Son can escape from car seat!!!

davidsonsl

NOt sure if this is in the right thread???

My 2yr old son has learnt to undo the button on his car seat, my husband has a different car seat in his car but he can undo that one too!!! HELP!!! this is highly dangerous what can I do????

xmaslolly76

Can you reverse the straps so that the button is facing inwards maybe if he cant see it he wont be tempted to play with it and you will still be able toget him out easily enough ?

Nicki

I realise your child doesn't have special needs, but this link from a special needs forum I also read, has lots of useful links to companies which provide houdini-proof harnesses to solve this problem!

http://www.asd-forum.org.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=21236&hl=seat

niklam

Hi

First off dont panic. Loads of kids do this and its simply a matter of training them. Firstly, if his seat isnt already there - move it to behind the passenger seat as it makes it easier for you to keep an eye on whilst driving, and strapping him back in safely when you need too.

Then next time he does it whilst you are driving simply pull over and go round to his side of the car, open the door, discipline him and strap him back in. It does take a few times for the message to sink in. Dont be afraid to show him that you are angry ( well dont smack him) but let him see the emotion on your face.

My daughter used to do this and I enquired with several retailers and manufacturers regarding the extra straps to prevent her getting out of her car seat and was advised by all of them that they do NOT recommend you use them as if you were to have an accident and help was needed to get your child out of the car, these straps add too much extra time to the rescue.

Good luck

Niki

Savvy_Sue

It might be worth trying a few short trips to places he wants to go to. Explain beforehand that if he unstraps himself you will stop the car, strap him back in again, and turn around and go home. Make sure he doesn't think this is a game!

bestpud

Yep, I agree it is a matter of discipline.

He'll soon catch on if you are consistent.

You could also try making sure he has something else to distract him in the car, if you haven't already?

Sagaris

Some carseats have a playtray that you can get - that might make it more difficult for him to get the harness undone - it attaches on the seat in front of the child. If you put some toys/books on it, he might forget about the Houdini act?

I'm sure that when I visited the Britax factory and saw them testing seats there that they said the harness button had to be firm enough to undo so that a child of that age should not be able to unfasten it? Might be worth takling the seats back to the shop you bought them from to make sure they are not faulty, or going to a shop and trying the harness on one there?

Gingham_Ribbon

Both of mine learned how to do this at 2 years old. The first one was strapped back in and taken home.

We were on our way home when our youngest did it. The first I knew of it was when he was trying to climb onto my knee while I was driving.:eek: I was on a dual carriageway with nowhere to stop. My husband pulled him onto his knee and we both told him off and strapped him in at the lights. He was told if it happened again he wouldn't be allowed to go anywhere in the car - no play centres, nothing.

They both understood and that was the end of it. Be consistent, firm and make sure he realises it's a pain for HIM when he does it. I agree about the short, fun trips where you can turn round if he does it.

AS far as I know, the catch has to be easily undone and easy to spot, so can't be hidden under anything or stiff to undo for emergency reasons. This has to be a discipline matter.

davidsonsl

I hear what you are all saying but unfortunately the discipline route has not worked with him, I have been trying this for months now when evr he takes his arms out of his straps I have stopped the car until he has put his arms back in, he always puts them back in but so far it has not prevented him from doing so. He is unfortunately very strong and highly intelligent, he can work out things that my 5yr old struggles with. I also am waiting for a refferal as I think he has ADHD and ODD, as a result he is a handful. I can't believe there isn't a solution to kids being able to unstrap themselves from their car seats.

nearlyrich

As others have said the only way is to not move the car whilst he is not strapped in, he will get fed up eventually, granted it's wearing but you have to keep on it.

Savvy_Sue

I think some of the suggestions in the link which Nicki gave would be worth considering. If he's bright, then he may be able to grasp some of the explanations given there, or look at the links they gave to gadgets to make this more difficult!