My daughter is 11 days old and hates her car seat?

Question

What can I do my daughter cries and it breaks my heart every time she is in her car seat. I have tried loosening the straps and that didn't work. I try and make sure she is comfortable and she still cries. And I have left the little flap open on the cover we bought to go over and that didn't work either. please help.

Answer 1

Have you tried taking her carseat into the house and putting her in it there? Because maybe it's not the carseat that she hates but is getting motion sickness from being in a moving vehicle.

If she hates being in the carseat even when it's on the floor in your house or on a table in your house, well, then just keep putting her in it until she gets used to it.

Yes, she cries but she'll get over it. Remember, there's not a kid in the world that would willingly go to a dentist. Parents have to make kids do what's good for them.

Answer 2

the other answers are great; the only thing I would add is: Is it possible that the seat is too cold? That would make a baby cry. Also, be careful in loosening the straps. The day we brought my daughter home from the hospital, we didn't realize that the straps were loose, and I opened the car door to find her slumped over into her blankets. Not only could she have gotten hurt in an accident, but she could have suffocated in the blankets. Just a word of caution to be on the safe side. A few tears are a lot less heartbreaking than actual injury. That is what I tell myself when she cries in her carseat now.

Answer 3

If she's crying she probably isn't comfortable. We had to get a new car seat because our first one was a peice of junk that had no support and kept her at an odd angle. She also may be too warm or too cold, check her temp. Are her palms hot and sweaty, or icy cold? These are usually good indacators. Another thing is some babies can't stand to have things near or on their face, like my daughter for instance. Make sure the babies hood isn't over her eyes.

Answer 4

My daughter is 8 and 1/2 and small for her age, so she still needs a booster seat. She still asks ALL the time to let her ride without the seat or maybe in the front. As much as she begs, I always think to myself, "If something were to happen, could I live with myself?" That is when I say NO.

Your baby WILL get used to it. The idea of the seat being cold is very likely the culprit. However, you might want to try bundling her a little more. Practicing being in it in the house might help.

Good luck, but please keep her buckled properly.

Answer 5

Unfortunately this could last a while, my youngest daughter cried everytime she was in the car till she was about 4mths old. The only thing i can suggest is to keep persevering and to not give in to her cries as hard as it may be, just give her a big cuddle when you arrive at your destination to let her know that everything is okay. She will eventually realise that being in her seat is really not that bad and that mummy wont pull over every 5mins to get her out and give her cuddle. Giving in will only mean that you'll be doing alot of pulling over long term as she may take a longer time to grow out of it.

Answer 6

If it is a one piece cover with the small window that may be your problem try something diffrent like a JJ Cole Bundle me or a snow suit. But many babies never like their car seat until they can see out the window (my son!) so just be calm, try to find music to calm, country always worked for my son, & do not loosen the straps only 2 fingers should fit in, good luck

Answer 7

Here is an excerpt on how Cranio/Sacral therapy can help a child who is uncomfortable in a car seat. Please click on the link below to read the whole story. Hope this helps.

"What I saw was something I had never seen before. Sylvia talked about how she was letting the baby move, and about how his body was telling her his story. With her hands, she was gently feeling for areas of strain and misalignment. She was helping baby David find his path back to balanced comfort with the inner alignment of his tissues from head to toe. She sat on the birth ball during the treatment which allowed her to easily move and rock him. My screaming baby calmed down within minutes and was quiet and pensive as he lay in her arms while she moved with him on our ball. I was so glad that I brought it.

Sylvia offered help for our car ride home since his past behavior was non-stop screaming for any car ride. She rolled up a little blanket to put under his knees, a baby wash cloth behind his neck and put two rolled swaddling blankets on the sides of him."

Answer 8

She doesn't hate the car seat. She knows that she isn't going to see anyone for awhile. Invest in one of those mirrors that attach to the back window and hangs from the rear view mirror.

Answer 9

If your daughter is only 11 days old, she is too young to distinguish between the luxuries surrounding her. Her crying is caused by more physiological reasons, which may include discomfort in a specific posture.

You must immediately consult a specialist instead of experimenting further.

Answer 10

She will get used to it. But I think the better question is, where are you taking this 11 day old? From what I was told you should not be taking newborns out unless you absolutely have to because they haven't had many of their shots yet, and are susceptible to catching colds/flu/germs from everyone/thing around them. (I could be wrong on that maybe it is just an old wives tale.... but it does make sense)>

Answer 11

shes to young to be spoilt to being held there must be something about the carseat that is making her uncomftable i have been to car safety seat inspection and the straps need to be snug( not tight) one finger fitting between straps and baby or it wont hold them in if you do have an accident.