Tips for Babies Who Hate Their Car Seats

I received product for review purposes only. All opinions are my own. May contain affiliate links.

For some babies, a trip in the car can be a relaxing experience and can help soothe them. For others, being in the car can lead to screaming and crying in the backseat. This isn’t good for baby or the person driving. It can be very stressful; I know first hand how tense and anxious a crying baby can make you when you are driving. I have a few tips for babies who hate their car seats. Some of these worked great for my baby and I hope they do for yours as well.

Dress Lightly

Being in a car seat can be like sitting in a sauna. Make sure to dress your baby in light clothing so they don’t get too hot, especially in the summer time. Some babies don’t like when their clothes are too restrictive or if they are bunched up. This can irritate them and make them very uncomfortable.

Make Sure the Straps Aren’t Too Tight

You don’t want to make the mistake of having the straps of your car seat too tight or too loose. You want to be able to fit 2 fingers underneath the straps but you shouldn’t be able to “pinch” the straps together, then it is too loose. The straps may still irritate your baby so you might want to try some car seat strap covers to help give more cushion. I really like them and they seemed to help my daughter be more comfortable.

White Noise

Most babies like a lot of white noise; it seems to help calm them. You can turn some calming music up loud, they need to be able to hear it over the crying. You can find a radio station that is just static or crack the windows so you can get a whooshing sound to help soothe your baby.

Car Seat Snuzzler

Sometimes the fabric of the car seat may irritate your baby’s skin. You can get a car seat snuzzler to help with this. Get a light cotton one for the summer and a soft plush one for the winter months. They are a lot easier to clean and throw in the wash than the actual car seat fabric.

Sun Shade

You wear sunglasses so your baby should have some eye protection, too. The glare from the sun can really upset a baby. I like using sun shades in my car to help keep out the glare. They come in all kinds of different types. There are some that roll down, some that have suction cups, and some that cling to your window.

Take the Highways

I don’t know what it is about when a car stops, that is when the baby starts crying. It seems that they hate red lights more than we do. I try to take the route that has the least amount of traffic lights and I always take the highway if it is possible. We get there quicker and she doesn’t scream every time we have to stop.

Keep Them Busy

Sometimes babies just get bored and they need something to do. I love the car seat toys. There are so many to choose from but I like the ones that you can hang from the car seat shade or handle so you don’t have to worry about them dropping it. It seems that the more lights and sounds, the better. Also, if your baby takes a pacifier, I love the WubbaNub. It is like a little toy to keep them busy and if the pacifier comes out of their mouth, they can easily find it to put back in.

Make Sure their Car Seat is Safe & Comfortable

The most important thing about a car seat is safety; that is why we are buying it in the first place. I also want it to be comfortable so my baby actually enjoys riding in it. I was sent the Diono Rainier Convertible + Booster Car Seat. It is NCAP crash tested and has a full steel frame and aluminum reinforced sides for unmatched safety. Installation was a breeze and it fits perfectly in my car.

It has memory foam which makes the ride so much more comfortable for my daughter. It comes with strap cushions and infant body support cushions for added comfort. I got it in a very pretty purple color but it comes in six different prints to fit your style. I love how much easier it is to get my daughter in and out of the Diono Rainier than the other car seat I had. It makes it a lot less frustrating for both of us.

It has multiple harness and buckle positions for a custom fit and makes the ride a whole lot more enjoyable. If you travel a lot with your baby, this is a great car seat to have. It folds up flat and is FAA certified. It even comes with a strap so that you can easily carry it on your shoulder! I love this car seat and I love how it will grow with my child from infancy up until she is 120 lbs! It is well worth the money in my opinion. I think it is a very comfortable car seat and my daughter seems more at ease in the car now.

If you are a parent with a baby who hates their car seat, I hope that some of these tips will help you. If you have any other tips that I didn’t mention, please feel free to leave them in the comments below so you can help other struggling parents. I highly recommend getting a baby mirror for your rear facing car seat. Even though my baby was screaming in the back seat, I was able to relax because I could see her and I knew that nothing was really hurting her and there wasn’t a crisis. It helped put my mind at ease.