What to do about sensory motor stimulation when your baby doesn’t like the pram?
It’s common for babies to dial up in the pram.
They can’t see out from a pram terribly well, especially when they are little and flat on their backs. They are also away from the comfort and rich sensory nourishment of your body. Babies are usually much happier being out on wheels when they are older, and able to sit up and see out. That is, they are usually happier when they're old enough for a stroller.
You’ll see lots of parents out walking with a baby carrier at the ready, as they push the pram. They lie the baby on her back in the pram for as long as she will tolerate it, then if she dials up (and after they’ve tried a little feed perhaps) they bring her back to the carrier. Then they gamely try the pram in a while, again.
This way, your baby won't develop a conditioned dialling up with the pram. Instead, she gradually learns that the pram too, can be an enjoyable place.
Placing cloth or muslin covers over the pram prevent your baby seeing the world, and from feeling the change of air temperature or touch of the breeze on his skin. This decreased sensory stimulation makes it more likely that your baby will cry. The other reason to not use a cover when you’re out walking with your baby in a pram or stroller is that the temperature in the pram or stroller can rise dramatically once it is covered.
Some babies never take to a pram. This may particularly be the case for those sensitive ones whose sympathetic nervous system tends to be set on high in the first few months of life. It won't help to let your baby cry for a while in the pram, in the hope that he'll get used to it. This is because some babies quickly develop a negative association or conditioned dialling up with the pram, which makes it even less likely that the pram becomes a helpful kind of transport system for you and your baby.
Once your little one has grown enough to be in a stroller, you're likely to find that she loves being out seeing the world from her stroller-seat!
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