First of all, this is a very common problem, especially with the newly born baby and there could be numerous reasons for it.
Being a working lady and MOM of two adorable kids I can affirm that the best thing that you can do in such a case is to figure out why your baby is reluctant toward her car seat.
However, if you’re not able to find out then stay with us as we will be discussing the nuts and bolts of what to do when your baby doesn’t enjoy her car seat.
Can I Teach My Baby to Love Her Car Seat?
Our clients have asked us several times in the past if they can teach their baby to love her car seat.
Well, before I respond to this query, I would love to hear your thoughts on it in the comment section.
Of course, you can create an ambiance around your infant’s car seat that will help her to enjoy the car seat.
Frankly speaking, it might seem to you difficult but it isn’t actually.
Let’s quickly go through some of the ways that can make your baby love the car seat like never before.
Try Getting the Baby Car Seat Out of the Car
The purpose of taking the baby car seat out of your car and putting it in your baby’s room for some time is to make her familiar with it so that the next time she sees the car seat she’ll not panic.
By doing so, you’ll prevent the infant car seat from acting like an alien to her.
Make sure that your little beast explores the car seat to the fullest and feels comfortable with it.
However, you also need to be cautious in the sense that your baby should avoid sleeping on the car seat while you’ve kept it at home because a faulty position may lead to a wide range of problems including positional asphyxia and death.
Prevention is always better than cure, isn’t it?
Make Yourself Visible
Well, during our research we found that one of the main reasons for a baby getting panicked when placed in a rear-facing car seat is that she is not able to see her MOM who is a source of trust, confidence, and assurance for her.
So, what to do in such a case?
All you need to do is print a smiling face of yours and tape it in front of your baby’s field of vision in order to let go of her stress and anxiety.
After all, nothing can replace the trust and love of a MOM.
Correct me, if I’m wrong.
A Mirror Can Do the Trick for Sure
The reason why I’m saying that a hanging mirror can do wonders for you is because it will serve two main purposes.
First and foremost, it will help you to keep an eye on your baby’s activities when she is rear-facing, and you’re driving.
Moreover, it will also give your baby something to look at and I can’t deny the possibility that a hanging mirror might get her attention and make her happy as well.
Being a MOM of two adorable kids, I can affirm that babies love seeing themselves.
And, from my past experience, I can assure you that a hanging mirror in most cases will help you in keeping your baby calm and quiet during long rides.
Do Short Trial Runs
This is important, especially for those who have become the MOM for the very first time.
I’ve seen quite a few of my clients making the mistake of taking their baby for a long ride on her first ride in the car.
This is something you should stop right away, it will definitely create a panic situation for your baby as she doesn’t know what’s happening, indeed.
In spite of taking her the long drive, start with short trips to make her accustomed to the situation and ambiance.
It would be a great idea to take her on a regular trip down the road and vice-versa.
From my past experience, I can affirm that the more I used to take my baby on short trips the better she started behaving during the ride.
You can use this time to relax and renovate yourself as well, as try to make memories with your baby while driving down the road.
Depending upon how well your baby adjusts, start increasing the length of the trip, Again it also depends to a large extent on how much time you’re able to take out from your busy schedule, right?
You Might Need the Help of Your Doctor
Yes, you heard it, RIGHT.
You might need the help of your doctor if your baby’s car trouble is not related to a car seat but something else.
What I’ll advise you is, to closely monitor your baby’s behavior outside of the car before you come to any conclusion.
Maybe she is not feeling well lately and is stressed because of an allergy or something else.
Moreover, if you’re concerned there is a deeper issue, that is, schedule an appointment with your pediatrician to ensure that everything is alright.
From my past experience, I can say that issues such as gas, reflux, allergy, and an ear or eye infection can cause your baby discomfort while she is kept in the infant car seat.
As a mother, you need to be well informed about what your child is up to in order to prevent any last-hour misadventure.
What to Do When Your Baby Cries or Screams While You’re Driving?
I hope many of the mothers reading this post would’ve faced something similar in the recent past, right?
Let’s try to find out some of the best ways to soothe your baby while you’re in a driving seat.
Does it make sense?
Take Help of Music
Frankly speaking, it’s a hit-and-trial method.
Being a mother no one else other than you can tell how well your baby responds to the music, right?
And, also play a good number of songs and see the response of your baby towards it.
Moreover, if you’re lucky enough to figure out the favorite song of your newly born baby then nothing better than it.
You can start playing it while you’re driving and your baby will relax in the rear seat listening to it.
Opening a Window Can Do the Trick For You
Make sure your baby is not feeling suffocated else it may create a havoc situation for her.
Your baby may behave in a strange way if she is feeling hot so by opening the car’s window you can help her to relax.
Again, all these things depend upon how well you know your baby and how easily you can identify what she wants and how she is feeling from her behavior and activities.
Why Not Take a Back Road
Trust me, taking a back road can definitely help your baby to get a sound sleep.
A newborn baby gets disturbed by the horns, starts, and stops of the vehicle which is generally a difficult thing to avoid while you’re driving on a busy route.
So, the best solution to avoid such problems is to take a back road.
And, you know what driving on a back road can bring you close to nature, you’ll definitely enjoy the natural beauty.
At the same time, it will also cost you some time so prepare yourself in such a way that you can afford to spend some more time.
Even though you’re busy try to figure out the ways that can help you to take the back road and not the shortcut.
Stop the Car, If Needed…
I too agree that stopping the car isn’t a permanent solution and you should avoid it in most cases.
However, at times, stopping your car can give big relief to your baby.
Before stopping the car, try all the aforementioned steps and if still, you’re not able to find the solution then please stop the car and see what best can be done.
Always keep in mind the entire world is new to your baby, and it might feel scary at times when she is exposed to new sets of people, places, or even ambiance.
Stand with her whenever she needs you the most.
What to Do When Your Toddler Hates the Car Seat?
First thing first, there is a noticeable difference between a newborn baby and a toddler, and trust me, no one better than a mother of two kids can understand it for sure.
The requirements and necessities of both toddlers and newborns differ to some extent.
For example, a newborn can’t express herself other than by the means of crying.
But, that isn’t the case with toddlers as they have the beginning foundation of speech to rely on, isn’t it?
In other words, they can express themselves in a much better way for sure.
It’s always good to do the root cause analysis to find out the source of a problem.
Being a mother it wouldn’t be difficult for you to figure out why your toddler is behaving abnormally towards the car seat.
In case, you’re not able to find out, then try the below-mentioned tips and tricks, it will help you in soothing your baby for sure.
Try Offering Refreshments
Try offering some refreshments to your toddler and see how she reacts.
If you’re able to offer her their favorite refreshment then chances are very high that she’ll calm down and enjoy the refreshment.
I’ve tried this trick on my adorable toddler quite a few times in the past and trust me, I was very successful, indeed.
Give Your Toddler Her Favorite Toy
Being a MOM it wouldn’t be difficult for you to find out the type of toys that can calm her, right?
Keep a good collection of toys handy so that whenever your toddler gets bored of one give her another.
By doing so, you can keep her engaged for a long time.
The simpler the toy the better it is.
Check the Limits on the Car Seat
I’ve seen parents often neglect to check the limit of their infant car seats.
Do let us know in the comment section when was the last time you checked your car seat weight and height limitation.
Try to understand a newborn or a toddler is in a growing phase so the car seat needs to be adjusted from time to time.
Unfortunately, a toddler can’t express herself so being a mother it’s your sole responsibility to make her comfortable and relaxed.
Contact Your Doctor
Yes, you heard it, RIGHT.
If after expediting the aforementioned steps, your baby isn’t keeping fine then it’s high time that you consult a child specialist.
There could be numerous other reasons that can make your toddler uncomfortable.
It is quite possible your toddler is uncomfortable because of ear infections, skin rashes, allergies, etc. so consulting a child specialist will do the trick for you.
Does Baby Hate Car Seat at 8 Months
To be honest, whatever you do your baby will someday enjoy the car drive, and someday she might not, and it’s perfectly fine.
The problem arises when your toddler starts hating the car seat on a day-to-day basis.
And, such an occurrence for a couple of days simply says that your baby is having some serious problem such as an eye infection, a problem with the skin or stomach, etc.
For such scenarios, when have already suggested that you should consult a child specialist.
Well, you might be wondering what unique thing happens when she becomes 8 months old that she starts throwing tantrums.
To be honest, when my baby was six months old she started gaining some freedom and independence.
So, whenever I tried to buckle her into a car seat, she started feeling confined so wanted to break free as soon as possible.
And, since it wasn’t an easy task for her to get away she started throwing tantrums and whatever she could.
The good thing is that this phase will not last long so try to the best of your capabilities to engage her while you drive.
There could be numerous ways to engage her including providing her toys, games, etc.
Does Baby Hate Car Seat at 10 Months?
See when a baby will start crawling and gaining some independence and freedom depends on many factors, and if you’re not a child specialist then it would be difficult for you to figure it out, right?
For example, what you’re expecting from your baby at 8 months can happen before that or even after that.
If your baby has started crawling or gaining independence when she is 10 months old then expedite the same process that we discussed for 8 months.
Moreover, at 10 months your baby is still in a rear-facing car seat which simply means they can see their parents driving.
But, somehow they know that you’re around them so hanging a mirror can do the trick for you and will help your baby to remain calm and quiet while you drive.
Many of the first-time MOMs wouldn’t be aware of the fact that at around 10 months most babies start developing object permanence.
What object permanence means is the development of ideas that things do exist even though your baby isn’t staring at them directly.
It’s A Wrap
First and foremost, I would like to thank you for being with us till the end.
Secondly, I would like to bring to your notice that I along with my core team have put loads and loads of effort into coming up with this idiosyncratic piece of information.
And, in case, you liked our efforts and want to appreciate us then please do share this post with like-minded people and the ones who are in need of it.
After all, sharing is caring, isn’t it?
To make a long story short, by following the steps mentioned in this post we are sure that you will be able to calm your baby.
And, if the aforementioned steps fail then please consult a child specialist to prevent any last-hour misadventure.
Moreover, if your baby or toddler hates the car ride then there could be numerous reasons for it.
So, to find the solution it is really important that you do the root cause analysis.
A temporary solution couldn’t serve the purpose in the long run.
That’s all, as of now.
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