Prevention

Ten Ways To Stop the Crying in the Car Seat

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Well now I’ve come to the realization that I have a 2nd child who hates riding in the car.  He cries the minute we start driving, and doesn’t calm down.

On Sunday I ventured out on my own with my baby for the first time. I wasn’t going far, and thought maybe if he couldn’t see me he wouldn’t give me that look as if to say- “how could you do this to me??? Get me out of here!”

He cried harder than he ever has in his whole life (all 8 weeks of it), and didn’t stop for the full 15 minutes I was driving- except to take a deep breath for a louder cry.

So I decided to find out what other moms of car seat hating children have done. Even though it seems like every other baby on the planet does nothing but sleep peacefully in their car seats, I was relieved to find out this is a very common issue. One community message board thread had 304 posts from moms offering tips and advice on what has worked for them.

I read through most of them and there were lots of repeated tips- dvd players, pacifiers, rolling the back windows down.  But here is the list of my favorites, and the things I plan on trying.

  • Photos of my husband’s face enlarged to 8×10 and laminated. I tape them to the backseat so that my son can look at the smiling face while he’s in his carseat. (Ha! I find this funny, but am going to do it anyway)
  • Taking short rides everyday to help him learn that he is ok and car rides are going to be a part of his life. (I prefer this one to the person who decided to stay home for a year until she could turn the seat around.)
  • Making sure baby has a full stomach before leaving home
  • Getting an adjustment at the chiropractor- maybe it’s an alignment issue
  • Using a Swaddle Me (which is car seat approved) so baby can’t claw at his face while crying, and also to cut down on the Moro reflex
  • Playing a white noise cd- I ordered For Crying Out Loud!. It had many mentions on the message board, and rave reviews on Amazon.
  • Folding a receiving blanket and wrapping it around his belly then put him in the car seat (not sure why this will work, but will try)
  • ‘Fisher Price Precious Planet Deluxe Auto Mirror with Music
  • Playing a few songs at home over and over and dancing to them with baby, then playing those same songs in the car
  • Softer car seat cover made with moisture wicking fabric

Stay tuned for which ones work! And PLEASE, if you have tips yourself, share them with me!

Products, Recommendations

Ball, Magic Ball

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My 6 week old baby is generally pretty happy, but he does have those hours at the end of the day. Those hours when he’s most likely trying o process all of the stimulation from the day and the things that usually comfort him- walking, rocking, nursing- don’t.

The only thing that calms him down is the stability ball. It’s the craziest thing actually, because he can be pretty upset and the minute I sit on that ball to bounce with him in my arms he is instantly soothed.

As I said before, I have a love/hate relationship with that ball, but if it means calming my fussy baby, I’ll do whatever it takes.

Click here to see which ball I recommend.

Prevention, Products, Recommendations

Sunscreen Safety For All

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It’s late summer and I’ve been staying indoors for the last 5 weeks, but that doesn’t change the fact that we are in the middle of a record breaking hot, hot summer.

sun block for kids

It’s time for my yearly post on sunblock. When it’s time to slather on the sunscreen, it’s best to use a mineral based formula.  These don’t penetrate the skin, and instead just reflect the sun’s rays.  Most sunblocks contain cancer causing chemicals, and when baked into the skin by the sun, they increase your risk of developing skin cancer.

There is a great database called Skin Deep where you can search the type of sunscreen you use and find out how safe (or dangerous) they are.  I recommend using it for all of your personal care products.

Also, it’s best to completely avoid the spray-on sunblock. The toxic cancer causing chemicals and hormone disruptors in the sunscreen become airborne and are then inhaled by your children and anyone else around.

Books, Reviews

What Baby Needs

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My husband and I practice Attachment Parenting– a phrase coined by Dr. William Sears. Essentially, this means we:

  • respond quickly and consistently to our baby’s cries
  • practice daytime and nighttime parenting equally
  • hold our babies often
  • wear our babies in slings or other carriers
  • breastfeed until the child is ready to wean, which is often well into toddlerhood
  • sleep in the same bed or room with our children

This is obviously not the norm, and we are used to feeling “counter-culture” and fielding lots of questions from curious friends.

Since it isn’t mainstream, most of the books on the market preparing kids for a sibling depict images that my son hasn’t experienced- a baby sleeping in a crib, drinking out of a bottle, and using a pacifier.

I was thrilled to find a book by Dr. Sears called What Baby Needs which highlights the important new role an older brother takes on, and is full of cartoons illustrating the lifestyle my son knows: breastfeeding, babywearing, and the newborn snoozing near the parents’ bed in an adjacent co-sleeper.

There are also notes for parents on what kind of information and experiences might be helpful to share with a child who has a new sibling.

If you’re expecting a new baby and are looking for a book with a fresh perspective, this one is worth adding to your collection.