Please help a desperate mum - child escaping from car seat

[KristinaM]

My 26 month old son has today learned how to open the buckle on his car seat. He got out his seat and started to climb around the car . Its a 6 month old Britax Isofix & I've already had someone else check that he is fastened in correctly.

I was out in the car alone with him and he unfastened it six times before I left the shopping centre car park. I had to park the car with the engine running and the heating on so he would fall asleep so i could get him home safely.

HELP! HELP! HELP! We live in the country and I NEED to use the car every day

[Tommy]

Don't know if this will halp but we had this problem with DS1 and we put a tray on his seat - got it from Brirax and it's meant for drawing/toys etc but it helped a lot because he couldn't get his hands under it to undo the buckle.
Hang on - I'll see if I can find link

[Tommy]

here -scroll down to the play tray.
I ordered it from an independent babyneeds type shop.
HTH

[Tommy]

that would be Britax of course.....

[KristinaM]

thnak you tommy - thats a great idea. Except our car seat doesnt have a tray to fit

just checked teh Britax website

[KristinaM]

I am now in a real panic about it

[KristinaM]

I have looked at the ROSPA website. It has lots of tips, but none that help me. Like explain to your child why he has to wear it ( he's 2, he doesnt care)

[sparklemagic]

could you phone Britax customer services and see if they have any suggestions?

I'm sure that goods sold have to be fit for the purpose so you could throw this at them - our car seat was a maxi cosi and there was NO way my DS would have been strong enough to undo the buckle, it was a struggle for me even. They simply shouldn't be selling something that kids can undo...imo.

hope you get somewhere with them!

[KristinaM]

Oh sparkle, i will try that on monday. I am reluctant to have to buy another as it cost about £140 6 months ago. And we have two as Dh and i both take/collect the children . So that woudl be £280 down the drain .

The woman in Mothercare also said that the maxi cosi was hard to unfasten

[KristinaM]

sorry just re read that and it sounds like i woulndt pay £280 to keep my child safe

thats not what I meant of course.....its just it seems to me that a child seat that can be openened by a 2 year old isnt very well designed

[aitch71]

there is a product, kristinaM, i've seen it online but i am wracking my brains to remember the name of it. have been searching online for clues but i can't find it, sorry.

it is basically a rectangular piece of flat clear plastic about the size of your hand with 4 cuts (a bit like hooks, but flat). you put the carseat belts on and then hook the rectangle round one side of the belts then the other and the four pieces of webbing are tucked into it. it's like a mini breast-plate iyswim? and cost very little as i recall.

basically, the children might be able to undo the clip, but this thing holds the belts firmly in place so they soon lose interest. it is so simple, but apparently very effective. they can't get out of it because they are approaching it from the wrong angle (behind) and their hands are too wee to unhook two belts at a time. but you can get it undone quickly in an emergency.

i saw a mum of 7 recommend it years ago on another website and thought 'that's a clever piece of design, must remember to take a note of the name'. but i didn't. i'm so sorry i can't help, but maybe it will jog someone's memory, or you could describe it to a shop? good luck

[schneebly]

Hi Kristina - I had a search on the web for you and found the following written on an american review site...
'If your child figures out how to undo this buckle, no worries. Britax will provide you a buckle cover free of charge. Just go to their website and order one, you'll have to pay the shipping and handling. We did pick up one of these buckle covers, and I recommend that if you are using the seat with a little Houdini, that you do as well.' I have contacted Britax quoting this to them and asking if this is true and doi they do it in UK - will let you know what they say! I hope it is true!

[suzi2]

I have a road safety booklet here and it says "playtray or buckle cover". Hope you find a solution.

[aitch71]

still looking for the plastic clip thing but found these...
www.travelingwithkids.com/product_info.php/pName/hands-off-6-pack/cName/health-safety-car-travel

no idea how they work...or indeed if they do.

[aitch71]

it's not the thing i was thinking of but it's the same idea and should solve your problem for £12.99...
google SNUGSIT, it's available from GLTC so you could click through mumsnet and get free delivery.
basically it's a velcro-ed thing which covers the straps and buckle of the seat. hope this helps.

[aitch71]

ah, just looked again. doesn't go round the buckle but worth a look anyway as even if he undoes the buckle he won't get any joy.

[accessorizequeen]

There was similar thread v.recently which pointed to a few different devices
how to stop my child wriggling out of car seat straps Might help?

[KristinaM]

Thnak you all for your suggestions - I am checking them out

Schneebly - wil you let me knwo if you hear from britax?

I have emailed Kiddicare ( where we bought the seats)

[Pixel]

Afraid you can't get Snugsit anymore they are discontinued. I know because I wanted a second one for ds to use in the school taxi and was only able to get one on ebay. Just thought I'd mention it in case anyone is hoping to get one.

[SueW]

How about arranging some outings he really wants to go on like soft play or the park then having to cancel them as you drive there because he doesn't stay in his carseat? I.e. as soon as he undoes it you pull over to side of road and turn off engine.

[MaryP0p1]

I know its terrible but my son did the same about the same age. I took him out on a quiet road and gave him a bit of shock. He used to play in the well of the sit behind me, so I broke a little so he'd fall over. I tried taking, strapping etc and nothing worked but that did!