How to force a 2 year old into car seat without crushing it (the child!)

[Tatat]

TDS, 2.4, has in the last month turned into an absolute nightmare to get into his car seat. Tried distraction, rewards (stickers/nibbles/favourite toy/comforter) to no avail.

Screams kicks wriggles goes floppy goes stiff- the whole gamut and it's really stressful. Both at start of day when we get him into the car to go to nursery and when we pick him up, as well as any time in between- so basically every single time we get him n the car. Screams "MY DO IT!!!" (Let me do it) but I've tried letting him and he just wants to scramble over into the front.

Any tips on how to get him in there without too much fuss?

Not really expecting replies tonight as I'm already looking most pumpkin like myself but thought I'd post this before I go to bed so I don't forget!

how easy it is to forget those days when they are bigger.
I can't remember what I did, but I think once I suggested we walked all the way instead!

Bump

Help!

We started letting him climb into the car seat himself (challenge him to see how fast he can do it, with a reward in the end - it's amazin ghow that can help). Once he had climbed in himself he seemed quite happy to be sit there and be strapped in.
It's a royal PITA and you need to add 5 miutes to your journey to allow for the faffing, but it makes things calmer, and in our case only lasted a few months, and then he grew out of it.

Psychology or brute force. Hmm...
You know what makes him tick, so promise him something he can't have til he's in the seat (a secret surprise thing / he can choose the music / tell him how all the big boys sit sensibly.?) Oh - just remembered - I told my son once that the police would stop us and arrest us and we'd get into big big trouble if he didn't sit in the seat properly! That worked.

Or pin him down with a firm forearm across his stomach while you do the belt up. Guess that is less helpful as Houdini toddlers alway escape if they want to.

I will give the "policeman won't like it" trick for sure, he's really into neenaws so that might work.

Also like the "how fast can you do it"- will give both a try.
Tried letting him do it himself but he just makes a bolt for the drivers seat!

Thanks for ideas

I have some chocolate buttons on standby. Most of the time he's OK these days but sometimes he remembers he hates the car seat and goes stiff. I lift him up with an arm under his neck and round his shoulders and another under his knees and blow raspberries on his tummy. When either his strength or tickle resistance breaks and he bends in the middle I fold him up sharpish and before he can say "no! aargh!" he's strapped in. If he realises though and goes stiff again before I get the buckles done up (dammit!) I cram in about 4 chocolate buttons. He is so surprised and delighted that he goes limp and I buy myself an extra 2 or 3 seconds. Threats and promises are lost on him, it has to be something immediate.

ds is 2.4 by the way

My son is 2.4 & there's no way he would understand that policeman wouldn't like it Blackmail won't work on him, he is too young tu understand.

I often give him a tractor to hold whilst I get him in his seat, or show him something I have for him ie: a chocolate or something nice when he sits still. Pity it won't work with keeping his straps on!!

place child in car seat, grab straps with one hand, tickle tummy with other, child ceases to be stiff, fasten straps v.quickly whilst continuing to tickle.

I would make sure to get to car in plenty of time for at least a week, set your alarm early, so you can put on your act: sit in the driver's seat and look out window, or at your phone, with a cool nonchalant face and just sit there waiting serenely in silence. When he gets bored with whatever he is doing, mention only something nice that going to happen when you get where you're going (make it up if you must), and that as soon as he is sitting down properly, you can both be on your way.

I have now graduated to persuading 6 and 4 yar old to get in, close door, sit and do up own buckle (I have a bad back, and they are able anyway). But I am still using the same methods-treats and stickers are slowly receding, now it is, I will turn on the fave story tape, once all of the above are done.

-hard but probably temporary

He might be a little too young, but when I want my son to do something I count down "5,4,3,2,1". If it gets to 1 and he is still not complying then I would use physical force to put him in his carseat.

At home I use the 5,4,3,2,1 technique to get him to comply with requests. (Ie, going up to the bath, putting on his coat, dressing) If he totally refuses after 5,4,3,2,1 then I put him in time out for one minute of his life. Admitally timeout is hard to do if you are in the car and in a hurry.

With my son I get him to face a wall when he misbehaves when he is out, but I think that would be impossible with a two year old.

Children often respond to praise at this age better than punishments. If your child obeys you then it good to give lots of praise and thank them for doing what was asked.

Personaly I never went in for all the rewards, pleading etc. I think you end up with them thinking there are other options, ground to be gained and battles to be one.

I have managed to get them to go with the idea that it is just what you do, go in the car get in the seat, do up the belt. Same as going for a walk on a cold day, put on a coat. Go to the loo, wipe your bum.

No debate, no options. Depending on time either the car doesn't move until you are strapped in or bugger I am late so brute force. Thankfully I never realy needed to use the second option.

So I suppose my advise would be don't discuss the matter just do it.

I do the following.... get straps as big as they go (4 year old size, actually i have normally done this when i get them out anyway)

strap them in in the 4 year old size using force if nothing else has worked...

pull the string thing back onto the childs size.