How do i get my 20 month old daughter to stay in her car seat????

Question

My daughter recently found out how to get out of her car seat. i have tried a lot of things, nothing works, please help!!!

My daughter gets out by taking the straps off of her shoulders no matter how tight i make them. she squeezes out, and stands up. She doesnt unbuckle. We have a car seat with a bar in front of her.

Answer 1

Set rules for going out and explain to her before you go out. Then, when she takes off her belt, stop the car and buckle her back in. Explain to her in one sentence that it is not safe and she could get hurt. Do this as many times as it takes. If it's persistent, try time out. Even out on the side of the road while you're next to her. Warn her before that if she does it, she will get a timeout. Don't speak while in timeout. After timeout, ask her if she's ready to go.
This will take time, but if you're consistent, she will learn.
Noone said raising kids was easy!
P.S. Absolutely no smacking anywhere. Stern is good, but not violent. You will end up with 2 problems instead of 1.

Answer 2

My 2 year old daughter can unbuckle her car seat . I just had to get stern with her and tell her not to unbuckle it. I told her that she could get hurt really bad if she wasn't in her seat belt and I would be really sad. She hasn't done it for a while. But you may want to try a new carseat, with a different type of buckle. Also, make sure the straps are properly tightened so she can't wiggle out of them. I have heard that you should just barely be able to slide your index finger between the strap and their shoulder.

Good luck!!

Answer 3

A couple months ago, my 3 year old daughter Riana, tried doing the same thing. Since I and my husband believe in (and use) corporal punishment, every time she unbuckled her carseat or seat belt, I would smack her hard on the leg or thigh, with a sharp NO!

I told her that she had to keep it on to be safe because if there was a crash, she could get seriously hurt, and I and her daddy and brothers and sister would be very upset and sad.

I then told her that each and everytime she took off her carseat buckles, or seatbelt by herself, she would get a smack on her leg or thigh, and if she kept doing it, she'd be getting a good spanking when we got home.

Well, it took Riana getting smacked about 6 times (not all on the same day) before she finally learned to keep it on until I stop and take it off for her.

Still, occasionally, now and then, Riana either forgets, and/or deliberately tests me and her father and tries to get out of her carseat. But then she is immediately rewarded with a good smack, and settles back down again.

My advice. Do what I do, Tell her that she'll get hurt if she takes it off, and that you don't want that, so if she doesn't stay in the car seat, you'll give her a smack to remind her.

Then if she gets up again, smack her hard, either on the top front area of her thigh (the area between the hip, and the knee) or on her lower leg, and tell her that each time she gets up without permission she'll get a slap. Then FOLLOW THROUGH!

You may have to smack her a few times before she gets the idea. But I guarantee you that eventually, like my daughter, Riana, she will learn, and you will have to smack less and less.


Just remember to follow through each time she disobeys.

Answer 4

Hey, that rather dangerous. A girl that age is very curious especially when she discovers how to free herself and she won't hesitate to do it again. Best solution is to get a safer car seats which she can not free herself. But be careful because if you need to free her in an emergency you may have a problem in doing so. I'm not sure about the US laws but if you can get a seat with the unlock button she can't reach that is better. Check your local law first. Good luck on your bundle of joy. Just be paitient with them. My 6 year old daughter is already asking me if she could drive my car. Cheers.

Answer 5

I had and still sometimes have that problem with my 3 yr old! Please make sure that you have the child lock on the back seats so that if she does get out again that she can't open the car doors and fall out!!
Also, make sure that the window is always up and she can't roll it down....

My then 2 yr old was hanging out the back window while I was going down the interstate and I had no idea!!! She can't do that now- it makes me SICK thinking of what could have happened!

Some kids (like mine) will get out no matter what seat you have. I finally had to turn into a scary ***** to make her stay in her seat! It's for their own safety.

Answer 6

i try to be very patient but carseat safety is an issue that isn't negotiable in our household.

this is a situation where i let my son know that i am the parent and he MUST obey what i say.

use whatever form of discipline you do with your daughter when she stands up.

stop the car, get out, place her back in her seat, tell her "NO. YOU STAY SEATED." and then, make sure she knows that you are calm and in control of the situation.

she is almost 2. she knows when no means no.

Answer 7

You can try to give her toys. And sing or do some other thing to distract her. It can also help if you show her that you to are strapped in your special seat. Check if the button lock isn't too soft, or if the straps aren too lose-. Try another kind of seat.

Answer 8

I agree with Amelia on this one.....

My daughter is dead set on getting out of her seat as soon as she has been put in it!!
But she is in a booster seat now tho and she hasnt tried to get out for a while!!
Maybe think about uprgrading to a booster instead of an actual seat!! They're just as good!!

If she continues to ignore then become angry mummy until she does listen!!

Answer 9

there is not any "maximum secure" carseat -there is no longer even a consensus on a thank you to attempt them. additionally even interior the comparable attempt one seat may be safer for part impacts and a few for rear impacts. I even have an Alpha Omega (eddie bauer/costco) and a Evenflo Triumph enhance. The Evenflo is greater value-effective and way less complicated to apply (whoever designed the alpha omega so as that the straps run decrease than the youngsters butt making it impossible to even out the quantity of shoulder harness on the two aspects must be shot!!)

Answer 10

My son does the "letting himself out of the shoulder straps..and then screams help me I'm stuck!!! I tell him...Mommy has to wear hers to be safe...and he'll put his arms BACK inside...Just show her that you're being safe...maybe talk to her like she's a little person and not a baby...she CAN understand...Make a big deal about being in your "CAR SEAT" maybe that will work...It worked for me...