There are few sounds in the world that are as heartbreaking to a new mother as her baby crying — even more so, if it’s in the car when you can’t do much about it. However, 99% of the time, why your baby is crying is a mystery and it’s just a crapshoot (pun intended) of what will calm them down. But even if you already know how to instantly calm a crying baby, most of these tips work only if you can take your baby out of their carseat.
What makes your baby cry in the car?
Stay safe when trying to comfort your baby while driving
iStock
Don’t be like me as a new mother and nurse your baby in your lap while your husband drives down the freeway. That’s illegal in all 50 states and five US territories. Also, it’s unsafe.
I have also contorted my entire body to hold my rear-facing baby’s hand while trying desperately to keep my eyes on the road. This not only hurt my shoulder, it also made it difficult to safely make right turns because it was hard to check oncoming traffic.
My friend, who begged to remain anonymous, would Spiderman above her baby’s carseat, dangling her breast into her daughter’s mouth so she could nurse the baby to sleep before she drove.
You can see why most of us eventually give up and let our children cry.
