If your baby cries the second you buckle them into the car seat, you’re definitely not alone.
Some babies seem perfectly content riding in the car from day one. Others arch, stiffen, scream, turn their head to one side, or become upset almost as soon as they’re placed in their seat.
While some babies don’t like being restrained or separated from you, there are also times when the position of the car seat may be uncomfortable for them.
So how can you tell the difference?
First: Some Babies Just Don’t Love the Car Seat
Before we assume something is wrong, remember that a car seat asks your baby to do something very different from being held. They are buckled into one position where they can’t freely move their arms and legs, and they may not be able to see or interact with you the way that they want to.
This can be especially for babies who are tired, hungry, going through a developmental leap, or simply prefer being held, but if your baby seems consistently uncomfortable rather than simply unhappy about being buckled in, it may be worth a closer look.
Signs Your Baby May Be Uncomfortable in the Car Seat
Pay attention to what your baby’s body is doing- not just whether they’re crying. You may notice:
Arching or extending backward when placed in the seat
Consistently turning or tilting their head toward one side
Difficulty comfortably turning their head both directions
Stiffening their body or legs
Seeming especially uncomfortable in the curled or reclined position
Becoming upset when their hips or legs are brought into a flexed position
Flattening or asymmetry of the head along with a strong head-turning preference
Similar discomfort during diaper changes, dressing, tummy time, feeding, or other positions
These patterns don’t necessarily mean anything is “wrong”, but they can give us clues that certain positions or movements may be more difficulty or uncomfortable for your baby.
Why Might Positioning Be Uncomfortable?
Babies go through quite a bit before we ever buckle them into a car seat for the first time.
Their position during pregnancy, the birth process, feeding preferences, early movement patterns, and simply spending lots of time in certain positions can all influence how freely and comfortable they move. For example, a baby who strongly prefers looking to the right may not love being placed in a seat that keeps their head and body relatively centered. A baby who tends to arch may struggle with the more flexed position of a car seat. Sometimes the car seat is simply where parents notice these patterns first.
This doesn’t mean that the car seat caused the “problem”. It may just make an existing preference or area of discomfort more noticeable.
When Should You Consider Having Your Baby Evaluated?
If your baby occasionally fusses in the car seat, but settles once the car starts moving, feeds comfortable, moves their head and body easily in both directions, and seems content in most other positions, there may not be much to investigate, but consider having your baby evaluated if you notice that car-seat distress occurs along with other patterns, such as:
A strong preference to look in one direction
Difficulty turning the head equally both ways
Persistent arching or stiffness
Difficulty with tummy time
Feeding or latch challenges
Head shape changes or flattening
Difficulty settling into multiple positions
Obvious discomfort when moving a particular area of the body
A consistent feeling that your baby seems uncomfortable rather than simply frustrated
The bigger picture matters much more than one symptom by itself.
How Can Pediatric Chiropractic or Craniosacral Therapy/Bodywork Help?
At Cleveland Chiropractic and Integrative Health Center, we look at how your baby is moving as a while. That may include assessing head and neck movement, the spine, pelvis, and hips, cranial movement, muscle tension, positioning preferences, and how comfortably your baby moves through different positions.
Pediatric chiropractic care also looks very different from what many adults picture when they hear the word “chiropractic”. Techniques used with babies are modified for their age and size and are designed to be gentle.
Depending on what we find, care may include gentle chiropractic adjustments, craniosacral therapy and/or Dynamic Body Balancing to help address areas of tension and improve comfortable movement.
Our goal isn’t to make a baby “like” the car seat. Our goal is to determine whether there is a physical reason a particular position seems uncomfortable and when appropriate, help your baby move more comfortably.
Don’t Forget to Check the Car Seat Itself
Before assuming your baby’s discomfort is coming from their body, check the basics, too! Make sure your baby’s car seat is appropriate for their height and weight, the harness and headrest are positioned correctly, and any infant inserts are being used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Avoid using aftermarket inserts, cushions, or positioning products that didn’t come with the seat or aren’t approved by the manufacturer.
If you are unsure about your baby’s fit or installation, a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) can be an excellent resource.
When to Talk to Your Pediatrician
Crying in the car seat alone usually isn’t an emergency. However, your pediatrician should be involved if your baby appears to be in pain, has significant or worsening feeding difficulties, isn’t gaining weight appropriately, has breathing or color changes, has persistent vomiting, develops new weakness or decreased movement, or you have concerns about your baby’s overall health or development.
As always, if something about your baby’s behavior feels significantly different from their normal, it is appropriate to have them evaluated.
The Bottom Line
Some babies really do just hate the car seat, but if your baby seems uncomfortable in the car seat and you’re noticing other movement, positioning, feeding, or tension patterns, it may be worth having someone take a closer look.
Sometimes the car seat isn’t the problem at all. It is simply the place where your baby’s body is showing you that a particular position is difficult.
At Cleveland Chiropractic and Integrative Health Center, we work with babies and families to identify these patterns and help parents better understand what they’re seeing.
If you’re wondering whether your baby’s car seat struggles could be related to tension or movement restrictions, we’d be happy to evaluate them and help you determine what - if anything - needs to be addressed.