I posted just the other day about how Ryan’s personality has flipped and he’s so happy and smiley all the time. That’s true, but… his behavior in the car has also flipped. He used to love riding in the car… he’d sit back there and play and talk away to himself… if he was tired, he’d fall asleep. It was awesome.
Now? He SCREAMS. The.whole.time. No matter where we go, even just 5 minutes down the road. Screams. Even if he just woke up and just nursed and has a clean diaper.… screams. Even if I play his favorite music and sing to him. SCREAMS!
As soon as we stop the car and turn it off, he stops. He knows we’ve arrived somewhere and he gets to get out. It’s driving me crazy! Like I don’t want to take him anywhere! A 5 – 10 minute drive, okay. But the 45 minute drive to the lakehouse? UGH. Or even the 20 minutes drive across town? I turn the radio up and he just screams louder.
Ya know what else is weird? He absolutely will NOT take a pacifier anymore. He only ever really used to when he was tired… he’d take it and fall asleep. Now if you try to give it to him, he’ll cry about it and shake his head back and forth violently… making it near impossible to get it to his mouth anyway. So now what puts him to sleep? Yea, me. Told ya, boob man. But he has always been a boob monster — and he has always taken the paci.
This is all new since I came home from BlogHer. Related at all?? and WHY???? It hasn’t really been an issue (the paci thing… the car thing IS) because I’ve been off work the past week and a half. Ryan hasn’t needed a bottle. But what happens when I start my new job on Monday and Steve has to put Ryan down for naps? And he won’t take a paci anymore? I suggested Steve offer his nipple.….….….….….….….….. he didn’t like that idea. 
I could care less that Ryan doesn’t take a paci anymore, but it might affect Steve’s ability to put him to sleep – I guess we’ll find out!
Does anyone have ANY ideas??? Why he suddenly hates the car and why he suddenly refuses the pacifier? Is he worried I’m going to leave again and he doesn’t want to give me up? And in the car he can’t see me?! I have no idea! AH!
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I think you’re just getting into that phase. Diego never refused his binky but he has phases of liking and not liking the car. Right now, we are in the screaming and fighting phase of the carseat. He wrestles me when I put him in. I have to bribe him with fruit gummies (it doesnt worrk all the time) LOL!
The refusing of the paci is a phase. Kind of like a nursing strike. Phase. Phase. Phase.
They suck but its all apart of the baby life haha! Good luck :]
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if he is crawling, that could be the reason the car is no longer his friend, he wants to move. My DS2 is not a fan of the car. I switched him from the Chicco Keyfit to the Britax Boulevard at about 6 months and that helped. Try some cds that are kid friendly, play them in the house and dance him around, etc, and then take them into the car, that has worked for me.
As far as the pacifier, don’t force it on him, take it away, and tell him thanks, that is one battle you will not have to fight later!
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My son has ALWAYS AND STILL hates the car. I am jealous of everyone who’s child behaves in the car, and if you pass a blue Honda, by the side of the road, with a tired looking mom in the backseat comforting a crying child…that’s me.
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My little boy didn’t do well in the car mug at all but especially between like 9 months till a year. Itgot so bad sometimes we turned him forward a few weeks early. It solved the problem immediaty.
Since ty was born we had always had one of us sit the back with him. Wanted an eye on him at all times. Probaly one of the main reasons he’s so spoiled now, but you have to do what you feel is best.
He us probably at the point where he wants to learn and be involved ewith you and in a rear facing car seat feels left out. At Least that’s what we guessed with ty.
But sometimes, especially with those blood
curdling, horror movie screams , it was a burp.
Always try burp first!
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My daughter is very similar. When she was younger she never complained about being in the car, even on a four hour road trip (she never cried once!). Lately, she has started to cry in the car seat, but not every time. I have found that a car seat toy can really take her mind off of being in the car, and she plays with it a lot like she plays with the toys mounted on her bouncer chair.
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Is Ryan still in his infant car seat? My daughter got to a stage where she hated lying down. As soon as we put her in a convertible rear facing car seat where she sat up more we were good!
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babydickey Reply:
August 20th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
That’s a good idea.. yea he is still in his infant seat – I still like to carry it around sometimes when we go places! Although I suppose it is getting a bit heavy lol. Maybe we’ll try that!
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