Carseats refusal!

[sazzerbear]

DS (2.5) has recently insisted to get into his carseat himself which is fine but now he has started climbing in to the car, giving the carseat a wide berth and just messing about. Today it took over 10 mins to get him in (despite various negotiations) with a tantrum thrown in for good measure. Any tips? TIA.

Oh gosh we have this too. Mine does 'the board' ie turns himself into a plank when I try and do up the straps.

Ds1 did it too.

It passes, I can't remember how long it takes...eventually they start being bored with the game and you can also bribe them.

Mine tends to do it FAR more if he is hungry...the suggestion of a biscuit etc will often work wonders. And just stand there being bored if you have time, don't react, don't chase...they will give it up in the end.

My DS went through a phase of undoing his seatbelt when I was driving. I kept telling him that a policeman would see him and tell him off. One day in town I saw a policeman and marched DS up to him and told him what he had been doing. The policeman was brilliant - was very firm but not horrible. DS never did it again.
If you took him into your local police station I think that they would be great about it.

Ahh yes Juillet, I had the board as well today! Mmn think food bribery is the way to go, thanks for the advice!

That's so funny little. Actually one day I got SO fed up about ds undoing his straps in the back that I pulled up and parked on the forecourt of the police station, and got out, and opened his door and very assertively did them up, I'm not sure why there I was just going past and thought it would imbue me with determination and lawful righteousness.

It worked for me - he had no idea where we were.

iN fact I think it was probably in the back of my mind that should he make the usual screeching and wailing noises, implying to passers by that I was abusing him terribly by fastening his belt, then I could handle it better knowing the passers by would be police officers and therefore support me on my mission to Do Him Up.

Half the battle is not caring about the screams and whether people are staring.