What To Do If Your Baby Hates the Car Seat?
Welcome to the Ultimate Guide on what to do if your baby hates the car seat.
So you bought the best car seat in the market, and your baby still hates it? Don’t worry, it’s not a done deal. There are several ways to fix this problem.
Look:
Sometimes, kids cry the moment they sit in their car seats. The good news is that there’s nothing wrong with your child. You don’t even have to change the car seat altogether.
The reasons why your toddler or baby screams in the car seat are all fixable. Let me help you with that.
What To Do If Your Baby Hates the Car Seat?
6 Things to Do If Your Baby Cries in the Car Seat
Does your baby scream whenever you put him/her in the car seat? There can be many reasons for that.
The bottom line is that your baby is uncomfortable for some reason. After all, no baby comes with the set option to hate the car seat.
Here are some solutions to try:
1. Check the Straps
Perhaps the first thing you should do is check the straps on the car seat. Sometimes, a closer look may show you that the straps are too tightly pulled.
In such cases, the straps put pressure on your baby’s body. It can press on his/her tummy or chest, which may cause choking or difficulty breathing.
Move on to the next step if the straps are installed correctly and your baby still doesn’t like the car seat.
2. Increase Comfort
If you’re sure the baby is well-seated in the car seat, it’s probably a matter of comfort. This can be a result of an uncomfortable angle, poor padding, or the baby’s position.
These problems are serious and should not be taken lightly. Follow the Safe Kids Worldwide Guidelines to ensure that your baby gets the most comfortable car ride.
3. Stay Alert for Sickness
If the car seat is comfortable and large enough to accommodate your child, the problem might be slightly bigger.
For instance, your baby may suffer from motion sickness. In other words, the movement of your car upsets your baby’s stomach.
Fortunately, there are ways to mitigate this problem. For starters, you should avoid feeding your baby right before the car ride.
In addition, burp the baby before you put him/her in the car seat. This precaution ensures getting rid of any excess gas that might further upset his/her stomach.
4. Distract Your Baby
Some babies aren’t happy being alone or confined in a given position, especially in rear-facing car seats.
If your kid can’t face the world in his/her car seat, try to add some distractions. For example, you can give your baby a toy, but avoid little toys that can be choking hazards.
Perhaps your best option is your child’s favorite stuffed animal!
You can also play some familiar music. The baby may get much calmer hearing the tunes of a familiar lullaby.
Perhaps your child’s pacifier is your best option. After all, its primary function is to calm your child down in uncomfortable situations.
5. Adjust the Temperature
Remember that your child’s sense of temperature can be different from yours. Kids may feel colder or hotter faster, depending on how many layers of clothes they wear.
For this matter, check the child’s temperature.
You can tell that your baby is cold without a thermometer. As for overheating, it’s much easier to recognize with sweaty palms, necks, and backs.
6. Upgrade Your Car Seat
What if you’ve tried every trick in the book and your baby still cries in the car seat?
At this point, it can be a good idea to upgrade your car seat. Perhaps your kid feels more comfortable in a larger one or requires some extra padding.
You should invest in a more expensive model for extra room and padding. That doesn’t mean that pricier means better, but it might be true in many cases.
Conclusions on What to Do If Your Baby Hates the Car Seat?
Does your baby cry hysterically in the car seat? You’re not alone, we’ve all faced this problem for one reason or the other.
Fortunately, there are several solutions to this problem. It all comes down to comfort in some way.
For instance, your baby may cry because of tight straps, poor padding, the wrong temperature, or an uncomfortable position.
Moreover, it might be due to boredom or motion sickness. If your baby is bored, you can distract him/her with a toy or a song. In addition, there are ways to mitigate motion sickness.
Maybe you can help me out with something. Can you please share on social media what you’ve learned from this post? Thank you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my 7-month-old hate his car seat?
Most babies start to get uncomfortable in car seats when they reach 6-8 months of age.
At this age, babies begin to be more aware of their surroundings. So, they don’t tolerate being confined to car seats.
Is it ok to let my baby cry in the car?
With crying babies, driving parents can get distracted and make poor driving decisions. Thus, leaving a child crying in the car seat while driving can be very risky.
You have one of two options. You should either pull over and calm your baby or simply focus on the road. Don’t ever calm the baby while driving.
How do I stop my baby’s head from slumping in the car seat?
If you’re wondering about the safest position for your baby’s head in a car seat, it’s simple. All you need to do is make sure your baby is snuggly buckled in the car seat.
You may also make sure that your baby’s body is straight in the car seat. For more comfort, recline the car seat as much as safety allows.
By the way, it’s OK to have your baby’s head turned to one side. That won’t hurt.
Last Updated on November 5, 2023 by Brian Beasley
