Car Seat Issues - Springtown,TX

S.,
What kind of carseat do you have him in? Let me know and I might be able to give you some pointers! Also, how tall is he and how much does he weigh?

Take a look at this link:
http://www.carseat.org/Resources/635.pdf - the first thing on there asks if his harness straps are tight enough - are they?
http://www.carseatsite.com/pinchtest.jpg - if you can pinch any slack on the straps like in this picture then the straps are definitely too loose!

2 1/2 is definitely too young to be using the seatbelt though, a seatbelt is much much easier to unbuckle than the carseat itself! (Car seat technicians recommend keeping a child harnessed until they are at least 4 or 5, and at least 40lbs. After that we think about moving them into a booster, but the fact is, most 4 and 5 year olds aren't mature enough to use a booster, whether high back or backless, properly, every time.)

I know this has got to be really tough for you! Get back to me and we can try and figure out a solution.

S.,

Take your son and go to the Police Station in Springtown (or Azle) and have one of the officers examine your situation. If neither dept. has a car-seat certification officer that is *comfortable* with giving you the BEST advice, they will be able to tell you which office is next closest that does. (I don't know if they will direct you to Lake Worth or Weatherford.)

Our 2 1/2-year-old son was also wiggling his shoulders out of his shoulder straps (without unbuckling anything!), and I can't tell you how many times I had my husband take the "back roads" to get to where we were going so we could pull over *immediately* whenever our son would "unstrap". Once pulled over, one of us would strap him back in with a very stern talking to (and occasional swats). I know where you live that is not possible, especially if you are coming into FW, but Jacksboro Hwy is soooo dangerous!!

One thought that just came to mind is that by "wiggling" out of his straps, it may be his way of telling you that the straps are *too tight*, so you might want to let them out just a hair.

GOOD LUCK!!
~J.~
(I used to live in Lake Worth and Springtown, so I know your dilemma!!)

S. - how did you know what my DS has been up too!?!?! My DS has never liked the carseat - even the ride home from the hospital 3 years ago. We've also started calling DS "Houdini" as he escapes from his carseat also. Monday we were going down the toll way and DS got out of his car seat and was standing behind me saying, "hi Mommy!" I had DH stop the car and I got in the back seat. The ONLY way I have been able to get his attention is to have him LOOK me in the eye and I speak with a stern voice about NOT getting out of his carseat. DS has always slid the chest plate down and slide his arms out. Now he pushes up and wiggles his way completely out. LUCKILY he hasn't figured out how to release the latch between his legs.

Hello there, S..

I read your delima and came across this particular item. This may (or may not) be useful to you. I remember having the same situation w/ my children and had found this on the internet.

ANGEL GUARD - Seat Belt Cover

ANGEL GUARD SEAT BELT COVER - At last there is a way to keep your child from unbuckling the seat belt in the car. This simple safe and effective buckle guard tool is the seat belt cover option you have been looking for. I personally tried 3 different products. This seat belt cover by ANGEL GUARD is the most effective. Order your Angel Guard seat belt cover today and keep your children safer. SET OF TWO Black Covers.
NOTE: Fits most vehicle buckles 1996 and newer (with red button on top of buckle). These do not fit buses or vans with button in the middle of the buckle. We have a few left in black. Then the rest will be in gray.

http://www.mypreciouskid.com/seat-belt-adjuster.html

I'm sure if you do some other searches, you may find other websites that carry the same thing, and/or to you needs.

Good Luck!

- C.

My neice went through this. My suggestion is you buckle him back in and tell him that it's not acceptable- then make the rest of the car ride silent-you can't make him be quiet but you can refuse to talk to him until you get where you are going. Part of why he may unbuckle himself is to get your attention so if the opposite happens he may get it.

Good luck!

It sounds to me like you need a car seat with a puzzle lock. It also sounds like he is too young to be in a booster seat alone. Britax makes great car seats for toddlers that you can keep in the car seat part for up to 80 pounds. If your child keeps unbuckling his car seat then he is by no means ready for a booster. The consideration for that transition should not only be weight, but also for maturity. My almost 4 year old is still in a car seat for that reason exactly...toddler boys are WILD!

Every time my son did this I spamed on the brakes (if it was safe to) and this scared the poo out of him and he stoped unbuckling his belt. I did have to swat him when I pulled over but now I dont worry about him undoing his belt.
And try to explain that he can be hurt if he doesnt have his belt on

wow - he is DEFINATELY not old/mature enough to be in a seat belt booster! i think they are supposed to be 3 AND a certain weight, but most car seat safety inspectors don't rec those til at least 5. i would make sure the straps are very tight and have a stern talk with him, i have one older and one younger, he's testing your limits and this is a battle you HAVE to win. at 2.5, in a rollover collision in a seat belt booster, he wouldn't stand a chance. what kind of a car seat is he in? maybe look into getting a nicer one if he's truly uncomfortable in it? my older one did this ONE time on 35E, and let's just say that he NEVER did it again, and he is 5 now and still in a 5 point harness.

My older boy did this, we turned the buckles backwards, and it took him longer to figure out how to uno himself from that, he hated it and would cry and throw a fit cause he couldnt undo it, but its better to hear him cry then not to hear him anymore if he gets out at the wrong time. Hope this helps. Good luck with your little houdini.:)