013 9:44:01 AM.

If your baby hated the car, please come in!

it really depends on the child... my DD hated the car from birth until we FF her at 11 months old. yes she was 11 months old, but we went on vacation and it was safer for us to drive the 3 hours without her screaming and vomiting everywhere.

my DD never put herself to sleep from crying in the car, so our trips were very very very short...

i wouldnt suggest FF her at 6 months, but i would try a convertible RF carseat.

Re: If your baby hated the car, please come in!

Posted by InShock

My friend had this with her baby who is just about to turn 4 mos old. She would SCREAM in the car seat and nothing worked. So, she switched her to her convertible seat and she doesn't cry anymore! I'd definitely try that.

As for driving to FL, I wouldn't do that without a crying baby, so I think it's certifiable to do it with one!

If your baby hated the car, please come in!

Dd hated the car since day 1. When I put a DVD player back there with Einstein on, is when things got better

Re: If your baby hated the car, please come in!

DD is 7 weeks, she gets motion sickness (seriously.) She screamed and would actually vomit bottles UNTIL we started covering her seat with a car canopy! Maybe give it a shot?

Maybe the motion bothers your LO!

Re: If your baby hated the car, please come in!

I'm the minority

My daughter hated the car seat...and is turning 2 next month and it's only gotten worse. She cries and screams. I've been waiting for it to get better

Re: If your baby hated the car, please come in!

Yes! There were times I wanted to throw myself out of the window but it got better around 6 months I would say. I don't know if I would chance a long ride trip like that not knowing how your LO will be by then.