baby car seat toys

How can I get my baby to stop crying every time we put him in his car-seat?

Every time I put my 5 month old baby in his car-seat and we go somewhere, he cries really hard. It seems like it isn’t really his car-seat but actually being in the car. He cries so hard that he starts to make a choking/coughing noise a lot of times. I am going out-of-town this weekend and have to drive 6 hours with just me and my baby to get there. I am so scared he is just going to scream the entire way. I put toys back there and it seems to help for a while and then he just starts crying again. Anyone have any suggestions for my trip? What could I do to help him? Should I just let him cry it out? I am a first time mom and so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you so much for that answer, littleangelfire81! I really appreciated your advise!

I am not a fan of crying it out. Scratch that. I am avidly opposed and disgusted by letting a baby cry it out. HOWEVER – in the case of keeping baby alive by being in a properly fitting age/size appropriate car seat and crying, or getting him out I’ll have him cry. And my son did – for about 3 months he hated car trips. I limited my travel time. But there are a few things you can check up on before you resign yourself to the screaming to keep him safe.

1)remember that when babies cry, there IS a reason. It may take some figuring, but rest assured he’s not spoiled, (you can NOT spoil a baby!) nor is he testing you (babies are incapable of manipulation). He’s crying b/c something is bugging him. Things to check on:
Make sure he’s fed.
OK, he’s fed. Now make sure he’s burped and burped well. The position baby is in in the car seat is not conducive to burping. It will literally pain him if he has any air bubbles in his tummy.
Diaper completely dry? Add some powder (no talc – only pure cornstarch powder) to keep him sweat-free.
TOO stimulated? things that we adults think are cool, like lots of colorful toys, can overstimulate a baby making them scream until someone takes the toys away.
Is the sun in his eyes? Before you run out and buy some type of funky window shade, remember you never want anything that can go flying in an accident – it will fly right at his head. ONLY buy static cling window shades. They stick to the windows with static, no extra parts, and aren’t going anywhere and even if they did, woudln’t hurt anyone.
Too hot? Don’t overdress your baby. That old thing wtih people saying always dress baby how you’d be comfy plus one layer is ridiculous. Babies can regulate their own body temp at that age.
Too cold? Don’t rush out and buy a bundle-me or look-alike-bundle-me warmy thingie that goes inside the car seat. NEVER use any aftermarket product with your car seat. If it didn’t come in the box, it doesn’t belong between baby and seat. You CAN however, buy a shower cap style cover, one that just goes over the seat after baby is in it. This will keep warm without affecting the harness at all.
Finally – take him shopping. No, I’m serious. Try him out in different seats. It really could be the seat. Maybe it pokes him, maybe he wants more room, maybe the material is bugging him. you never know. Does he cry in his seat if you put him in it in the house? Or only in the car? If he cries no matter what, a convertible car seat may be needed, try him out in some different ones. Check my other answers for your best bets in convertible car seats.

2)try and travel at his best, happiest times. For most babies this is in the morning or during a naptime.

If all those things are checked, different seat and what not and he’s SITLL unhappy, he probably just wants mom close and then I’d ask, can anyone else drive on this 6 hour trip so you can sit in the back with him? Otherwise make him as happy as you possibly can and grin and bear it. Play soothing music, classical works beautifully, but so does kids singing, or gasp, even you singing or talking. If no one else can drive, I mean this in all seriousness, consider canceling this trip or delaying it. I missed out on lots of travelling until my son acclimated himself to his seat. I wasn’t willing to put him through that stress just so I could go somewhere. And crying stresses a baby out.

But again, if it is a mandatory trip, just make lots of stops and soothe him the best you can if none of the above tricks work, and rest assured, it WILL pass.

Check out http://www.car-seat.org for the BEST car seat advice

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