Babies and car seats. Some love them and nod off peacefully every time (even when we don’t want them to!), and some scream before we’ve even got the key in the ignition. For parents of the latter, it can be incredibly stressful. After all, we’re hardwired to respond to a crying baby, comfort them any way that we can, and help to reduce their stress levels. Babies cry to communicate, not to manipulate, so let’s look at 10 possible reasons a baby gets so distressed in their car seat.
Why does my baby hate the car?
- Too warm: Car seats are often made of fabric that isn’t breathable, so that could be making your baby uncomfortable and sticky.
- Too cold: Is there an open vent or air-conditioner close to your baby, or perhaps a draught coming through a window?
- Too sunny: Even with tinted windows, the sun could be shining onto your baby’s face.
- Separation from you: This is probably one of the biggest causes of their distress. Read about The Fourth Trimester From Your Baby’s Perspective. If your baby is older and still hates the car, separation anxiety could be playing a role.
- Physical discomfort: The position of a baby’s body in the car seat isn’t one they’d normally adopt, so any cranial or spinal misalignment from birth could be the cause.
- Travel sickness: Some infants can suffer motion sickness, particularly on windy roads.
- Reflux or wind: If a baby experiences discomfort after feeds, the angle of the car seat or the motion might make it more uncomfortable than usual.
- Illness: If the car seat crying is new, it could be a good idea to seek advice from your GP to rule out any physical causes, such as an ear infection or hip issues.
- Other discomforts: A part of their clothing or tags could be irritating them when seated, or a part of the car seat could be pressing into them. They could be hungry, or their nappy may need changing.
- Negative association: After a couple of car rides that have led to a lot of tears, your little one might become distressed each time, and you probably feel tense about the whole experience as well.
The first few times that your baby lets you know that they hate the car, it can send you into a bit of a panic. You wonder what on earth is going on! It can be challenging trying to figure out exactly why a baby gets so upset in the car, and just when you think you’ve got it worked out, they grow out of it. It’s often something that eases with maturity in their development. You’re definitely not alone, though, so chat to other parents to see what’s worked for them. We have a fantastic list of 10 tricks to help babies who hate their car seat. Good luck finding the safest solution for your family!
