I have a two year old who keeps squirming out of his car seat?

Question

Anyone have any ideas on how to keep my two year old child restrained in his car seat? I have tried 3 different styles of seats but he still manages to get out. Unfornately, I can't always just leave him behind.

Answer 1

This is very serious and should not have been permitted to develop to this stage. Instead of changing seats constantly, try teaching him without any doubt at all that squirming out of his safety seat is dangerous and totally unacceptable. Why have you changed seats three times?

Every time you take him in the car, strap him in and look him in the face. Speak very clearly with full eye contact: tell him that if he squirms out, you will pull over, stop the car, and you will both have to sit there until he sits still. This will be very boring for him and for you, but you should never have let him do this.
By doing this, YOU are controlling the situation. Trust me, he will quickly get tired of having his interesting day out constantly interrupted by his own foolish behaviour. Every time he squirms, pull over as soon as it is safe to do so and lecture him about safety and the consequences of not sitting still. In addition, this is the ONLY safe option as you can't turn around to replace his straps, and you can't drive with him unrestrained.
Every time, pull over, stop the car, wait without speaking or looking at him for one or two minutes, refuse to continue driving until he is sitting still. Get stern, get serious about this. Don't give him any more warnings or threats. Just pull over and refuse to continue.

Answer 2

That is what 2 yo's do. The "terrible twos"
Sounds like a Hudini. Wow when my kids were little we got to put them in the front seat in a regular seatbelt.
Try giving him something that really catches his attention, unfornately that won't be for very long at his age.

Answer 3

I don't know what you feel about punishment, but at that age they need to understand that that is SERIOUS! We only spank when it is a serious situation where they are going to hurt themselves or others, and it is rare that we have had to. At that young age, I think a little slap on the hand when reaching for the buckle, or a swaton the tush when they get out is acceptable. They need to understand how serious it is, and if you are not one that spanks often, a little swat should get the point across. Pull the car over and do it, you are the parent and you will feel much worse if something happens and your child was not buckled properly. Good luck.

Answer 4

A friend of mine took her son to the police station and asked an officer to talk to him while he was in the car. They will do a check to make sure the seat is properly installed and talk to him about how serious it is.

I am sure a 6' man in a uniform will scare him straight!

Good Luck.

Answer 5

Car seats are suposed to keep kids from getting out so you probably don't have the straps tight enough.

Answer 6

It depends on how he squirms out. I tied the straps with shoestring closer to my daughters neck. But then she quickly learned how to unlatch the carseat....that was fun. What ended up working were toys and food. I still use these bribes and she's 14.

Answer 7

Tell him the boogeyman hides out in little kid's closets that don't stay in their car seats.

Answer 8

is the seat tight enough useually if my daughter wont evn get in the seat i tell her we arent leaving till she she gets in the seat.

Answer 9

dont we all tighten the straps and raise the clip to above his shoulder

Answer 10

Tell him the police will come if he doesn't stay in his seat.