Help!! Best car seat for ASD

[Bunnybaubles]

Can anyone recommend a car seat for a 2.5 yo being assessed for ASD?

Almost every attempt to get her in the car results in a tantrum or meltdown, so need something I can get her tied into quickly. And I need something she can't easily get out of.

I struggle to expand the length of her straps when trying to tie her in, and any second lost fiddling with the strap is a step closer to her losing control (we are talking seconds, not minutes) and getting her strapped in impossible. Also, once she is in she just slips her arms out and just can almost climb out of the harness.

So basically I need a safe car seat I can tie her in quickly which will ensure she stays put.
Has anyone got any recommendations? Thanks!

There are magnetic harness but the are pretty expensive. DS2 is a teenager and wears one that is put on outside of the car so have used them.

promobility.ie/product/booster-magnet-harness/

Thanks for replying @Boulshired unfortunately that's way out of my budget ☹ Sounds perfect for what I need unfortunately.
I haven't started a dla claim or anything, dp keeps on at me because it would help towards things like this but I just feel nervous before she gets her official diagnosis.
Do you know if there is anything a little more affordable?
Thanks and I appreciate you taking the time to reply.

You do not need a diagnosis, so phone on Monday to get a start date. There are charities that can help with expensive items. Crelling is a company that is cheaper and might have a solution. Again Phone on Monday, I get it by phoning it’s another step closer to the recognition that things are not as you hoped but the reality is diagnosis or not you and your child needs help the car seat proves that. It’s hard, and the forms are hard but it will benefit you and more importantly your child. One step at a time, first step phone.

I’ve got a graco high back booster seat, I didn’t pass my driving test until he was 4 so that’s the first car seat we used and still use now, the 5 point harness straps that came with it fitted him to begin with but as he got older I just had to use the seatbelt across him with a belt lock, but something to think about for the future when your dd is older is a crelling harness. If she shows any signs of being an escapee I can totally recommend.

I always used a little lock box that goes over the belt release button to stop him undoing it (from amazon) but when ds was 5 he climbed out of the belt instead of undoing it and whilst I was driving on a busy bloody road he dived into the front and despite my best efforts to shove him back into the back he grabbed my steering wheel and dragged it down and sent us up onto the path and I had to emergency stop 😩

I got a crelling harness the same week and 2 years on he still cannot get out of it.

Quite pricey to begin with but it’s worth it!

As for being a PITA getting into the seat I used to have to practically karate chop ds in it does get easier, he climbs in no issues now

And deffo apply for dla, we applied when ds was just turning 3, about 8 months before his diagnosis x

Have a look In Car Safety website. They are the experts, they do have some specialist seats and even if you're not near their store, they can help by phone.

I'd also second getting on to DLA. There should be services near you wjo can help you with the form. Google the "local offer" on your local authority website. If you can't directly find what you need, get in touch with the IASS in your area and they will be able to signpost you.

www.crelling.com/5-point-plus.html#ad-image-0

This might help?