My five-week old simply hates the car seat (just like my three-year old did). I have just purchased two different travel swaddles - one from Target and another from an online company. While I wait for them to arrive, does anyone have any other thoughts on what I can do to change this situation???
Thanks for the swaddling (vs. not swaddling) in the car seat advice. I received the Kiddomatus swaddle and so far, it seems to be doing the trick. I had him out for about three hours in it yesterday and he slept the entire time!!! I only wish I would have thought of this three years ago with my first! My new concern is continuing to find a swaddle big enough to fit him! Thanks again.
I don't know if this is what you're asking or not. I swaddle my little boy in his car seat with a blanket. I just take the blanket I use to swaddle him normally, and lay it in his car seat. I set him in on top of the blanket, then buckle him, and then I swaddle him by wrapping the edges of the blanket around him and tucking them under. That way he's buckled properly, and also comfortably swaddled at the same time. It keeps him calm.
Hi, S. -
I'm also a child safety seat technician and agree with Liz. NHTSA (National Highway Transportation Safety Administration - governing body car seat safety regulations) strongly discourages the use of any "add-ons" to a child safety seat. Anything that adds bulk between the baby and the seat and/or safety harness compromises the child's safety, as you cannot properly tighten the harness. Even things that require you to thread the harness through them to stay attached are discouraged. You can certainly surround the baby with lots of blankets over the top of the harness. If you haven't already, I would try to locate a safety seat technician in your area to assist you - the service is free and invaluable!!
Good luck with those beautiful babies!!!
After buckling my babies in their seats properly, I would put a blanket over them and tuck it all around them.
You aren't supposed to swaddle in a car seat or put anything bulky on them it lessens your car seats ability to work properly. Having said that I have been in your shoes, my oldest was the same way, believe it or not what worked for him was the 'Doors' tape playing really loud, and on those occasions where I forgot it, I would have to sing, and I am no singer let me tell you :). Child #5 was also like that and I can say I didn't go anywhere with him unless I had an older kid with me who could rock his chair and talk to him, I know that none of this gives you a solution, but I feel your pain/frustration. Hopefully you can find a "cure"!
Our son was the same way. I think around eight weeks he gave up screaming since we never gave in. We did tuck blankets around him to help. Soon he'll figure out that his brother will entertain him anyway.
S.,
I am a certified child safety seat installation technician. Safe Kids and NTHSA take a dim view of adding "anything" to the factory provided accessories on a child safety seat. They teach us that those things may possibly cause an injury that would otherwise not of happened. Ultimately though, it's the parents call.
They suggest only rolling up one receiving blanket and wrapping it over the head area to try and snug the baby in a little bit.
I live in the Weiser area and work in Ontario, if you are nearby and would like me to look at your seat and see if there's any installation adjustments that might be beneficial.
I do this strictly as a public service and can set up something with you, if you email me back.
Hope this helps in some way.
L.
Hi S., Neither of my children liked being strapped in their carseats, either. I was, and still am, very selective about where I chose to drive. Drives over 15 minutes were very, very rare, unless I had another adult in the car to help with entertainment, snacks, etc. In situations where I had my husband to drive, I would sometime be in the backseat with my body draped over my little one's car seat, so she could nurse and be soothed.
I trust you will find your way through this phase. ~T.
Put the blanket in the car seat first, then try to swaddle her arms around the straps, just tucking the blanket in tight on each side. I'm not sure what brand of swaddlers you bought, but the Kiddopotumus ones have a notch cut out for the car seat straps to buckle.
Kiddopotamus Swaddle Me Traveler
http://www.kiddopotamus.com/p_swdltrvl.php
It has two "legs" rather than the sack style and is meant to work with car seat harnesses. Baby gets harnessed in and the "wings" then fold over, swaddling baby while harnessed.
Try Sleepy Wings swaddling jacket. Baby is half swaddled and you can easily put him in a car seat. They sell them on novababywear.com, but you can also find it on Amazon.
