the move to a booster seat - keeping the child strapped in

[Nettee]

DS is nearly 4 and the right weight to go up to a booster seat (DD is ready for his old forward facing seat too so it seemed like a good time to do this). We bought the booster seat (with the back piece that using the car's seatbelt to hold DS and the seat) and he was all excited and pleased but I have a major problem which is that he can escape from it and does this while I am driving. Obviously we just can't have this but I don't really know how to resolve it. I think I might have to go back to his old seat but that won't last forever. Of course I have told him that he can't do it, pulled over and put him back in the seat, said we can't go anywhere if he gets out, said that he might die if he doesn't have his seatbelt on etc etc but he is a little boy who pushes the boundaries and obviously while I am driving I can't do anything physically to keep him in the seat. Yesterday we were on the motorway and he was out of his seat opening the window - very very scary.

Anyone else had this issue? What did you do to sort it out? Is there a seat at this stage which is harder to get out of? He isn't undoing the belt he is wriggling out through it

I really imagined that because he had always been strapped in in the car that he would just not question it or think to escape - I feel so vulnerable in the car without my seat belt on but obviously he doesn't

I used to stop the car (if safe!) and give DSs a Stern Talking To. It was made clear in no uncertain terms that it was unacceptable and dangerous.

You could tell him he will have to go back into the "baby seat" (and stress the baby part!) if he can't behave.

I wonder if there is some way to fix the seatbelt behind the part where it comes in across his shoulder (IYSWIM! The bit that adjusts the height of the belt down from his neck) so it is held tighter.

How long has he been in it? It could be a novelty that will soon wear off.

We have a booster with a back on it but it also came with a harness like the top two here www.argos.co.uk/static/Browse/c_1/1|category_root|Nursery|12109130/c_2/2|cat_12109130|Car+and+booste r+seats|12109153/p/21/pp/20/s/Price%3A+Low+-+High.htm We tried it without the harness but ds kept escaping so we but the harness on, he threw a tantrum so we told him you sit nicely or you wear the harness. After a few times of pulling over putting the harness on and dealing with the tantrum he got the message and now sits quite nicely in his seat.

only 3 days or so - yes you could be right that it will wear off but only if I handle it right now I think. I did wonder about holding the seatbelt tighter - will maybe have another look at that as an option

I'd put him back in the Baby Seat for a few days and tell him it's because he can't behave. Provided you still have the other seat for DD or course

Agree with SoupDragon.

If not, then I would stop the car immediately, shout at him, strap him in.

If he does it again (like my DS did) I would take him to the police station and park outside telling him you are taking him in because it is against the law.

He NEVER EVER did it again.

Agree with oneliein I know a mum who got the policeman to come out and tell her boys to stay in their seats

my charge (when 2) used to take his arms out of the 5 point harness

i stopped the car and SCREAMED at him right in his face very very loudly and told him 'he will never ever take his arms out as its very verY dangerouse and makes me very very cross'

he was terrified of me, and cried and cried for about 20 minutes afterwards.... and never took his arms out ever again

I was on the motorway too, and it is not nice knowing the child is not properly strapped in

Screaming in a child's face is a bit extreme NannyL, it's one thing to tell them off or pull in at a police station but would draw the line at doing that especially if it is someone else's child.

thanks for all your suggestions - I think I might go down the route of getting a seat with a harness although I have just bought two of these boosters (but still we can use them until DD is 12 or something so they won't be wasted once they are both in them) I am not very good at the whole authority thing and physical restraint might be the safest option.

Also cover the buckle with a coat or cushion so its less likely to catch his eye when bored.

dont worry silently wondering

you have never met my 2 year old charge

his parents know and are fine with it...
he had been told off before but was thinking it was a game

would rather my child was screamed and and alive, than dead to be honest! As would my bosses!

and he never did it again so it worked and ebing told off had NOT worked

my 2yr 9month old is in a high backed booster with seatbelt - we use one of these which although not fail safe (a smart kid will just lift it off) is a good deterent, because ds1 is a little bit younger out of site is out of mind.

He's got out once and dh went ape sh*t - he is the calmest gentalist man I know, it scared ds and I think he got the gravity of the situation and has never done it again, I made sure he had a few toys (mostly sticker books) with him for longer journeys to keep him entertained and still

A mum I know did take her ds to the police station and the police man explained to ds that it was against the law - her ds was so in awe of the man in uniform that he never did it again and started telling us all about wearing seatbelts, alway as option

we did better today - I showed him a picture of a booster with harnesses and said I will have to buy it if he keeps escaping. He said he didn't like it and hey presto so far so good

great