share with me your successful techniques for car seat refusers! 18mth DS

[milkyman]

My ds has just started refusing going in his carseat he is strong and just goes rigid and cries. We are unable to go out on trips! Snack bribes dont work!

Can he get out? If so you need to make the straps really loose, loosely place them around his arms, tickle him to make his body relax and then pull the straps tight quick as you can!

Or just make it clear you'll sit there in the car waiting for him until he gets in. Think of a really high value trip like a visit to Grandma or the sweet shop or a farm park or something - obviously tell whoever you're visiting to expect you to be late!

I told DS that the car wouldn't start unless everyone was strapped in and he believed me, that worked.

DD went through a stage like this. I pushed her in (with my knee if necessary) and did up the straps (to sound of NO, NO, NO and general wailing!)

Tooth bushing and car seats are non-negotiable here.

DVD player on the back of the seat...

Wrestling is the only way I know of.

Is it the getting in he objects to? My dd has been much happier and better at cooperating since I supported her in 'climbing' onto the threshold of the doorstep, then helping her to 'jump', after 3, into the car seat.
She will be happy for me to strap her in if she had something to hold while I so it e.g a wooden block/ a small board book/a lite teddy.
How long it will be til these methods run out of effectiveness I do not know, but they work ok for me at the mo.
When DD was refusing to cooperate, before doing these things to speed her up, I might've just stood by the car door (and her) dispassionately while she got over her moment and decided it would be easier to cooperate anyway!

Agree with those who say you just have to manhandle them a bit. DD has a full on tantrum every time now and I really struggle. It's one of the reasons I try not to take the buggy into town as getting her into it if not willing involves a knee on her and it looks like child abuse with her screaming and wailing! She is getting so big I don't know how much longer I will be physically able to do this though, which is a worry.

I'm another for brute force I'm afraid and maybe a biscuit once in and buckled.

I have a maxi cosi axiss that swivels so it was easy to pin her on with one hand and get the straps on her with the other! The phase only lasted about a week as she soon realised that she was going in the car seat whether she liked it or not!

I have a maxi cosi axis but yo no avail...

Physical force here followed by many renditions of the wheels on the bus and just for car toys. After dd realised it was non negotiable she's gotten a lot better.
now for the pushchair battle, the highchair battle and the no teddies in the bath battle to be won......