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Behaviour/development

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Original poster

16 mth dd2 getting out of car seat straps - any ideas??

20 replies

hex · 08/09/2006 21:38

My dd2 has got into the habit of pulling down the shoulder straps of her brittax renaissance car seat. She hasn't yet managed to undo the clip but it still means she's riding around with just what is effectively a lap belt. Short of stopping every couple of minutes to slip her back into the straps, any ideas? Is there something I can buy (from where?)which would clip the two straps together across her chest?

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Cailyn3 · 08/09/2006 21:49

Theres something called "locktite" on Kiddicare, just found it on their website - got to get one for my escape artist son too, they are only £4! Hope that helps!

iamapieceofcheesecake · 08/09/2006 22:19

Don't mean to sound a bore, but isn't this just used for the harnesses that are used when walking a child or when you have them in their highchair? It isn't recommended to use anything like this on a car seat because in the event of an accident, police/paramedics/firecrews have to get the child out as quickly as possible, and this may prevent them from doing so. To be honest this isn't really that uncommon and you really only have two options: buy another car seat (which may sound pointless, but there are others out there which can prevent them from doing this) or you will have to teach her that this is wrong, even if it does mean you have to stop every time she does it. I know it sounds stupid, but it really is her safety after all.
The most important thing to remember is that you should only be able to get two fingers between the harness and her chest, it may look too tight, but it is the correct way to be fitted. Hope this helps....

biglips · 08/09/2006 22:22

wel a few mn had been recommending them on here as i was gonna get one but havent got the car on the road atm but will soon..... so ill be watching this space!

iamapieceofcheesecake · 08/09/2006 22:26

It's just that if there is an accident, I should imagine that the police/paramedics/firecrews don't know what they are looking for. I would think that as far as they are concerned they are just looking to push one button to get them out of the seat, and the extra clip could take up vital moments until it is found.

ilovecaboose · 08/09/2006 22:30

I have been considering getting one of these for my ds - but found this in the times a little while back (sunday 23rd July - motoring section)

"American law allows a connecting strap between the shoulder harnesses but European Union Legislation does not. It states that a adult must be able to release a child from a safety seat in a single action Adding a shoulder harness connector would require two."

It goes on to saw that anti-tampering devices (those that cover the buckle) are also not recommended by the CAPT (child prevention trust) or RoSPA (Royal society for the prevention of accidents) as they can affect how a seat works in accidents. The paper suggested visiting here for tips about how to prevent these problems.

Chuffed · 10/09/2006 09:44

Get a hugit. here

Chuffed · 10/09/2006 09:46

sorry here

DelGirl · 10/09/2006 09:50

there may be some more suggestions here

Kelly1978 · 10/09/2006 09:51

I bought a snugsit for dt1. he has ripped it to shreds but it still works most of the time. It scares the hell out of me that they keep escaping, because it isn't always possible to stop. They are very easy to pull off, a paremedic certinly wouldn't be struggling to get a child out. Personally I would rather risk losing a couple of seconds in that scenario than the injuries that would occur if one of the dts were not strapped in properly.

biglips · 11/09/2006 10:23

what a waste Kelly! as its only plastic isnt it? as i would have to get a pair of handcuffs as well to make sure my strong determined DD doesnt get out!!

Kelly1978 · 11/09/2006 17:55

the snugsit is fabric here

I wish I had listened to the wise mnetter who advised me to get the plastic one! can't remember who it was right now.

For not I've been slipknotting a scrunchie roung the straps as dt2 has also learned to escape. wouldn't recomend it for the reasons that iaapoc said, but it can be pulled off in one easy movement and is working for now.

PinkTulips · 11/09/2006 17:58

the straps are supposed to be tight enough that you can only fit one finger under them. sounds like their too loose if she can get them off tbh

Kelly1978 · 11/09/2006 18:02

I have jsut emailed gltc to get the manufacturers details to complain about it actually, as it really isn't baby safe.

Kelly1978 · 11/09/2006 18:04

no matter how tight I do mine up, they loosen them by wriggling their shoulders out first. If you think about the straps going up in a v shape, there is that ropom for maneuvering at the top. I've tried raising and lowerign the straps with no luck in the past, though I am going to raise them again when I get a minute.

theames · 11/10/2010 11:41

The houdini stop is a chest strap that can be put on and removed with one hand.

Its a strap that clips on to each car seat strap and stops the child getting their arms out

www.houdinistop.co.uk

Its been crash tested and approved by an australian board who review car safety accessories.

they sell them in the UK at Houdini Stop - Car seat chest strap

The law states its not illegal to attach these to car seats, its simply not legal for a company in the EU to sell one with such a device attached

LarkinSky · 12/10/2010 12:32

I've got the Houdini Stop mentioned above for 20 month old DD. It's worked wonderfully, solved all problems. Bargain for a tenner, and great service from New Zealand manufacturer.

theames · 04/01/2011 20:47

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet.

McGinger · 04/01/2011 20:53

I agree with PinkTulips.

The straps should be tight, so you can only fit a single finger under, if they are then how can they get out?

I have 2 children, one of 2 and one of 5 and they both used the same car seat and not once did either of them manage to "wriggle" out of the straps. My youngest has tried in the past but has never managed.

What make is the car seat? It honestly doesn't sound like it is properly designed to me.

thelittlebluepills · 04/01/2011 21:46

I wouldn't recommend anything that would delay you or anyone unfamiliar with the car (e.g. firefighter) getting your DC out in a hurry

my kids are not the most cooperative at the best of times but I found that the following approach worked brilliantly: the first time they took arms out of the car seat I very firmly told them not to do it, the second time I yelled at them like a woman posessed. I know it's not nice to scare your kids and yell at them but I figured that 10 mins of being frightened by monster-mummy was alot better than the potential consequences of not wearing a seatbelt properly. We have never had an issue since (well not with seatbelts anyway)

trixie123 · 05/01/2011 11:52

If you decide against the above suggestions I can recommend the Kiddypro infinity car seat. It looks like a booster seat for an older child but has a torso shield that goes across their chest, held in place with the seat belt. They can't reach the seat belt release so can't get out. It is newish over here but very good safety reports from Which etc and is popular on the continent. We put DS in it at about a year and he has been fine. The idea is that it spreads the impact of a collision over the upper body rather than holding the shoulders locked and thus the neck taking the strain.

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