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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

dd 2yr keeps escaping her car seat!

12 replies

mumtoo3 · 19/02/2010 19:19

I am sure i am not the only one to have this lovely problem, but i can not tighten her seat belt any tighter, but she can wriggle out of her belt and then trys to open the door!!! (we have a door lock)

I have a friend who got her childs car seat in america and they have an extra clip which goes across the v shape strap and it stops the child getting there arms out! she said it is standard over there! does anyone know what they are called? or where to get one from?

thank you

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thisisyesterday · 19/02/2010 19:26

you used to be able to buy them over here buty i am not sure you still can
car seats over here legally have to be made with only one buckle to open in case of accidents.

um, have a google and you might be able to find one though

BertieBotts · 19/02/2010 19:28

They are called chest clips and in America they are on all the carseats, put there by the manufacturers, and crash tested with them in place.

Here you can only buy separate ones and the official advice is not to use anything which has not been crash tested with a seat as it could compromise the safety of the seat. (Safety also including how easy it would be for a stranger with no experience of car seats to get your DD out in an accident if you were unable)

I don't know how much effect a chest clip would have on the overall safety of the seat TBH - but worth thinking about. If you decide that the risk is too high you could buy another seat - one with an impact shield is good for escapers - but that would be the expensive otion!

LittleMissNorty · 19/02/2010 19:28

We've just bought one of these

thisisyesterday · 19/02/2010 19:29

here

BertieBotts · 19/02/2010 19:33

Info from ROSPA

Original poster

mumtoo3 · 19/02/2010 19:40

thank you all its very frustrating and distracting when you are driving! its been about 6-8 months this has been going on, and we have tried everything to stop her!

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spongeitup · 20/02/2010 00:21

I am in Canada but the 5 point harness (carseats with chest clips) have been mandatory here for many years. When they were first introduced, you could buy a chest clip separately to convert any older 3 point harness carseat (which sounds like what you have? Just connects at the shoulders and between the legs?). I believe it was "Safety 1st" that made them but could be wrong - an ebay search would probably find some. There are some very different options so worth checking out what works for you as the clips are quite varied.

As an aside - all of our "baby stuff" has to be 5 point harnesses - infant carrier, toddler carseat, etc., not sure if it is the same elsewhere but can't imagine what would keep DS in otherwise!

mrspoppins · 20/02/2010 01:23

What have you tried so far to stop her? How old is she?

mrspoppins · 20/02/2010 02:21

ok ok ok she's two!!!but is she two nearly 3 or 2 recently 1? It makes a difference to understanding.
This is something I've used and it worked really well...
Get a large clear plastic box that can be used for confiscated toys and keep it at home..out of reach but within view...hence why it must be see through!
You start off the car journey with dd having a toy/ teddy...whatever...with her that she really wants to take in the car with you...Make sure it is something that will entertain her and make a really big deal about how great it is etc...
Before you leave, say." If you try to get out of your seatbelt I will take the toy away and it will have to go in the box at home. If she gets out...you take it and when home she has to put it in the box.
She will be horrendous but you have lost nothing...she may try to get out of her seat again and again on the rest of the journey...just stop, say nothing to her but strap her back in and then drive off...important to say nothing else at all to her after she has lost her toy.No banter, CD sorytape whatever...nothing
Once home, explain that if she is a good girl the next time you go in the car, she will be able to have the toy back.
Simple principal...hope I explained it clearly enough..it is very late but watching olympics!!!
It won't go on for too long...when she gets a toy back...praise in ridiculous abundance.
xx

BertieBotts · 20/02/2010 15:03

Spongeitup no, nearly all Stage 1 (1-4 years) car seats have 5 point harnesses here, all 5 straps come together and fasten somewhere around the child's crotch - but in the US they tend to have an extra clip which holds the two shoulder straps together, which goes higher up on the chest area.

Infant carseats all seem to have the 3-point harnesses though rather than 5-point and I don't know why - but I suspect it's because babies wriggle less or something.

spongeitup · 20/02/2010 15:18

Ah, we are the same as the US seats then, all have the chest clip. It is supposed to be positioned as high as possible across the chest. Interesting about the infant carseats - everything here is a 5 point, but checked this morning when out and you can buy the chest clips separately at most "big box" type chains here.

Original poster

mumtoo3 · 20/02/2010 20:13

thanks for replies

dd was 2 in Nov, so is 2 and a bit! we took her out today, and she escaped twice! I felt really bad shouting at her, but she cried and got upset so just hoping its worked, but cant see it her older brother and sister have booster seats which i am sure does not help her, as they have more freedom!

thank you again x

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