Will someone please tell me how to keep a 2.6 yr old strapped into his carseat

[oregonianabroad]

when he clearly now realises that it sends me absolutely batshit on the motorway when he takes his arms out of the straps and leans way forward and says, 'mommy, come show you.'
I have tried:

1.ignoring it (dangerous)
2. pulling over and waiting till he puts arms back in (he has a will of steel)
3. Pulling over, getting out of the car, ranting, cramming his arms back in by force (unsatisfactory, he wins & tends to do it again, I feel like shit for hours after)
4. tying him in with an extra belt (scared in case of emergency)
5. counting to 5 out loud (doesn't work)
6. bribing him (only lasts as long as the bribe)
7. telling him the Gruffalo will come and eat his arms off (worked for a while, seems to have lost its usefulness)

Please help.

[Overrun]

Sorry I still struggle with this, and we just end up stopping a lot and chatting a lot. I did find out about some sort of device that makes it harder for them to wriglle out, but could never find it. It was like a grip that held the arm harnesses together, can't describe sorry

[dissle]

christopher green

[oregonianabroad]

mmjanitor,
was so excited till i read:
'Not suitable for use with car seat straps.'

[prettybird]

Whatever you threaten him with, be prepared to follow thourgh. SO i, for example, he extracts himself while on the way to the playground or to visit friends, tell him if he does it, then yuo will go stragiht home.

Inconveneint for you if you have other plans, but it gets the message throguh re consequences.

[witchandchips]

bribing him at the end of the journey? so if you stay sitting nicely you can have a.. and then when he starts to try and wiggle out remind him what he will sacrifice. Lots of positive reinforcement after the journey?

[eemie]

Dd responded to a bright plastic turtle that lit up and played lots of different tunes. She was only allowed it in the car, and only if the straps were done up. I never had to take it from her - she just loved it. Used to fast-forward to Old MacDonald had a farm

[CorrieDale]

We do something similar eemie. We have tried a SnugSit, which DS worked out how to remove. Then we tried going home as soon as he did it but this only worked if we were going out. On the return journey it was useless. Now we give him things to play with in the car (after all, it's boredom & wanting to get a reaction that prompts arm removal), and tell him tht if he removes his arms, we will stop the car, put him back and take away the toys/cuddly/torch. We had to do it once, and he made do by trying to take off his socks. I whipped those off him too [mean mummy emoticon] and that got the message through to him pdq. No repeat offences yet.

[oregonianabroad]

thanks for the replies, everyone.

does anyone know where to get one of those thingies (snugsit) or when they will have any in stock? any other suggestions?

[oregonianabroad]

anyone?

[ju]

A friend of mine used a big plastic barrette style hairclip to hold straps together on her child's chest, she found this the best for her Houdini. Easy for her to unclip, but as the fastening goes against the chest iyswim then child can't easily undo. Worth a try

[unknownrebelbang]

No advice, but you remind me of the time DS2 climbed out of his carseat and rolled the window down and waved to the car behind.....which just happened to be a police car!

It all happened in seconds, nowhere safe to stop and I was mortified.

[dyzzidi]

Could you take a trip to your local police station and have a nice but firm policeman tell him he has to have his arms in as its the law.

[fihi]

DS1 did that-i drove on to the 'rumble strip' at the side of the road, said "that sound tells me someone isn't wearing his seatbelt", stopped the car and offered to put him out as he wasn't strapped in. he was suitably mortified and didn't do it again. three years later, repeated the trick with DS2 who is braver and wiser and had to go as far as removing the yelling tot from car - much to passers by amusement-but he too stopped taking belt off after this bit of drama. the odd reminder was all that was needed after that! No, i'm not mean really.their safety is important!!

[Tortington]

duct tape?

[fihi]

can u buy straightjacket in age2-3?

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

DS does exactly this.

Usually, if I say "DS, be a GOOD boy, and put your arms back in the straps" in a firm voice, he'll do it.

Also I pull over. DS has a will of steel too. But, its the law, and its about keeping him safe and secure. Gotta be done I'm afraid.

[Othersideofthechannel]

Hi Oregonian

I did the policemen thing. I didn't actually drive to the station though, just knocked on the window of a police car we happened to be walking past. It was very helpful.

[oregonianabroad]

good ideas, especially the hair clip and the policeman. My neighbour is a PC, so will ask him to come over in uniform and give him a right talking to.
Thanks all.

[ladymuck]

Try asking this on the Special Needs board - they may have the answer there.

[unknownrebelbang]

See, that's the downside to being married to a copper - the kids don't take any blardy notice!

(DS2 thought it was Daddy behind when he rolled the window down and waved).

[ggglimpopo]

I bought dd3 a fisher price car seat after she stood up calmly on the motorway and started swinging between the two front seats. The button was stiff and hard to access(for a child, easy peasy for an adult) and it was the one seat she couldnt get out of.