Help!! Four month old daughter has suddenly developed a dislike for the car seat!!!

My daughter is almost four months old and is still in the rear facing position in the car seat. Just this week she has decided she no longer likes being in the car and screams from the moment she is in the car seat to the moment she is pulled out.

By this time she has worked herself into such a state that she is sweating and very hot and it can take up to half an hour afterwards to calm her and stop her crying. This is making both mum and bub very very upset!!

She is only approx 7kg in weight so is still too small to be turned to the forward facing position. Does anyone have any suggestions for how I can make the car seat pleasant for her again? I'm afraid I'll be house bound until she gets bigger!

I know what you mean, - I was hanging out for mine to hit the 8 kilo mark!
You should be able to buy a mirror which you can mount on the carseat which reflects your image from the rear view mirror (does that make sense?) so that she can see you. I haven't seen one for a while but when my DD was a baby you could buy one with Elmo on it.
I always fill my baby's lap with toys as well as have them hanging from the handle above, - that way it takes a while for him to drop them all!!
Hope this helps, - don't be house-bound!!!

PS So funny how carseat has the word arse in it and it gets bleeped out by Huggies! Must be 2 words, - car seat!

I find my four month old is happier in the car seat if she is fed before we go out.

Check simple things - not hungry, or tired, clean nappy, straps not too tight or cutting into neck - use the clothes she has on as padding between neck and straps as Had to remove soft covers from straps as couldn't get hands in the mouth and got frustrated. (too bulky)

Window covered so sun not in face? - target have window covers for different vehicles

One of us sometimes sits in the back to keep her company, or my eldest daughter plays with her - sometimes helps.

Also use toys hanging from bar which she can get into her mouth to play with.

I hear you loud and clear my ds has been doing the same thing for about 2 weeks now and he is also only 7kgs. When we put him in it he arches his back while you are trying to clip the straps up, it makes it so hard and distresses everyone in the car. I do fill his lap with toys but sometimes it doesn't make any difference. I haven't seen those mirrors anywhere but i'll be looking out for them now and anything else they may work. Sorry that i haven't any suggestions for you but atleast you know you are not alone.

I thought i'd just add that i was on the site i mentioned and they also have a mirror so you can see baby by looking in the rearvision mirror while driving, bother for rear facing and front facing car seats, but it is plain so it wouldn't occupy baby just be for your peace of mind.
[Edited on 26/05/2007]
Sorry just realised i put the site on a different post, anyway it is www.babyshop.com.au
[Edited on 27/05/2007]

With DS 1 we went through this and turned his car seat around - he was probably about 1kg under the recommended age, we used one of those neck things (to help keep his stable). And we never looked back - he stopped crying etc.

Thanks so much to everyone for the suggestions. I have tried hanging some toys from the window and have given her a rattle that she can hold in her hands while I'm driving.

Had the first outing since doing this yesterday afternoon and it worked on the way out but on the way back she started complaining again half way home!! I think its probably a combination of not liking the seat along with being tired so I guess will just have to put up with it for a couple more weeks until she's big enough to turn the seat around!!

Sometimes the straps can be a little too tight for them as well, so maybe try loosening a little? We turned our girl around before the correct weight and she loves being able to see where we're going now!!

Hi Paige's mum

my son did exactly the same as your daughter. I turned his car seat around at 4 months old and he was only about 6.5-7kg(turns out it was more reclined facing forward than it was facing backward!). Long story short, he loved it as he could see me and see the scenery. You can purchase a head support which will stop Paige's head rolling side to side for about $30-$40. Goldbug is the brand and any good baby store will sell them. My son is now almost 8 months and doesn't use the head support in my car anymore but still uses one in his dad's car cause the seat is bigger.

As long as Paige's belt is correct and tight enough I can't see why you would have any problems turning her seat around. Give it a try for a day and see what happens. Worst case scenario you can always turn it back around.