Lucy and Car Challenges

This usually doesn't happen.

This has been our biggest struggle since birth!

We started with the Graco Click Connect 35 - very popular infant car seat. We took a trip to Williamsburg when she was just over a week old; this was about a 4 hour trip. She did pretty well with this, had a few crying episodes, but was mostly her sleepy newborn self.

We took her to a wedding at 3 weeks old, and she cried for about 20 minutes straight on the return trip (then took a break for 7 minutes, then cried another 8 minutes - yes, we timed it). I think we thought this was something she would have outgrown by now, but apparently it is not! She seems to be one of the 1% of babies that does not like the car.

We decided to get a convertible Britax seat to see if it helped. I think it did a little bit, especially with the addition of a rear-facing mirror. She does nap or quietly entertain herself sometimes, but on almost all trips, we are guaranteed to go through some degree of upset with her. When she gets REALLY worked up, she has been known to vom :(  - that has happened 3 times... it is horribly heart-wrenching.

How do I feel when this is happening? I used to have pretty intense anxiety, and when I can't get through to her, I put up a wall and generally feel miserable. I have had several trips where just focusing on my breathing helps a lot... I have "Om'ed" at her on a few rides. I have tried pulling over to soothe or feed her ("Hello ICC maintenance guy, no there's no car problem...I just have a baby problem" ... that experience ended in vomit!). Sometimes I try to talk to her, but I don't think it really makes a difference. Sometimes I play music. If I'm sitting with her, sometimes I can distract her by blowing raspberries on her face or playing with a toy. It is hard not to wallow in the feelings of helplessness and bitterness about car seat laws being what they are.

My brain often spins around this problem. No solutions yet. I just have to learn to be OK with it. Mindfulness.

We will get through it Lucy!