Advice on driving with screaming baby update post 63

[RadioNate]

If reflux is an issue, sitting him more upright than the infant seat will help.

I suggested the Britax but I totally understand how pricey they are. We have a Graco Comfort Sport for travel which is ok.

Both Graco and Evenflo have some newer seats that go to 65lbs front facing that she might want to look into. With a bigger baby, he might need that extra weight limit.

My kids really weren't ready for a booster with just the seat belt until they were 4 or so.

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

If reflux is an issue, sitting him more upright than the infant seat will help.

You, and a couple other posters, were right, sitting the carseat up a bit helped tremendously. Thank you!

You said she carries him around alot too. She might want to start backing off on that and letting him be a little more...independent...do a little exploring on his own.

She actually encourages him to crawl/cruise a lot. He is actually one very active (and very fast!) baby. He just likes to be held a lot too.

My husband had a 2004 Ford Focus when both of our kids were smaller and we bought a mirror that clipped onto the top teather strap in the back so the rearfacing baby could see itself.

She will definitely be getting a mirror. Thanks for confirming it will fit in her car!

I saved the infant seat and before my son was born I took off the cover to wash it and noticed it was really thin padding right on top of the hard, plastic shell. The Britax seats, however, had a lot of padding as well as areas of styrofoam, so I think it was just overall more comfortable than the Graco infant carrier.

I checked his infant seat today and you are absolutely right there is no padding! It’s practically just the plastic seat with a sheet over it! Crazy!

Thank you for sharing your story. I think the car seat may definitely be part of the problem!

We bought a mirror at Babies R Us that attaches to the headrest. It's pretty big and DD was able to clearly see me with it. When I talked to her, she would look in the mirror, see my reflection in my rearview mirror and smile.

Thank you for the mirror recommendation! I think a mirror will really help.

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

Hi!
First, thank you everyone for sharing your stories. They helped my friend a great deal. She's starting to realize she's not alone. I know the stories also helped some other people on the dis as well. So thank you so much!

Thank you also for all of your wonderful suggestions and ideas! Because of all of you, she may be able to keep her sanity

So today I saw my friend and her son. He rode in his infant seat for the last time. She has a new car seat for him now. (I don’t have any idea what brand it is) Today, he rode in the car for a total of an hour. On the way down, I was in the backseat with him. We adjusted his seat so that it was at a higher incline than before so he was sitting up. For the first time, he didn’t fuss or cry! On the way back, she had to drive by herself. Apparently, he cried but, he didn’t scream! He even fell asleep about half way home! She also said that this weekend, she had him facing forward when she took a quick trip down to a 7-11 store “near” her house and he did fantastically: no crying, fussing or screaming.

So, the problems seem to be that he needs to sit up and he needs to be able to see his mommy. We’re going to try and find one of those mirrors many people mentioned. They were, unfortunately, all out at the many stores we tried today.

Thank you so much for all of your responses. Without all of you, we might never have figured anything out!

 

[2binak]

So glad some of the recommendations are working! As for the forward facing, in our state, the law is that a baby has to be 1 yr old and 22lbs before they can be forward facing. Please make sure your friend knows what the law is in her state before she turns her son around because once you face a child forward, it will be near impossible to turn them back around and have them be content.

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

So glad some of the recommendations are working! As for the forward facing, in our state, the law is that a baby has to be 1 yr old and 22lbs before they can be forward facing. Please make sure your friend knows what the law is in her state before she turns her son around because once you face a child forward, it will be near impossible to turn them back around and have them be content.

Thank you for the reminder, but yes, she does know the law and I explained the “why” behind it. She said she did it mainly out of desperation and that it was a one time thing, which is why we’re going to try and find a mirror that works for her son.

It is encouraging to know, though, that once he gets turned around permanently he might actually enjoy the ride!

 

[agnes!]

Try going to an auto-supplies store or maybe a Wal-Mart/Target. They might have some clip-on style "fish-eye" mirrors that you could rig up to work for the baby to be able to see his mom. The fish-eye mirrors enable to driver to see the entire back seat so I think you could somehow rig it up for the baby to be able to see the driver or folks in the front-seat.

agnes!

 

[RadioNate]

Thank you for the reminder, but yes, she does know the law and I explained the “why” behind it. She said she did it mainly out of desperation and that it was a one time thing, which is why we’re going to try and find a mirror that works for her son.

It is encouraging to know, though, that once he gets turned around permanently he might actually enjoy the ride!

For reference here is the California law card
http://www.chp.ca.gov/community/pdf/4_steps_for_kids.pdf

She faced him forward in the infant seat? There is no way to install a seat like that properly front facing at all.

She only has 2 months to go and in a proper rear facing convertible seat, he should do well enough to not make her totally crazy.

I am quite concerned that she doesn't have the seat installed properly. She seems rather naive about car seats in general. I'd urge you to find a certified CPS tech to teach her about car safety and how to properly install the car seat.

This organization may help you find an event but Babies R Us and lots of police/fire departments have them.

 

[MegaDisney]

The OP stated her friend bought a new seat for the baby- I'm assuming it's a convertible seat. These seats can be used either forward or rear-facing (Britax Marathon is an example). I don't think the friend has the baby riding forward-facing in an infant bucket.

 

[RadioNate]

The OP stated her friend bought a new seat for the baby- I'm assuming it's a convertible seat. These seats can be used either forward or rear-facing (Britax Marathon is an example). I don't think the friend has the baby riding forward-facing in an infant bucket.

yeah...I could have misread...

I read it as the OP saw him today and then the child rode in the infant seat for the last time.

I was under the impression that the friend picked up the OP and they got a convertible seat today....but like I said, I've been know to read things incorrectly.

I think the OP knows that we are all genuinely trying to help.

I've seen people try to front face infant seats a bunch of times so that sort of jumps into my mind and freaks me out!

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

For reference here is the California law card
http://www.chp.ca.gov/community/pdf/4_steps_for_kids.pdf

She faced him forward in the infant seat? There is no way to install a seat like that properly front facing at all.

The OP stated her friend bought a new seat for the baby- I'm assuming it's a convertible seat. These seats can be used either forward or rear-facing (Britax Marathon is an example). I don't think the friend has the baby riding forward-facing in an infant bucket.

Yes, she did/does have a different, convertible seat (apparently, she got it at her baby shower but thought it was for older babies?)

When she first said that she faced the carseat forward, I too freaked and started telling her the risks of doing so and that the seats weren’t made for it. She then showed me the seat. My face turned bright red. That’s what I get for being a know-it-all.

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

Wow I’ve been gone for awhile! My internet was out for the longest time, then my computer broke. Ah the joys of technology!

Update: The baby is 1 yr old, forward facing, and loves riding in the car…sometimes.
He still cries, but doesn’t scream bloody murder. He is also easily consoled if someone is next to him in the back. So she is able to drive with him now.

However, an interesting point I discovered. If my friend is not there (ie her husband or parents take him anywhere without her) he is fine. He doesn’t cry and seems to be having fun.

But, he is doing much better!

 

[dzorn]

Wow I’ve been gone for awhile! My internet was out for the longest time, then my computer broke. Ah the joys of technology!

Update: The baby is 1 yr old, forward facing, and loves riding in the car…sometimes.
He still cries, but doesn’t scream bloody murder. He is also easily consoled if someone is next to him in the back. So she is able to drive with him now.

However, an interesting point I discovered. If my friend is not there (ie her husband or parents take him anywhere without her) he is fine. He doesn’t cry and seems to be having fun.

But, he is doing much better!

Maybe his just doesn't like her driving style.

Denise in MI

 

[minkydog]

Maybe his just doesn't like her driving style.

Denise in MI

Or maybe he gets a better rise out of mom than everyone else.

 

[sparklynails23]

Ahh, he loves his mommy. He probably just wants to see her face and touch her, but tell her it won't always be this way. Those clingy babies grow up so quickly and barely even notice if mommy's around. She'll live through this.