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2year old DGS escaping from car seat

(91 Posts)
ComeOnGran Thu 09-Nov-23 10:08:03

My 2 year old grandson is escaping from his car seat and climbing through to the front of the car. Very dangerous! Any suggestions about what to do very welcome!

NotSpaghetti Thu 09-Nov-23 10:13:07

Is it actually being put on tight enough?
They should be pretty restrictive.

welbeck Thu 09-Nov-23 10:15:06

refuse to drive him anywhere until he complies.

NotSpaghetti Thu 09-Nov-23 10:17:42

The top of the harness should be about 2cm below the shoulder of a child in a rear-facing child car seat, and about 2cm above the shoulder of a child in a forward-facing child car seat.

It should be quite tight, so that only one or two fingers can fit between the child's chest and harness.

Clothing can affect how snugly the harness fits, so check it every journey.

The harness buckle should not rest over the child's tummy.

My son fits the hatmrness much tighter than I thought was necessary but he is, it seems, correct.
There's no way his infants could ever escape! grin

Wenmore Thu 09-Nov-23 10:25:24

There are various devices available that may help. Buckle-upp is one. Search childproof car seat buckles on Google or Amazon for more info. I also think he should be taught it's unacceptable, my son did the same many moons ago. I told him if he undid the seat belt we would simply sit and go nowhere and I'd ignore him, he found this very boring after a few minutes - l had set time aside for this, took a book with me and sat and read it until he realised undoing his seat belt didn't have a fun outcome, took a couple of trips. Also - if he then doesn't undo it he gets a reward - book to read in the car etc.

Bella23 Thu 09-Nov-23 10:25:34

Years ago I had a friend who put a set of reins on her child then strapped the reigns to the car seat are there any points where you could do this.? Old-fashioned reins seemed to allow this as I had to strap DD2 into a shopping trolley every time I went to the supermarket.

welbeck Thu 09-Nov-23 10:31:08

i would be wary of doing that with the reins, as the safety seat is not designed to be used like that.
in a collision the forces may cause the reins to become a hazard, risk of ligature etc.

NotSpaghetti Thu 09-Nov-23 10:35:41

I still wonder if the straps are too loose - this can happen too easily if the child is wearing something like a puffy coat for example.

It doesn't sound like he's undoing it - it sounds like he's getting out by wriggling.

Urmstongran Thu 09-Nov-23 10:38:46

A mini Houdini. I hope you find a solution here.

ComeOnGran Thu 09-Nov-23 10:46:54

He has worked out how to undo the buckle.

ComeOnGran Thu 09-Nov-23 10:48:23

It’s the school run she is finding difficult. He also refuses to go in the buggy and school is nearly a mile away so it’s all a bit fraught!

ComeOnGran Thu 09-Nov-23 10:49:07

Sadly it’s the buckle he can undo.

ComeOnGran Thu 09-Nov-23 10:51:21

Thank you - the idea of not going anywhere (obviously not the school run) and being very boring is a good one (with reward for being good).

ComeOnGran Thu 09-Nov-23 10:52:07

He won’t do reins either. He wants to be free!

ComeOnGran Thu 09-Nov-23 10:52:27

I agree

ComeOnGran Thu 09-Nov-23 10:53:07

It’s definitely the buckle.

ComeOnGran Thu 09-Nov-23 10:53:30

Thank you!

dotpocka Thu 09-Nov-23 10:55:57

friend make a sleeve that covered about 6 inches whenthe belt was engaged pushed it over the actual buckle
it worked

dotpocka Thu 09-Nov-23 10:58:50

maybe for those not handy
www.madeformums.com/reviews/3-ways-to-stop-your-child-getting-out-of-a-car-seat/

welbeck Thu 09-Nov-23 10:58:52

is it right seat and harness for him.
maybe go to halfords and discuss options.
he obviously needs to be securely restrained.
and told it is the law.
is he neuro-diverse, if so maybe support groups would have some ideas.

Baggs Thu 09-Nov-23 10:59:04

Who is in charge here? You or the child?

Who should be in charge?

These are all problems you can deal with.

Hithere Thu 09-Nov-23 11:05:25

It is clearly not the right seat and/or tight enough

He might not like it in the beginning but his safety is paramount and you are the adult and you are in charge, not him

Lyndylou Thu 09-Nov-23 11:41:00

Why such rude answers to someone who has asked for assistance? This is an issue we had with my DGS some years ago when he was 18 months old. I remember searching for something to help and being completely dismissed by a Mothercare assistant who also seemed to think the answer was to tell him not to undo the belt. Yes that works in the end, as does refusing to drive anywhere until he leaves it alone but in the mean time it is a dangerous situation and distracting for the driver. Car seat buckles are designed for easy opening in an emergency and little fingers love to open things. We had to resort to putting something over the button in the end while he learnt but that is not ideal either. I think here are more things on the market now to help but be careful that in the event of an accident that you can get him out of the seat quickly.

fancythat Thu 09-Nov-23 11:47:11

ComeOnGran

He won’t do reins either. He wants to be free!

Tough

fancythat Thu 09-Nov-23 11:47:39

As in, he will have to put up with it.