AARRRGGHHH! DS (2.3) unbuckling seat belt and running around the car whilst I am driving!

[TeenTwinsToddlerandTiaras]

DS is a big lad and has grown out of his 'harness' type reclining car seat. He is now is a Group 2 full car seat which uses the car seat belt. Very quickly he learnt how to unbuckle the seat belt and I have had several occasions where he has leapt from the seat while I am driving and started running around my 7 seater car jumping on all the seats! He also unbuckles the seat belt when I stop the car and has great fun running from one end of the car to the other while I try to catch the little bugger (gritted teeth ).

Patience is wearing thin now - how can I stop him unbuckling his seat belt PLEASE?

[dancinginthemoonlight]

www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductMobileDisplay?catalogId=10151&storeId=10001&productId=159966&categoryId=261863&langId=-1 hope this helps

[helpyourself]

Do you pull over, tell him off and strap him back in each and every time he does this?
You need to be really strict, I'm afraid!

[SamSmalaidh]

How much does he weigh?

[GrimmaTheNome]

tell him clearly before you start driving that the seat belt is to keep him safe and that you are not allowed to drive the car unless he is safely belted in. Tell him that you will get into trouble if a policeman sees him out of his belt. Tell him that if he unbuckles the belt you have to stop until he is safely belted again.


Then if he does it again, stop as soon as it's safe to do so. No exceptions.

[LadyofWinterfell]

DS did this for a while, until i bought covers for the seatbelt clips. He was very indignant that he was being treated like a baby and doesn't do it any more. he's 3.2 and nearly 19kg.

I shouted a lot few times too.

[noblegiraffe]

Pull over ASAP, belt him back in and give him a huge bollocking. Be absolutely furious about how dangerous he is being. He should be under no illusions that it is fun or a game. Point out if the car stops sharply he will end up on the floor and really hurt himself.

This worked on my DS when he pulled his straps off as I was doing 60 on an A road.

[cece]

I have one of these DS2 has yet to escape from it as the wedge at the front means he can't reach the buckle.

[IDismyname]

The ONLY time I ever, ever smacked ds was when he did this.

Strangely enough, he only did it twice....

[SophiesMummySaid]

I'd get him back in a five point harness

[SamSmalaidh]

I would too - I think they can stay in a 5 point harness til 18 kg?

[RillaBlythe]

It's 18kg upper limit.

[DameEnidsOrange]

What noble and grimma said.

It is just a phase and he will stop soon, but you need to be really firm.

[silverfrog]

you can get a car seat that has a 5 point harness until 25kg - the Two Way elite. faces forwards or backwards (which is safer), and keeps the harness up to 25kg either way.

dd2 is still in this, at nearly 6 years old.

[silverfrog]

oh, but other than that, yes, you need to be really firm about this, and stop any attention (even negative attention) for him doing it.

pull over immediately it is safe to do so, and buckle him back in, with no comment and no attention. do it everytime he does it, all matter-of-fact with no emotion.

if he really won't stop, you could use seat belt covers, or a crelling harness, or a windmill harness (both used in addition to a seatbelt) - you can get houdini versions for children who are escapologists.

[AWimbaWay]

He must be very big for his age, my 2 eldest were 5 years old before moving from a 5 point harness.

I'd follow noblegiraffe's advice, he needs to know how serious and dangerous it is.

I remember my older two unbuckling on a coach whilst on a playgroup trip before it had come to a stand still, I went ballistic, the other parents looked at me like I was mad, however having had a former partner decapitated in a crash it is not something I go easy on. I later discovered one of the other Mums had told them they could.

[SamSmalaidh]

I think they have to weigh 15kg before they can safely use a normal seat belt, right? 15kg is 91st centile at 2.3 years, 18kg is above the 99.6th. My 2.3 year old is 50th centile so will be in his 5 point harness until he is school age too

[MaryPoppinsBag]

High back booster seat have a weight range and age restrictions.

Just because a child is heavy for their age, they shouldn't be put in a high back booster before they reach the age that it says on the box - which is usually 4, but sometimes is 3.

[TeenTwinsToddlerandTiaras]

Hi all, DS is 16kg and on the 98th centile for height and weight (97th at birth!). His Group 1 seat was very 'snug' which is why I bought the next seat up. I am loathe to buy another one so will try the seatbelt covers first.

Thanks for all the advice. The 1st time I ever shouted at him was the 1st time he did this the week before last. I had to stop on a very busy red route, with hazards on and chase him around the car to catch him while he giggled manically. He did it a 2nd time yesterday and has started to quickly unbuckle his belt and jump off his seat when I stop the car so by the time I walk round to open door to get him out, he has run to the back of the car, shouting 'catch me'!

I will be going to Halfords shortly! My twins were little monsters at his age but even they never did this!

[Sirzy]

He really does sound too small to be in such a car seat. Please for his own safety as much as anything else get him back in 5 point harness.

DS (3) is 15kg and still has loads of room in his 5 point harness.

[MaryPoppinsBag]

He is too young.
He needs a 5 point harness.

[YouBrokeMySmoulder]

I am really surprised he can reach it. With my hi back booster it goes over the seatbelt fixings so you need to be an adult to undo it, mind you its a small car.

I am another vote for a 5 point harness. My dd who is on the large side has only just stopped using hers and she is 5 in May.

[Marrow]

Please get him back in a five point harness. My DD was always around 95th centile but stayed in a five point harness until just before her 4th birthday. I intend to keep DS rearward facing until he is at least four. If you are unable to get a new seat then as long as he doesn't exceed the weight/height restrictions on his old seat put him back in there. It doesn't matter that he is a bit"snug".

[YouBrokeMySmoulder]

Dd was in a maxi cosi priori btw with no problems until 4. Put him back in the old seat.

[LeMousquetaireAnonyme]

DD2 is 2.9 over the charts in height (104 cm) and 16.5 Kg she still fits in her group 1 seat (I checked last month), put him back in his. There is no shame to admit you have made a mistake and he will be safer in a age appropriate carseat.

[SamSmalaidh]

It does sound like he is too young - my DS is the same age and I don't think I could trust him to understand/remember the consequences of unbuckling himself, they are so impulsive at this age. Even if his group 1 seat is a bit snug, I'd put him back in it for a few more months too.