Device to cover car seat buckle?

honeypop

My mum purchased a Britax Evolva 123 car seat (as it was the only one the lady in Mothercare could get to fit properly in her car) so she could take out my son in her car.

I strapped him into it yesterday, went round the other side to put my other son in the other side of the back seat (in a carrier type car seat)and saw him standing in the footwell, so I assumed I hadn't clipped him in properly. Went back and re-did it, then watched him promptly push the button and unclip it. Unsure if this was just a novelty thing that would wear off once we were on the go, I travelled in the back next to him to keep an eye (squished between 2 car seats!).

Unfortunately, he did unclip himself a few times so I did things like explaining why he shouldn't, telling him it's naughty, reasoning, saying he won't get whatever treat he was due etc but at 23 months not sure how much he takes in of this. I spent the whole journey watching him and stopping him just as he was about to press the button.

Of course now I can't let him travel in the seat as he will unclip it at any time, and if there's no-one else in the back with him, my mum may not even notice unless he jumps down from the seat.

He regularly travels in 4 other car seats and cannot undo any of those, perhaps this button is a lot easier for him to push (if he has tried any of the others) or is more attractive to have a go at, I don't know. I tried distraction, but no use - once he knows how something works and what buttons to press he becomes obsessed with pressing them.

I googled a bit and found people with the same problem with this car seat, can't get through to Britax customer services today to explain and ask if there's anything they advise but others on the internet seem to say Britax told them it's a discipline issue and their seats are designed for safety in an accident, not to keep the children in, which isn't helpful.

I have seen that you can get a buckle cover for a normal seatbelt to stop children unclipping that, does anyone know if you can get something similar for a car seat? My attempt at googling this just found the normal seat belt ones and mentions of wanting a car seat one, but no actual places to find them.

Really don't want to have to pay out for another new car seat, so if we can prevent it happening on this one with some kind of buckle cover then that would be great. Although if the only answer is another seat then so be it.

Artytarty

could you split a tennis ball about 2/3 round pop it over and use either a strong elastic band or duct tape/ bit of a faff really but might be enough to put him off.
Or make something clever with fabric and velcro?

Plans_all_plans

I'd take it back as not fit for purpose myself. My DD has never been able to get out of any of the car seats I've ever had (including a Britax one) despite her messing with the buckle.

I don't think it should be up to you to cover the buckle. It should be up to them to make a sturdier clasp that a small child can't undo!

It's laughable for them to say that "their car seats are designed for safety in an accident, not for keeping the children in" How on earth will the seat be of any use to anyone if the child's out of it: no good having an intact seat if a child's injured cos he got out of it.

I wouldn't use it again and I'd take it back.

honeypop

Artytarty wrote: »

could you split a tennis ball about 2/3 round pop it over and use either a strong elastic band or duct tape/ bit of a faff really but might be enough to put him off.
Or make something clever with fabric and velcro?

Good ideas, but I think I'd prefer to use some sort of recognised device, so that in the event of an accident the emergency services were able to undo it without having to work it out first.

Plans_all_plans wrote: »

I'd take it back as not fit for purpose myself. My DD has never been able to get out of any of the car seats I've ever had (including a Britax one) despite her messing with the buckle.

At least one other he uses is a Britax and he can't undo that one, not sure why this one is different.

Mum is having a look today for the receipt, as I did mention to her about returning it as we can't use it. I doubt Mothercare would take it back without, we paid cash and it was in a store 3 hours away from where we are now so no other way to trace the purchase. The other thing is that it was purchased about 6 months ago, but he only started using it recently, would they even accept it being returned?

chocdonuty

could you take out the belt and rethread it so it's the same but turned around so that the clip is facing him not outwards, that should be harder to press for him then. Depends on the type of seat and how the belt is threaded but it may be worth a go.

Plans_all_plans

I think your best bet for getting it returned is to write to Britax customer services directly. You should outline the problems you have with it, state you've bought their seats before with no issues and as a gesture of goodwill on this occasion, you expect them to take it back and refund you/give you another car seat of theirs that you've used before and are happy with.

I wouldn't go back to mothercare unless you find the receipt and even when you find it, I'd ring the store first to ensure they'll take it back, rather than do a 6hr round trip!

honeypop

Plans_all_plans wrote: »

II wouldn't go back to mothercare unless you find the receipt and even when you find it, I'd ring the store first to ensure they'll take it back, rather than do a 6hr round trip!

Lol, if we find the receipt we'd take it back to our local one which is 5 mins away. We just bought it from the other one as that's where Mum lived at the time.

Alias_Omega

We have one of these.

How about putting a black sock with the end cut off over the clasp to see how it goes. Push it down for fastening and pull it up to cover the lock mech.

The other option is fingerless gloves, or a striaght jacket.

MX5huggy

honeypop wrote: »

Good ideas, but I think I'd prefer to use some sort of recognised device, so that in the event of an accident the emergency services were able to undo it without having to work it out ?

Not an issue they would either quickly work it out or just cut the straps.

kingfisherblue

I would definitely inform Britax - how can they make adjustments to their products if no one tells them what is wrong with them? I would also ask if they make a device to cover the buckle and I'm cheeky enough to ask if they will provide it free of charge, as it is obviously essential to the use of the seat

honeypop

kingfisherblue wrote: »

I would definitely inform Britax - how can they make adjustments to their products if no one tells them what is wrong with them? I would also ask if they make a device to cover the buckle and I'm cheeky enough to ask if they will provide it free of charge, as it is obviously essential to the use of the seat

Thanks, this is just what I was going to try. I called them but it just rings and rings so not even sure if they are open today or not. I will call again Monday.