To not strap my baby into her buggy properly?

[onespot]

My baby is 11 months and hates straps over her shoulders strapping her in; she goes absolutely mad. I’ve been avoiding this by just doing the straps round her waist so that she has some security but it means she leans far forwards (usually to eat the safety bar) and it feels precarious.

Wondering how bad it is not to have her ‘properly’ strapped in.

I think she’s too young and at an age where she is too enthusiastic for freedom without the control to keep herself safe, so she needs to be strapped in properly. Can she walk yet? I had an autistic daughter who at that age was so difficult with straps I just used to carry her in between letting her walk for a few minutes.

I would probably have been more blasé , but when DS1 was that age the pushchair malfunctioned and partially collapsed as we were crossing the road. If he hadn't had the shoulder straps on he could easily have catapulted out onto the road - as it was the shoulder straps were what was holding him in as he precariously dangled forward towards the road.

Horrible memory. Eventually kids adapt to things they don't like and it's better than the alternative.

I had clips on my buggy I could secure traditional reins harness to, dd didn't like the straps on the buggy so I put the harness on before leaving the house and secured that to the buggy, was escape proof unless the buggy straps, was a little Houdini

I once forgot to strap dd in completely, bumped up a kerb and out she flew. She was absolutely fine other than being a bit surprised! I felt terrible and double and triple checked the next few times, I had failed entirely to do any of the straps/clips!

Please make sure you are using all the straps available, dd had a lucky escape, we were down a quiet side road near my house, no cars and no pedestrians nearby, I still cringe thinking how much worse it could have all ended.

They're also designed to stop children being catapulted across the road if you're hit by a car crossing the road. Or if the buggy rolls away.

I always think it's a bit daft when someone says something is fine to do just because they have never had a problem. By your logic I don't need to wear a seat belt because I've never been in a car crash.

OP, very fewnchildren don't resist being strapped into their buggies and fight against it. My daughter did until something else caught her attention.

This really is one of those "you're the adult" moments.

There are many, many times over your life as her parent when you will have to get her to do things she doesn't want to do. Unfortunately, the resistance that goes with it is all part of the job!

If you give in to her every demand and whim then you're in for a very miserable time as a parent and will be doing her a great disservice as she grows up to be a spoilt brat!

Thanks. She is facing me but wondering if she’d prefer to face the other way. We don’t actually use it a lot but if we ever get decent weather it would be nice to have some sunny pram walks!

What buggy is it and how big is it and where are the straps sitting on her

This. Stop letting her rule the roost or the toddler years will be hell.

Both of mime were/are like this - shoulder straps always being taken down in both car seat and buggy. You might have already tried this but we found these clips that attach to both shoulder straps across the chest so they can’t, they really help. One had this really cute bee cover, and we have similar system in the car but a monkey on the clip, they liked/like this about them and distracted them from the “discomfort” (they were fine just didn’t like straps of any kind at any time lol)

bee

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pushchair-Houdini-escapees-Escape-me-not-Journeys-Less/dp/B072J5KPTY/ref=asc_df_B072J5KPTY/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309930550694&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9920842487180429098&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045006&hvtargid=pla-485628503957&psc=1&mcid=cf3a191cb7d9306e84531d406e8b8859

monkey clips

https://www.amazon.co.uk/QOPAHI-Harness-Prevent-Children-Strollers/dp/B0C3H8T9JK/ref=sw_img_mw_sspa_ma_huc_pt_expsub_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0C3H8T9JK&pd_rd_w=1f53m&content-id=amzn1.sym.3102f158-e0c7-4556-81ab-3ca2f9a234a9&pf_rd_p=3102f158-e0c7-4556-81ab-3ca2f9a234a9&pf_rd_r=SJ1JD48M79VK52RWNVYA&pd_rd_wg=ZXYBv&pd_rd_r=2d38a34d-dd29-4963-af41-ac411b7841c4&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tb2JpbGVfaHVjX21yYWk=

It won't be long before she topples forwards, especially on uneven ground or a kerb. Babies are top heavy and she could have a nasty fall. You can get five point harnesses to attach at the d rings in the seat or insist on the shoulder straps and ignore protests, it will be shortlived.

Have you felt along the steps to check nothing is poking out of them and digging into her?

Also maybe don’t have the straps really tight, get her used to them gently over her, (if something happens they’ll still hold her in) then tighten slightly every time you go out.

There was a poster here last week who was distraught that she hadn't strapped her child into the buggy securely and were now in hospital with a fractured skull

Not the safest really.

Try a trike you push along?

All little ones object to being confined but they get used to it quickly if you have boundaries eg car/ high chair/ pushchair: supermarket trolley. It isn't cruel in any way to mind their safety. The reins idea works well .When you get to the park or get home she can run or crawl around to her heart's content .

Face it the other way.

I know kids injured falling out when they are strapped in let alone when not

No chance on this planet would I risk it they are not there to look pretty

Yeh - join the majority of people who don’t talk to their children as the buggy is facing away from them!

My children were exactly the same - needed to sit bolt upright.

Like pp, I used a reins harness with the D rings on the pushchair seat.
I would really recommend, it is very secure, but the child still has freedom of movement. You can use the harness for high chairs in cafes too, or supermarket trollies.
And the harness is handy when walking, with or without reins clipped on.

If you look at your pushchair, there should be a solid ring at each back corner of the seat, where it meets the back, that’s the D ring.

When you buy a harness, it comes with a long strap (the reins) with clips at either end, and two short loops with clips - you attach those to the D rings by passing the end through the loop and pulling it tight, and then clip the harness on with the child already wearing it

When you get out of the pushchair you just unclip it, no need to take the harness off, so it is very quick and easy. You can clip on the reins instead when you get out, if your child is an escapee.

Nonsense - mine faced away (20+ years ago and that was what was available) and I talked to them all the time. They talked back quite happily from about 9 months too.
What we weren't doing was talking on our phones, scrolling through our phones or texting on our phones whilst pushing the buggy.

I knew a couple who allowed their child to do this. Going down a curb and the baby fell out, hit his head and died. Keep the straps on. Your baby will get used to it.

This is what we call a “tough shit” situation. All toddlers need to learn that some things in life are non-negotiable. The more you try to faff with it all, the longer it will take for the child to learn. Just do the damn straps properly, and deal with the wobblers while they last. It’ll be a few days, barring any SN, and then it will be a non-issue.

I feel like this is one where you have to keep doing it until baby realises that this is what happens before you go out. Straps are there for a reason and it's dangerous not to use them, especially as child gets heavier/more mobile!