I have toys that hang from the infant seat handle. I have one of those mirrored/lightup toys. I've also just started putting stuffed animals in front of her so she can talk to them. This is helping a little. Is there anything else I can do?
2007-02-17 04:12:08 · 21 answers · asked by Mich35 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Some good advice so far.
Re: infant seat handles being REQUIRED to be down in the car, not true. Some are required, some aren't. Read your manual to be sure. Graco allows you to keep it up if you want. At least one infant seat actually requires you to leave the handle UP in the car. So double-check those manuals!
Only soft toys or mirrors in the car. A one-pound object becomes a 30-pound object flying at you in a 30 mile an hour crash. If it's not something you would actually be okay with throwing at your head, don't bring it in the car.
Some babies are just really unhappy car riders, no matter what. As a previous poster said, angle can have a lot to do with it. If your baby has good head and neck control you can move him/her to a convertible carseat, still rear-facing, of course, and install it as upright as is comfortable for your baby, but no more than about a 30 degree angle. 45 degree angle is only required for infants without good head control.
Please don't think that turning baby around at 1 year old and 20 pounds is the "cure" for this. My daughter became a much unhappier car rider when she was 13 months old and 25 pounds and I turned forward. Her legs dangle when forward, putting strain on her back. When rear-facing she can rest her legs on the vehicle seatback, almost like a recliner chair. She also started getting carsick. :o(
Knowing what I know now, I'd have kept her rear-facing to the maximum limits of her convertible carseat, which was 35 pounds. All seats on the market in the US today rear-face to at least 30 pounds, and the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended for 5 years now to keep kids rear-facing to the maximum limits of a convertible seat for optimum safety. Too bad lots of pediatricians don't keep up-to-date with their own agency's policy statements, and still recommend the outdated policy.
2007-02-17 09:24:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
You can place a book in front of her - if you're sitting in the back with her, you can turn the pages and show her colorful pictures. Also, the mirrors on baby toys are usually blurry which maybe all that they see but I prefer a clear mirror that hangs on the head rest in front of her (the ones drivers use to see their babies. ) She might be able to see you and can see herself as well. Playing music that has a quick beat or loud bass or even kids music like sharon lois and bram if you can tolerate it is good to keep her entertained. Just remember that if you do the same thing regularly at such a young age, you'll probably find yourself doing these things at an older age so do things that you are comfortable with doing often..
2007-02-17 14:06:54 · answer #2 · answered by knithappens 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you say riding, do you mean while you are driving or out and about shopping and what not? Because there should never be anything attached to the babies car seat in case of an accident.
As for while I'm grocery shopping, toys hanging from the handle keep her ocuppied. And making funny faces and noises. While driving she's content listening to classical music.
2007-02-17 12:22:29 · answer #3 · answered by beanie_babymama 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are some cute little toys things you can attach to an infant carrier there are also mirrors that attach in a way so that you can see her and she can look in the mirror too. The best advice is travel when she is not hungry and plan to go around nap time when possible.
2007-02-17 12:35:26 · answer #4 · answered by Oh me oh my...♥ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please don't be one of those parents that insist on riding in the back with the child. Some children just don't like to be in the car and if that is enforced by having a parent in the back, your child will realize that manipulation works. Put a picture of yourself on the seat back in front of her so she can see your face. She will be comforted by that. Play soothing lullabyes while driving to relax her, too. Make the car an inviting place for her. You have the right idea with the toys, etc, that you already put out for her. Keep in mind, she is only 4 months old and things can change. She might end up loving the car by the time she is 6 months old.
2007-02-17 12:50:03 · answer #5 · answered by Hoops Girl 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
For some babies, there's really nothing you can do. But here are a few things to try:
- soft toys. If you wouldn't want a major-league baseball player to fire it full-speed at your baby's head, it does not belong in the car.
- never attach anything to the handle. It will hit your baby in the head.
- try soft music, or singing to your baby. If that doesn't work, try loud(er) music. (Classical vs classic rock, for example.)
Babies are human beings too- they like different things just like grownups do.
- do not turn your baby forward facing before 12 months *AND* thirty pounds. MINIMUM. Better a crying baby than a dead one.
- If someone can ride with baby, great!
- Check that baby isn't too warm. If you're using heavy blankets, or bunting, odds are baby is HOT. In the car, a fleece blanket is all you need, and the aftermarket bunting is extremely dangerous anyway and should NEVER be used. If you have to loosen the straps for it to fit, it's too thick.
- sometimes babies are happier more upright, so if she fits in a convertible seat, you might consider moving her to a RF convertible. The 45* angle recommended for RF is only necessary for babies who are very young or have poor head control. It's fine for an older baby to be more upright, and often that makes them happier.
- try to keep trips short, both for your sake and hers.
Good luck! It's very difficult to have a high-needs baby. I would suggest reading the books below:
The Fussy Baby Book (Dr WIlliam Sears)
Raising Your Sprited Child (Mary Sheedy Kurcinka)
2007-02-17 23:05:28 · answer #6 · answered by babs19772000 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A lot of great advice already mentioned - soft toys (try the ouch test - hit yourself in the head with a toy - if it hurts don't bring it in the car), calming music, someone riding in back with her.
2007-02-18 00:42:13 · answer #7 · answered by amom 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our girls both have a blanket that has to go with them in the car or anywhere (boring). We once left it in the car before boarding a plane and I literally ran all the way back, did the security check again, and drank a gallon of water once I finally sat down. So, for us, the blankets are a critical key to peace and quiet. Good luck to you.
2007-02-17 12:51:05 · answer #8 · answered by Wendy B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best thing we found was a portable DVD player (you can purchase a low end one at stores like Wal-mart for $80) and the use of Baby Einstein DVDs. They have DVDs for baby's as young as 1 month to as old as 36 months. Our girls at that age enjoyed Baby Einstein Baby Beethoven. Hope this works for you!
2007-02-17 12:34:37 · answer #9 · answered by Twins Mom 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, Keep a toy around thier head or hand, they will play with them until the ride is over
2007-02-17 12:19:56 · answer #10 · answered by VA23502 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋