staying in the carseat

Sarah - posted on 05/05/2010

I was doing the pull over and rebuckle and not budge until she knows the consequences thing. Yeah, my 3 year old thought it was sooo funny. Then I remembered that her favorite cartoon person Dora the Explorer ALWAYS buckles herself in and stays buckled. That was all I had to say and she's done it ever since. You can't tell me cartoons don't teach kids anything :)

Deborah - posted on 05/04/2010

My daughter did that,too. I pulled over to the side of the road many times, reviewed the rules with consequences, no favorite TV,snack,toy and after a few weeks of consistancy- she understood.

Heather - posted on 05/03/2010

I was able to take my now 4 yr old out and let her pick out her very own booster seat that uses the seat belt. I explained to her that inorder to use a big girl seat she had to act like a big girl and ALWAYS keep her seat fastened. She is quick to jump in and beat me at getting her seat fastened. If her dad forgets to fastened his before we leave she even says "dad, you don't have your seat belt on." Good luck, hope you find what works for you.

Angel - posted on 05/03/2010

My son is almost 3.5 and in a booster carseat that uses the regular seatbelt. He has learned how to unbuckle (& buckle) himself too. I constantly tell him, "DO NOT UNBUCKLE, until Mommy says you can". For the most part it has worked. BUT the other day he undid it while we were on the Interstate. I told him to buckle it back and he just looked at me like I was stupid. I pulled off to the side (in rush hour traffic, no less), busted his bottom, put the seat belt back on, then told him if he EVER takes it off again BEFORE I say it is ok, that he would get another whipping. He hasn't done it since.

He is a very stubborn and strong-willed boy and sometimes a whipping is the only thing that gets his attention. With something like this, his safety is most important, and if a whipping is the only way for him to see how important it is, then he will get the whipping.

You know your child best, so find what works and do it. You don't want to take any chances with her safety. Good Luck.

Rebecca - posted on 05/02/2010

i found the thing that worked best was at a time separate to the seat belt issue was sitting down with my daughter and explaining what a seat belt is for and what would happen if someone crashed into us and she wasn't wearing a seat belt. i know she's only 3 but she got it. show her that everyone else also wears a seatbelt for the very same reason. ... her father (who i am no longer in a relationship with) was not putting a seat belt on her (he refuses to wear his also) and she now makes sure he does. i don't like to diss her father to her cos i think it's just unethical, but in this instance i did tell her that her father is being an idiot not wearing his seatbelt, because i don't want her to think this is a good idea at all.

other than that, you have to pull the car over to the side of the road and insist you can't go anywhere until the seatbelt is on properly.

Brittany - posted on 05/01/2010

she is three and very perseptive. tell her how big girls where there seat belts and make sure she sees your on everytime. then make sure you talk to her like an adult and explain to her about the possible "boo-boos" not wearing your seat belts can cause but be careful not to scare her from the car. it worked for my daughter. good luck. btw her seatbelt is her newest toy so her old toys arnt goinf to intrest her while that seatbelt is preasnt.

Becky - posted on 05/01/2010

My oldest did this when we were on a thruway. I pulled over and stopped.

@ Jessica, I'm sorry, but I couldn't even begin to imagine purposely slamming on the brakes to prove a point. To me, that is beyond ridiculous. Not only was this not one of the brightest things I've ever heard of, but your dd could have seriously gotten hurt. I know you were tyring to prove a point, but to what extent? I try to protect my children, not do something that is going to possibly harm them.

Sorry for rant, off soapbox now.

Ashley - posted on 04/30/2010

My son has also only pulled out his arms. He did it a total of 3 times. I stopped immediately on the side of the road (in a safe place), got out, and buckled him in tighter, telling him how he had to stay in his seat and be safe. He got so tired of me stopping and buckling him again and lecturing, he stopped doing it.

Danielle - posted on 04/30/2010

My daughter lets the straps fall down off her shoulders sometimes, and talking to her about it doesn't work. So at this point, its a very firm 'NO, pull those straps back up NOW or else...' (the 'or else,' could be no playing dress-up later, or no tv, or maybe she doesnt get a snack after dinner) my daughter is really smart, but sometimes raising my voice is the only way that she will listen and do as i say. And I'm all about positive reinforcement and teaching by doing, but if scolding her works best, well, its for her own safety.

Jessica - posted on 04/29/2010

I know this sounds a bit harsh, but the next time she gets out of the seat, slam on the brakes to get her to understand the importance of staying in the seat. I tried this after my son got out of his seat and tried climbing in the front seat while we were on the highway! He banged into the back of the seat in front of him... it didn't hurt him, but scared him more than anything. He hasn't gotten out of his seat since!

Shanna - posted on 04/29/2010

the carseat we have she cannot get out of didn't know that wa an issue. i would look to see if there are recalls?? or call the manufacturer maybe they will send you a new one? i actually had a dispute when my brand new one i got for my 1 yr old with the expiration date and they sent me out a new one!

Eleanor - posted on 04/27/2010

i had the same problem, i bought a cheap carseat from argos that comes with a seatbelt protector. you can maybe get the plug protector thing separately - try ebay

Sharon - posted on 04/27/2010

When my boy pulls his arms out of his seat belt, I stop the car and we don't budge until he puts his arms back in. Luckily for me, he can not undo his seat belt yet. Good luck.

Jamie - posted on 04/22/2010

I had to get a carseat that locked her in better. I got one that the straps go across ehr chest and in between her legs. This helped with the problem. I took my daughter to the store and sat her in severl of them and watched her. Then when I found one that she could not get out of thats the one I bought. I know sounds mean right. But her safety comes first. Now she has learned to undue the chest clip but she cannot get out. I hope you the best.