5yr olds Backache wearing seatbelts

[DUGGLES]

My wee boy (5yr old) has had been complaing of a sore back every time he sits in the car and wears fis seatbelt.
This has been going on for approx 3 years he always ends up crying. I changed his bed matress thinking it could be that causing the aches but to no avail. It's not that he doesn't like wearng the belt I really do think he is in pain, I watch him from my mirror and his hand goes ontp his back. He is like this in all cars.
I drive a bmw and my hubby a shogun, and we can't get to the bottom of this.
It gets very embarrasing when there is someone in the car. We have also tried booster and cushions and pillows but always the same the tears and the pain. Does anyone else have this problem and can they help?
the doctor says his back is fine...

[tigermoth]

Duggles, my youngest son, now 3.5 often gets red pressure marks on his spine when he has been sitting in a car seat. Wr have tried diffferent ones to no avail. When he was younger he used to incessantly wriggle out of car seats - he was an expert escape artist. I think some of this was caused by discomfort, although he never cried much.

After he reached the age of three, he stopped wriggling out and never complains of being in pain, but he still gets pressure marks. I don't know what the solution is, but I have noticed much improvement as my son gets older.

As for your problem, sorry I can't think of any real answer - presumably you have tried adjusting the car seat itself as well as adding cushions? You could also try speaking to the car manufacturer's customer care department. They may have an idea.

HTH

[DUGGLES]

Thank you for your response, As he's 5.5 he's no longer in a car seat but still complains. I can't take him on any long journeys as he continually complains. I'll keep investigating thanks again

[GRMUM]

You could try a small rolled up towel in the small of his back.This will help maintain the natural curve of his lumbar spine.At 5 years old it will have to be a small "roll" maybe even half a normal hand towel.I think this would work best in conjunction with a booster seat.Also frequent stops so that he can get out and run around.HTH

[tigermoth]

sorry, I worded my previous message wrongly - what I meant, duggles, was adjusting the adult car seat. But I'm sure you've tried that.

Is your son old enough to adjust the cushions/towels himself before the journey begins, so he can get comfortable under is own steam? If he's in control of proceedings, it might help him feel less stressed about the pain.

Or can you buy such a thing as a water-filled cushion? does anyone make them? Or improvise with a hot water bottle?

[DUGGLES]

Thank you all so much for the ideas I'll give them a try. What a great web site, I,m a newcomer so I'll be using it again
Thank to you all

[CAM]

Just wondering if your son has a booster seat?

[DUGGLES]

Yes we had a booster seat and a car seat but even they have caused the sore back. Even When I had those I tried cushions and many other ideas but no luck.