My newborn hates the car!

Question

everytime i take my newborn daughter in the car she cries. i can't stay at home all the time. what should i do to help her. my husband and i are leaving to go on a 10 hour car trip next week and i am dreading this with her.

Answer 1

try to plan it at a time you know she will sleep.  Take along a snuggly blanket that smells like you and a paci if she takes one.  Try to sit in the back seat so she can see you.  My first son was the same way and we tried those things eventually he got better at it.  Good Luck

Answer 2

10 hrs, wow, I'd never attempt that. my daughter is now 23 months old and I still hate making the 4 hr trips to visit my mom twice a year. I thought it would get better as she got older but not really. Maybe sit in the back seat with her so you can help her a little, I know theres not much you can do while shes in a car seat.

Answer 3

My daughter hated the car at first too but she by the time she was about 2 1/2-3 months old she got used to it.  I also bought her one of those toys that attaches to the handle of the seat and she LOVES that!  Even before she could play with them she just loved to sit and stare at the toys.  Good luck!

Answer 4

Too funny because my son is my older child and when he would be crying, wed get up and take him for a drive. Straight to sleep, we would constantly take him in the car when he was miserable. My daughter was hysterical the second we put her in the car. She screamed as if she were in physical pain. She outgrew it at about a year or so. Good luck on your trip. I suggest sitting in the back seat to comfort and stimulate her.  

Answer 5

Is it the car or her car seat?  What does she hate?  If you can break it down you can treat it easier.  Does she hate her car seat, or is she okay in the car seat until you put it in the car?  Does she not mind being in the car, but hates when it's running?  

If it's a problem with the car seat in general you can do some adjusting to the seat, wash the padding, line it with one of her favorite blankets (even though it says not to), take the lining off and put it over her swing or bouncer, make sure her head rests aren't too tight etc.  

If she is fine in her car seat except when it's in the car, make sure that nothing is making her uncomfortable.  Check where the sun light falls, if it's too warm or too cool, and consider putting up sun shades if you don't already have them.  You could also get a bright patterned blanket or piece of fabric and cover the back of the seat with it so she has something interesting to look at.  Try some toys, a binkie, or a bottle, and make sure she doesn't get too stimulated.  You could also try taking some "test" drives where your hubby drives and you sit in the back with her to give her some extra comfort.  

Take your time and try to get her to learn comfortably that it's a good place for her to be.  You can't force it.

Answer 6

whenever my son rides in his infant seat i have to sit in the back with him. otherwise he cries and yells the whole time. he is not like this in the convertible car seat though. he loves riding in that one. i think he just doesnt like the other car seat... he has always cried when driving around town in it and toys didnt help... but he has always been great on longer drives in it. chances are your daughter will sleep most of the time. if it is bad though, one of you can hop in the back seat and comfort her.

Answer 7

Honey, I know how you feel! My 4 month old hates, and has always hated, car rides. We have tried absolutely everything, and nothing has helped. I don't have any advice...sorry...but just know that you are not alone! :-)

Answer 8

well, she's going to have to like it one way or another if its a 10 hr car ride. Put toys up on her car seat, play classical music or childrens music to calm her down. sit next to her or your husband and talk/sing with her. there is little that you can do, but you want what is best and safe for the baby to be seated, buckled and in the car seat properly. Hang in there mom she will get use to the rides eventually...  

Answer 9

double check shes sitting comfortably in her car seat.

Answer 10

Try changing the carseat once or twice....if that doesn't help/apply to your situation, then liquid benadryl!!  

Answer 11

It could be that she gets carsick.  I would ask the doctor if there is anything she can have that will help her.

Answer 12

She will get used to it, they learn to adapt to your lifestyle.

A friend of mine has a mentally retarded child that is age 20 who yells and screams in the car, they have construction headset they wear whenever they go somewhere.

Answer 13

Definitely get some toys for the seat and let her sit in it at home and play with her. Can you walk with her while in the seat inside a stroller? Try to get her used to it at home before the long car trip. Does she fit in the car seat comfortably?  Good luck.

Answer 14

For starters, 10 hours may be too much.  You'll need to stop every couple of hours and get her out of the seat so she can stretch, nurse, and not have her spine all cramped up.

Sit in back with her.  Nurse her *in* the carseat if you can.  My son hates having lights flashing as we drive (streetlights from highway interchanges are the worst), so we often have to figure out how to drape a receiving blanket so that he's not getting the strobe effect.

Engage her.  Take lots of brightly colored pictures or magazines and let her enjoy seeing different things.  I used to just sit in back and hold up a magazine and slowly turn the pages.  It worked pretty well, as did nursing my kiddo while he was fully strapped into his carseat.

Answer 15

ok y newborn hated the car also...but we went to walmart and got one of those toys that attatch to the car seat....and that helped a lot but she still cryed!