How do i get my 1 1/2 year old to stay in her car seat?

Question

She doesn't unbuckle she pulls the straps off her shoulders no matter how tight i put them. Please help!!!!

Answer 1

How frustrating! I have a few suggestions and I'm sure you've tried lots of good things,too. Nothing works all the time with kids!

There are two different ways that I'd tend to deal with it. The first would be to keep her occupied and happy during the car trip. You might try putting together a special car bag with a few toys in it that she doesn't get to play with at other times. You could include a little container of crackers or another snack, etc. Also, make sure the straps are not uncomfortable or rubbing her wee body. You could check for red marks and if that's the case, put some padding on the strap. Most of them are pretty good, but it can happen.

Second, staying put in a car seat is a safety issue and needs to be non-negotiable. It's not a bargaining point, compromise issue, area where she can be allowed to exert her own ideas (you get the point). 1 1/2 years is young, but she's old enough to understand what she needs to do. Every situation is different, but in the past I've used "This car won't go unless you're in your car seat" (and restrapped my child after pulling over). I've also told them that I will spank their leg or hand if they undo their strap. If you believe in a spank on the hand, this would be a reasonable situation and toddlers are at a reasonable age for it.

Just remember, you're the boss and whatever "pain" she might get from a slap on the hand for undoing or wiggling out of the straps is absolutely nothing compared to what she'll be saved from should you have an accident.

God bless you! Hope it works out easily and quickly!

Answer 2

Make sure that the straps are adjusted appropriately... the part where the strap comes out from the back of the seat should be above the shoulders. The buckle that goes across the chest should be at armpit height. You should be able to barely fit one finger-width between your child and the strap when you pull it out. Mostly, you have to keep telling your child that the car only moves when everyone has their seatbelts on- then stick to it. If you notice that she takes it off, pull over to the side of the road safely, then put her back in. Do it every time. The repetition will encourage her to leave it on. Good luck!

Answer 3

If the straps are tight enough and the chest clip is in the proper position there should be no way your child would be able to get out of the straps. I have a very small 3 year old who is quite flexible and has tried to get out of hers but can not. I have installed hundreds of car seats for families and have heard this problem before, once the children were in the seat properly, they could not get out. You need to tighten the straps as tight as you possibly can and the chest clip should line up with the arm pits. Good luck.

Answer 4

Well you can tell her that if she stays in the car seat that you will reward her with her favorite candy or favorite toy or something. Or do what i have done most parents dont believe in this but sorry i feel this way i think you should pull over and give her a tap on the butt, they say ohh thats being mean to your child but think about your a parent would you rather see her hurt from an accident cause she went through a windshield cause she wouldnt listen or would you rather see her with bruises from the strap ?? A little tap on the butt wont hurt her it will let her know that mommy and daddy arent playing around when they say keep yourself buckled in, this actually happend to my sister her son unbuckeled himself while she was pregnant and she got into an accident her son went through the windshield and her unborn child suffered alot. So for those parents or people out there reading my message that might find it offensive to spank your child for unstraping themselves think again its not going to hurt your child if you spank them and put them back in the carseat and take off again whats going to hurt the child is screaming and yelling and getting into the car accident or even being pulled over by a rude officer. so please dont take what i have to say like i am a bad parent cause i am not a bad parent its just what i have to do to save my childs life and if that means pulling over on the side of the road getting out spanking the kid on the BUTT and telling the kid "no, your not going to unbuckle yourself while i am driving " place the kid back in the seat buckle them up and continue driving if the kid does it again you pull over eventually the kid will get the idea. that sounds alot better than to see your kid seriously hurt. Mommy and Daddy i hope this helps you.

Answer 5

My 3 year old still tries that sometimes and I've figured out why. Try to keep things in the car that can keep her occuppied, small children get bored very easily, and need attention or something to distract them from long car rides....I used to have a portable dvd in my car, works like a charm...one of those and a favorite movie, she should be ok after that, or maybe some small toys, or try playing "I spy" while riding in the car, show her aiplanes and other facinating things....let me know how it works!

Answer 6

-make sure the straps are tight (check)
-pull the chest clip up to armpit level
-turn buckles backwards if you have to
-EVERYTIME SHE DOES IT STOP THE CAR & shut it off.

plan a trip somewhere she wants to go & tell her that the car has a new feature that makes it stop everytime she slides out.

After a trip or two she will get bored w/ it and quit.

Answer 7

Give her toys to occupy her, and if that doesn't work then tell her that the cops will give mommya ticket, and maybe she'll get scared, and listen. Anyway you have to do it, I'd do it. If you get in an accident she could die, so I would be VERY stern about this, and the next time she does this then I would pull over and discipline her. This is dangerous.

Answer 8

In my car, I have a car organizer that has toys and books in it. One of the toys I found works best for a car ride are the little doodle things with a pen, and the thing that slides to erase what they write. The only problem with that might be that your daughter may be too young to understand how to slide the bar that erases it.
Here's a picture to better explain what I'm talking about, I have the travel one:
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2299080&cp=&f=Taxonomy%2FTRUS%2F2254197&origkw=doodle&kw=doodle&parentPage=search

I also have a little mirror in my car. The little one I drive (he's not mine) loves to look at himself in the mirror and make faces. Plus, it has a cute bear on it so he likes looking at that too. I don't know if your daughter sits backward or forward facing, but the mirror works either way. I guaruntee she will like to look at herself.

Here's a picture of the mirror I have:http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-18/qid=1163384817/ref=sr_1_18/602-2988695-9897429?ie=UTF8&asin=B000CRGN34

Here's a picture of the car organizer: http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-3/qid=1163384409/ref=sr_1_3/602-2988695-9897429?ie=UTF8&asin=B000COOKM8

Good luck!

Answer 9

offer her a distraction like a favorite toy to keep her busy and off the car seat straps.

Answer 10

Get a car seat with a 5 point harness that your daughter can't undo