Screaming in car
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=33360
Printed Date: 27 August 2025 at 5:45pm
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Topic: Screaming in car
Posted By: T_Rex
Subject: Screaming in car
Date Posted: 12 May 2010 at 11:08am
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We live 35 mins from town, longer in annoying traffic. DD can tolerate about 15 minutes driving maximum. She used to nod off after that but now she starts screaming.
The other day by the time I got home she was hysterical, with big shuddering sobs and it took 10 minutes to settle her down enough to feed her. She is rearfacing behind the passenger seat. I sometimes have success sitting beside her and playing with several different toys with her (I went through 3 toys on the way home yesterday), but often even I can't keep her happy, and no-one else has a chance. Any bright ideas? Mostly it's just her and I so I can't interact much anyway. But it's getting to the point where I don't want to go out, and I don't think that will do much for my mental health 
I wish she'd just sleep!! ETA. I've also tried stopping, taking her out for a cuddle etc, but as soon as she's back in the car she gets upset again. And there are big stretches of road where stoppong isn't safe. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Replies:
Posted By: MrsEmma
Date Posted: 12 May 2010 at 11:25am
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DS sometimes does the same thing and the only way I can get him to calm down is by singing to him (when I'm in the car with him by myself, otherwise I hop in the back and DH drives and he's fine).
The only song he will completely calm down for is Heads, Shoulders Knees & Toes which I sing to him all the time at home and do the actions.. I've tried putting on the CD of the song but that doesn't work so so I sing it to him repetitively and he calms right down. Maybe singing might be worth a shot or a kids CD or any kind of music ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Lulu
Date Posted: 12 May 2010 at 12:29pm
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Could it possibly be a pain/discomfort cry? Perhaps consulting with an osteopath that specialises in babies would be worth a go. ------------- Lou http://www.babysfirstsite.com"> 
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 12 May 2010 at 12:30pm
| Or car sickness? |
Posted By: notenufchaos
Date Posted: 12 May 2010 at 1:51pm
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oh i will be watching this thread - i had the same problem with DD1 and it didnt stop until we put her forward facing at 1 year - i think mostly it was car sickness. my DD2 has now started this although with DD1 it was from birth so not sure if it is sickness with DD2 - i might try the osteopath thjough ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  DD 1-25/05/2008 DD 2-2/2/2010 |
Posted By: JoJames
Date Posted: 12 May 2010 at 2:12pm
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Check that the straps aren't too tight and also some car seats are really quite hard on their backs and bums so putting a towel or something to make it softer might help. . also we bought a mirror for DS to look at which helped quite a bit. But unfortunately sometimes we just turned up the radio and drove as fast as we could. ------------- http://www.alterna-tickers.com"> 
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Posted By: Mamma2N
Date Posted: 12 May 2010 at 2:45pm
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I second singing to baby - DD has been ok with her carseat but at times she becomes quite unsettled I resort to singing. Don't know how it manages to settle her cause my singing would surely make anyone else scream!
And sorry JoJames, just have to point out - please do not put anything in a carseat to help 'cushion' the seat. Carseats are safety tested as they are, so you should only use what comes with the carseat and is approved by the manufacturer. And yes, do check the straps, many a time DH has put DD in and pulled the strap far too tight You should be able to get one finger between the straps and baby.
Hope you find something that works for you! Nothing worse than a screaming baby while you're driving. |
Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 12 May 2010 at 2:57pm
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I always try singing - sometimes works but not reliably. Carseat is fine, I'm pretty sure.
I've wondered about carsickness too, but how do you tell? And what could I do about it? ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: FayeG
Date Posted: 12 May 2010 at 3:26pm
| My DS screams as well. Not every time, but a lot. Singing is the best bet for me, but sometimes even that doesnt work..... I just try and time feed then go in the car... |
Posted By: Samandtia
Date Posted: 12 May 2010 at 4:39pm
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No help here sorry...we just have the same prob at the moment. Although my babe is a bit older than yours (she's 8 months) she has just started getting really grizzly and unsettled in her car seat which is still rear facing... I just sing to her, most of the time she quietens down and starts talking to herself others she just tries to whinge louder than me! but just wanted to share, last weekend she got sooooo upset that she threw up all over herself and couldn't stop crying. To make it worse I was stuck on the motorway and the next exit was a few K's away! Once I got to her it took me almost 10 minutes of me standing in the rain (bent into the car so she wouldn't get wet) to settle her and she was absolutely covered in spew! I was that panicked I didn't know whether to cuddle her first or clean her up!? |
Posted By: weegee
Date Posted: 12 May 2010 at 7:31pm
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Could it be something to do with the recline of the seat? Is she getting more head control/trying to see a bit more maybe? If it's that then you might be able to put her seat up a bit more upright which might help.
Otherwise, do you have a big mirror to attach to the seat she's looking towards? Could provide a bit more in the way of interest/stimulation and help you to be able to check on her/interact with her? Baby on the Move and Little Funky Monkey have some, so do Kiwibaby. ------------- 
Mum to JJ, 4 July 2008 & Addie, 28 July 2010 |
Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 12 May 2010 at 7:37pm
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Singing is the only think that worked for us too. Fortunatly
Aiden is fine, but we have not driven anywhere longer than 10mins yet! |
Posted By: mummymonster
Date Posted: 12 May 2010 at 7:38pm
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I don't know if it was the car seat, or if DS just got older.
He used to complain a lot more about being in his car seat when it was a capsule. Now he's in a big car seat - still rear-facing but much higher & generally bigger - he doesn't mind it as much (usually). And yep, singing here too. Old McDonald is a fav. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Richie
Date Posted: 12 May 2010 at 10:24pm
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9 times out of 10, Isla is fine and will go to sleep but I think she has been getting a bit squished up in her capsule lately and screams her head off. I have resorted to singing as well and it works a treat. Well I don't 'sing' as such. I just go "la la la' to the tune of Mary had a little lamb lol. She is used to that cause when she was first born I had laryngitis and lost my voice completely for 3wks so all I could manage was 'la la la' noises hahaha. Just bought her new car seat today tho so hopefully she will be more comfy in it and go back to sleeping while we are driving. -------------  
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Posted By: LG
Date Posted: 13 May 2010 at 2:45pm
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We had the exact same problem with kaelin (we also live 35 mins from town so made doing anything really hard), heres everything we tried - I used to make sure she always had a good stretch out once we were in town (in a cafe or anywhere i could find) because i thought it could be wind, i took her back to the osteopath (just in case something was out), sang songs and turned her forward facing. Turning her forward facing was the thing that stopped it for good unfortunately.
Good luck finding something that works for you, i know how stressful and horrible it makes going anywhere -------------  Angel Baby Aug '12, Feb '13 |
Posted By: Blankney94
Date Posted: 14 May 2010 at 5:21pm
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Brooke did this to a degree - not a hysterical cry, but more a cranky cry that got louder and louder. This started around 10 months. Before this she used to mostly sleep in the car. Brooke is 15 months now, has calmed down a lot when in the car. We haven't tried any long journeys lately. When I'm by myself with her, and she does get cranky, I sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star which has been 'our song' since she was born. She calms right down immediately. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: LouD
Date Posted: 14 May 2010 at 7:45pm
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T-rex, do you have a tether strap in the middle seat? there might be less body roll in car if the seat is positioned in the middle of the car?? just a thought to avoid carsickness if thats what it is.
I want to do rear facing for as long as i can so i really hope carsickness doesnt start up here......so far so good |
Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 14 May 2010 at 11:07pm
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rescue remedy perhaps? ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: GingerBaby
Date Posted: 21 May 2010 at 1:56pm
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Oh I feel your pain, our little one has hated the car seat literally from day one and it makes going out awful! You find yourself putting your foot down harder on the gas, and not concentrating as much...
She's a lot better now and it's just been trial and error, though we still aren't perfect. Definitely try a mirror, and sing her favourite song. Other things we tried are.... * put something interesting on the seat back that she is looking at (mirror handy here) - preferably something that moves and or lights up like a fisher price aquarium - I googled for Africa on magic tricks to make things better and some people swear by portable dvd players! * turn the air con up real high - it gets cold but it acts as white noise and is surprisingly loud. Or turn the radio to between stations to get static. * put kids music on the stereo (Polkadots are cool, or Baby Einstein!), or start trying out different genres on the radio. Classical FM, Talkback, a friend of mine reckons her baby only relaxed for hip hop! * put a muslin or light blanket over the capsule like you may do in her pram. I think that's my memory run out but will come back if I remember anything. Know that you're not alone, it's a horrible thing to go through and people who say "Oh but I thought babies loved the car!" do not help! Don't give up though, staying home will only add to the insanity cos you'll feel trapped. -------------  |
Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 21 May 2010 at 3:58pm
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Thanks ladies. Lou the seat won't install in the middle so thats a no go. I'll try sitting it up more next time DH is around to help with the install. I have a small mirror but might try a big one. I had success with a helium filled balloon the other day until my mum opened the car door and it escaped! But keeping her occupied seems to help, so learning that is progress I guess. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 21 May 2010 at 4:45pm
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Liam hated it but got used to it..he kinda had no choice:) but he still will if tired, or hungry or has wind but other wise he is good..esp since we got a more relining carseat.. ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |