17mo pulls arms out if car seat straps and today opened car door mid drive

[DrMcDreamysWife]

Ahhhhh help!!

Dd 17mo has a signature shoulder wiggle that means she can get herself out of her car seat straps. I have been tightening them up sooo tight but she still manages and today opened the car door mid drive. Totally terrifying.

The child lock is obviously now on but how do I get her to stay in. Can you get extra straps anyone know?

I've been very firm with her about not trying to escape but she seems just a bit young to understand. Help?!

[Slainte]

This is meant to be good, though I haven't used it myself. LINK

[fusspot66]

We bought a 'Houdini' strap online. Holds the straps across the chest.

[Flambards]

I second the five point plus. Used it for dd and it did stop her getting her arms out. Safety harnesses have to be able to opened with one move by law in the uk so be careful of improvising or using items legal elsewhere but not here

[Doppledanger]

I was going to say get an added clip.

[elfycat]

Do you have child locks on the door? If so put them on quick (but remember you have to let adult travelers out). DH's car has an electronic button to do this, my car has a manual switch on the edge of the door near the catch. All cars should have them, my parent's did a few decades years ago.

We used a Houdini-stop strap with DD1 for a while, as she was a pickle for getting her arms out and refusing to put them back in.

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

Houdini strap here too. Works on pushchairs as well.

[Innogen]

Child lock your car!!!!!

[MisForMumNotMaid]

expensive but if you can stretch fantastic

I've got one of these for DD. I love it. Its so easy to get her in and out, she can move her arms and sleep comfortably.

The additional clip thing is not legal in Europe due to a requirement for single point release on all child seats, as PP mentioned. I went into this in quite a big way because DD is a wriggler and it looked like a great idea. If you search youtube you'll find plenty of crash test dummy demonstrations of what can happen with an added chest strap even at lower speed impacts - it involves soft ribcages not protecting organs. I felt DD might even be safer arms out than with a chest strap, not that I was really planning to do that.

[Standinginline]

Definitely the Houdini strap ,they're £10 but work wonders. Son wouldn't listen when I would threaten to put him in pushchair when he misbehaved as he could climb out easily. However as soon as I threatened him with the Houdini strap he'd be good as gold :)

[Only1scoop]

Get your child locks on

[bonzo77]

Check that the shoulder straps exit the seat high enough. They should be higher than her shoulders. Remove all bulky clothing (put her in a fleece instead of a coat). Both of these should dramatically reduce her ability to do this again. When my DS1 undid the buckle at this age I pulled over and gave him the bollocking of his life and a smack. He's nearly 4, remembers it well (we discuss it often). He's never done it since.

[BikeRunSki]

I hate to tell you, but DD worked out how to get out of the 5 point plus harness in about 2 hours.

[PigletJohn]

boxing gloves.

[mummytime]

With my DC I used to use my scary voice, also we would pullover as soon as possible and stop until they were back in their straps.
I was very very strict about it and it did seem to work. My pickles quickly learnt to stop wriggling out as it lead to a boring stop, and often less time or missing out on something fun.
Even at 17 months they like approval and attention.
So when they are good give them lots of good attention, approval etc. we have also from a young age had conversations about safety, and spot other unsafe road users.

[FamiliesShareGerms]

I gave DS the bollocking of his life when he tapped me on the shoulder when we were bombing down the M40. Mostly because I was so scared. He didn't wriggle out of his straps again.

[Goldmandra]

I wouldn't use the Houdini strap because, as a previous poster has said, it could change the way the restraint works in a collision and also make it hard to get the child out in an emergency.

I'd like to know what safety experts say about the 5 point plus as it doesn't appear to interfere with the restraint mechanism so could be a safer option.

I have a friend who uses the Montecarlo seat linked to above. I've been using child car seats daily for the last 20 years and I'd definitely buy one of these if I had a baby of my own now.