Escape from the Car Seat!

[Lighthouse115]

My 22 month old DS today worked out how to undo his car seat! Went back to Mothercare to ask their advice and was told that I just need to discipline my child and that all car seat buckles are the same! He can't talk yet but seems to understand all that is said to him, but obviously doesn't understand the dangers of undoing himself whilst car is driving. Any suggestions. Thank you.

There used to be guards to put over the car seat buckles, but tbh, if they are bright enough to undo it they will master the guard too. The other thing they try is to pull the straps down over the shoulders to wriggle out too. Im afraid it is a pull over safely and re-strap him in with a stern talking to. Try something to distract, give him a box of lego to fidget with or something similar that he enjoys. Good luck x

Thank you for your advice! Will give it a go. xx

Oh he is an escapist master!!!! Mine did not manage to undo hers, but as previous poster said, she wriggle her arms (both) out of the belts. It took a lot of discipline to get her to stop doing it, stop, put it back, put a very very serious face, she will take out the belt straight away, so I did not move the car until she stop taking her arm out, and we gave up trips to the park or fun activities because of that......... a lot of hardship...... but now, she reminds me herself to take the car seat with us to the car when we go out to get into the car, and she sits happily, she just got the message it is safe for her, like when they try to touch dangerous things like the switches, and they eventually learn that is dangerous. Good luck, and be consistent, he will get there

Make sure the straps are in the correct height for him. If they are positioned too low then there is a lot of wriggle room as the slip off the shoulders. Also, make sure that he isn't wearing a coat- most are either too bulky or slippery.

DD got her arms out of the straps quite a few times when she was around that age, although never managed to undo the actual buckle. I always stopped the car asap and gave her a very sound telling off. The last two times I really went ballistic to be honest, shouted my head off at her. I would rather she was frightened of me being scary mummy than putting herself in danger. I don't know whether she was coming to the end of that phase anyway but it seemed to do the trick, she didn't do it after that.

I've since seen someone here post about something called the Five Point Plus (?) which can stop wriggle-escaping, although it wouldn't help a houdini who can undo the actual buckle.

houdini stop

It's marvellous!