Houdini Littlie! How can I make the car seat escape proof?

rainbowrisin

Hi all, hope you can help.
Littlie has a "seat" front facing car seat, with 4 straps (2 shoulder and 2 hip) which clip together in the middle. Even though I have tightened all the straps as far as I comfortably can, littlie can wriggle out - and did so whilst I was driving today.:eek:
Obviously I am discouraging this type of behaviour;) , but as it's a health and safety issue I don't want to rely on the sticker chart to prevent future escapades.
Is there anything I can use, other than duck tape and a rivet gun, to increase the car seat security? Is there a particular type of seat which is more escape proof.
Littlie is 2 and a half, so too big rear facing car seat, which worked really well.
Please help. I am a bit of a stickler for in-car safety, and today's episode worried me quite a bit.

lex

Yikes scary!!

We had the Britax Renaissance when DD was 2 1/2, and there is no way she could have wriggled out. Mind you I also do her straps up alot tighter than I've seen my friends tighten theirs. But I'd rather she was safe.

Why don't you go into Toys R Us, Mothercare, or Halfords, and try all the seats?

Hope you find a solution

lex

skylight

You need to tighten the straps. It doesn't matter what you consider to be comfortable, if you can get more than a finger in between, little one can get out.

You *may* have to buy a new car seat - perhaps the one you have is not suitable - although I hate buying car seats, its not like you can test-drive them first. Is he small for his age?

Luckily, my 2 and half yo has just grown out of this - it really was a case of not tightening her up enough - the straps are not meant to be comfortable, as long as they dont dig in.

Or glue him in (people complain about that though.....)

julesgr

check to see if your local council has car seat safety section i know the one i work for does. they can give you advice and usually have some they can demonstrate as well

Janepig

I wouldn't have thought two and a half is too young to start giving littlie a ticking off and if your journey isn't life or death turn back, go back into the house and cancel the trip, explaining that you just cannot have him/her wriggling out of the car seat.

Jxx

rainbowrisin

Janepig wrote:

I wouldn't have thought two and a half is too young to start giving littlie a ticking off and if your journey isn't life or death turn back, go back into the house and cancel the trip, explaining that you just cannot have him/her wriggling out of the car seat.

Jxx

I must admit that mummy did explain quite clearly and in no uncertain terms that this behaviour was unacceptable and dangerous. Normally littlie is an obedient little soul (I am greatly blessed) and if mummy says it is dangerous then that usually does the trick.
My particular concern with the car seat is that whereas with the cooker, iron, stairs, road etc I am supervising and in a position to prevent disaster should disobedience or curiosity prevail, I can't do that if I'm driving, so it's imperative that adequate restraint is applied!

nearlyrich

My car would not start until everyone was strapped in and if anyone took their belt off it had to pull over and stop, not great (or advisable) if you are doing a trip on the motorway.

It's a toughie hope you get it sorted!

Juicy_Tube

Duck tape made me laugh!

Reminds me of our friend and her littlie of 2 who was always taking off his nappy at night(and doing wee-wees in room) during the hot spell we had. She DID use duck tape! And it worked.

Sorry!got side-tracked there for a mo.

Good luck with this. Can offer no advice as my own littlie is 7 months only, but I am taking note of all your tips on this board for future reference.

Good luck!

JT x

rainbowrisin

Juicy_Tube wrote:

Duck tape made me laugh!

Reminds me of our friend and her littlie of 2 who was always taking off his nappy at night(and doing wee-wees in room) during the hot spell we had. She DID use duck tape! And it worked.

Sorry!got side-tracked there for a mo.

Good luck with this. Can offer no advice as my own littlie is 7 months only, but I am taking note of all your tips on this board for future reference.

Good luck!

JT x

LMAO - thanks for that. I've had a really rough day - lost my purse (AGAIN, I do it about once a month - i'm on first name terms with the card cancelling people); have got wikkid indigestion and am so tired i can't think straight and you made me laugh so much it scared the dog:D Thanks so much for that - I never thought of duck tape to prevent nappy removal - I do resort to press stud at the back all in ones at times, but actually using duck tape..that's absolutely brilliant:D

gk172

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=247459

I was asking the same question just last week and got some helpfull replies but im still stuck on what to do as since posting he has been an angel but i am looking into the car seats that can go into boosters as i will need to buy one of those anyway.

MissSunshine

My eldest ds tried this when going through the terrible 2's I pulled over immediately onto the hardshoulder of a 3 lane highway and spent 20 mins 'wrestling' to get him safely strapped back into the seat. Had 3 people stop to 'help' me because they thought I'd broke down with my hazards going After that episode I pulled the straps very tight and it didn't happen again, my carseat was a Britax Eclipse.