Do your baby starts crying whenever you hit the road, and you want a solid solution to keep them calm? Then what to do when baby cries while driving?
The crying of a child is a certain indicator of something wrong that they may not be able to tell you by words. There are two possibilities:
“They may either hate to be confined, or rear-facing or they are not comfortable with their car seats”
However, you can investigate the cause behind their uneasiness whenever they are made to sit in the car seat.
Keep reading.
Table of Contents
Why Does My Baby Cry in the Car?
When babies have to go out of their comfort zone, they will get upset and makes you too! You can keep them calm by resolving their problem.
The parents know their child very well. When nobody can tell why they are crying, their parents know. However, sometimes, the parents also feel helpless as they are not getting what is happening to them.
It happens mostly when you are in serious trouble i.e. driving or going somewhere in an emergency, and they are not getting what to do when baby cries while driving?
Why does your baby cry in their car seats?
- Their car seat is not comfortable.
- They are not used to the noise and disturbance of the road.
- They are missing your lap.
- An empty tummy may also be the reason.
- Wet diapers cannot keep the baby calm; they will definitely remain disturbed.
- Motion sickness.
- They are sick.
- It’s their nap time
- They missing their usual screen time
- Get tired of being restrained
Note: Temperature, vomiting, and diarrhea are the common problems that babies caught while traveling due to the germs and inconvenience.
After getting the reason behind your child’s inconvenience, you can think about what to do when baby cries while driving.
Related: How Soon Can a Newborn Travel Long Distance by Car?
What to Do When Baby Cries While Driving?
If your baby is not happy in the car seat, there may be some reasons. Baby car seats are designed to provide the child with comfort and safety while on the road or on the plane.
The modern car seats are highly infant-friendly, while some of the old models may not have those comfort features. So for the parents who have either new or old car seats, we have brought some real solutions to the problem of “what to do when baby cries while driving”.
1. Is their car seat comfortable?
One of the major reasons behind babies crying in the car may be their uneasiness with their car seats. The most comfortable car seat for long trips can resolve the 90% issue of your child’s inconvenience on road drives.
To check whether their car seats are comfortable or not, you can do the following inspection:
- Check their harness straps are not tight enough to bother them. Read More to know about Newborn car seat straps correct position.
- Their car seats are dry and then check for their diaper also.
- They are wearing comfortable clothes, or you put them in the car seat with winter coats, and they are crying of bunched clothing? It is advisable for the parents to remove all the cozy winter coats before putting their children into the car seats. Because:
- It will cause sweating and breathing issues to them.
- You cannot harness them securely above multiple clothing layers.
- Is their car seat suitable for their height, weight, and age?
Note: on long-distance drives, when babies are made to sit confined, there are chances of diaper leakage. It will keep them uncomfortable.
The parents must know about the car seat ages and stages for their child. You can check the car seat weight chart to know more about the suitability of your baby’s car seat with their age and weight.
2. Do they get bored in car seats?
Parents generally ask what to do when baby cries while driving for infants and toddlers and not for children of age above 4 years are not usually cry in their car seats, and they are able to tell if something bothering them.
When they are riding rear-facing and not sleeping, they cannot see you outside. It is obvious that they will get bored, right? To keep them entertained, you can bring their favorite snacks or favorite toys with you.
3. What to do when baby cries while driving? Plan Your Journey Smartly:
You cannot drive with a crying baby on your back. When you have to travel long distances, it is advisable for the parents to plan their journey.
Plan several breaks, stays, and food times for your child. Bring all the necessary things that your baby will need on the way, including their napkins, bibs, feeder holder belt, etc.
For your interest: Can you feed a baby in a car seat
4. Bring their favorite things with you:
The trick to calm a crying baby is to offer them something new (unseen, noisy, glittery) or their favorite toys. Do you agree?
But how will you entertain them while driving? You can buy baby accessories e.g. spiral hanging toys etc., that will hang their toys and keep them busy staring at them.
5. Hold them and do a gentle massage:
Being away from their mom’s lap for more than 1-2 hours makes the babies go weird. They would try to do everything that is humanly possible for them without any understandable reason. 🤭
They will prefer to cry out in such situations to make you listen to them! You need to stop driving, hold your baby, and try to calm down them (because this is the only thing that you can do).
6. Consult your Pediatric:
If you have done all the above things regarding what to do when baby cries while driving but the problem is still there, it s time to consult a Pediatrician.
According to the expert Pediatrician, there may be the following possibilities for a child who is constantly upset in their car seats:
- Motion sickness
- Vomiting issues
- Breathing trouble
- Tummy Upset
Take the essential medication and precautions to avoid becoming these issues permanent.
Conclusion
For your baby’s safety, you have to keep them in their car seats regardless of their crankiest attempts to get out of it. However, you can make it as much comfortable as possible to put the best from your side.
After reading the whole article you must be able to guide your friends and colleagues on what to do when a baby cries while driving if they are facing the same issue.
Keep visiting our website www.topbabyseats.com to be updated on parent hacks!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why baby cries in car?
There may be either of the reasons behind baby cries in car, they are not comfortable in their car seats (snug harness straps, wet car seats, etc.), or traveling makes them upset (vomiting, stomach or breathing issues, motion sickness, etc.).
Related: How to Make Car Seats More Comfortable for Your Child?
Why does baby hates car seat?
Car seats keep them confined, they have had enough sleep, they want to play, they need their favorite food or toy, or they have some serious medical issue could be the reasons why baby hates car seat.
How to entertain baby in car?
How to entertain baby in a car is quite complicated and depended upon your baby’s likes and dislikes. You can offer them their toys, and food, put a back seat mirror for rear-facing kids to keep them busy, and snacks, and make their car seat comfortable to keep them busy while driving.
Related: Does Car Seat Go Behind Driver or Passenger?
How do I calm my baby on a road trip?
By finding out the reason for their inconvenience, you can make them calm along the way. Ask them for food, offer them their toys, check if their car seat is comfortable or not, etc.
How do I entertain my 7 month old in the car?
Entertaining a confined child is very important to avoid motion sickness attacks. For that, put a back seat mirror for a rear-facing child, play their favorite music in the car, and keep offering them their favorite and safe snack, plan brakes especially in long rides, etc.
