3.5yr old has unbuckled the top of her car seat two or three times this past week while driving around town. Today I had just pulled up to a stop light and saw her and was able to convince her to put it back. Do I need to find a more complicated seat, a booster seat wear she uses the car seat belts? And remind her every time we get in the car how important it is. When I took her to WIC last week she weighed 34lb and was 39" tall.
She is WAY WAY to young for a booster. and she will only take the car's seat belt off if she is in a booster. She needs to be in a 5 point harness for as long as possible.
booster seats are for older children who only need to sit taller so they can use the car seat belt appropriately. but they are not safety seats like the toddler seat is.
HTH
April J
Flip he buckle backwards. Yes, I know you have to take it apart and flip all the buckles on the shoulder straps as well. My friend had to do this with 2 of her daughters. She said it worked. Good Luck
This is a serious problem. You need to consider serious consequences for her doing this. She is old enough to know what she's doing and you can explain why it is so important to keep her straps on. Maybe consider visiting the police station so they can talk to her about car seat safety. Also, set a good example by always wearing your belt.
My son liked the novelty of being able to accomplish that, too. I explained to him that the policeman would get VERY mad at him AND Mommy if we didn't wear our seatbelts. We'd get in BIG trouble if he caught us with our seatbelts off.
Every time (and there were only the initial few) he opened it; I immediately pulled to the side of the road and stopped until we re-buckled and went through the explanation again of why we wear seatbelts.
To this day (he's 4 now) he still "races" me to see who can buckle up fastest and points out police cars and asks if I'm wearing my seatbelt.
Hope this trick helps you, too!
I love the idea of flipping the buckles backwards!
We abruptly pull over and that sets the tone with our little one. She knows we mean business, so it was a trend that never continued after about 2 x's of shocking her with an abrupt pull over and serious Mommmy immediately in the back seat with her buckling her back up and having a swift talk. Whatever you do, dont do the booster until you have to! They can get out of that so easy. Good luck
There wasn't a car seat that could hold my son. I don't know how many different ones I tried, didn't mater - he was unbuckled and out of them before we got to the end of the street. I finally gave up and put him in a booster - problem solved. He was between 3-4 when this happened. I don't think he was at the 'recommended' age & weight, but it was either that or his life was in danger because he wouldn't stay in his car seat. You have to do what is going to be safest for your child and if she won't stay buckled, then it might be time to move to the 'big kid' booster.
Hi,
This is when you put your foot down as the mother. This is one of those situations where her safety is in jeopardy. If she was playing with a knife, you would let her know immediately to drop it and it's not allowed. Same with unbuckling seat belts. I know she wants to be independent. Maybe tell her she can unbuckle it when you get to the destination. Gives her a little bit of control.
This is a safety issue. IMMEDIATELY pull the car over and if you're spanker, spank her little bottom. If you're not a spanker, then make sure she knows you will NOT be going anywhere in the car until she learns to keep her seat buckled until you tell her it's time to unbuckle.
Please don't put her in a booster. I worked for a police department in the metroplex in the traffic division. You need to keep her in preferably a 5 point harness as long as possible. My son is 5, weighs 48lbs and is in a 5 point seat and will be for at least another 2 years.
I agree with other posters to pull over immediately and buckle back up. Only a firm stand on this is acceptable. You will feel horrible if you're in an accident and she's hurt. In my family a child will be punished the most when it's a safety issue.
I've taught my children to respect police officers. You might find an officer and approach them and say, I've been trying to teach my daughter how important it is to stay in her buckles when we're driving. Can you tell her too? Usually they are very pleased to speak to a child and it gives an opportunity for your daughter to see that officers are good people and they want us to stay safe.
Blessings!
Lori
I handled this by putting on my best dramatic mommy face and literally started flipping out in the car. I expressed how dangerous this is and that I love her so much I want her safe. My almost 4 year old daughter is now scared to not be in her seat belt and will warn my husband when he got side tracked putting the baby in and didn't buckle her in. Worked for me! Good luck - it is a major safety issue so deal with it promptly and STOP the car to get her buckled back in.
To me, the car seat is safer than the booster, and this is an issue of safety. There needs to be stiff consequences for undoing the seat. At 3.5, she's probably just excited that she knows how to do it, so tell her it's great that she can undo her buckel when it's time to get out of the car, but it's an absolute no no when you are driving. If you see her do it, pull over at the first chance you get and get out of the car, look her in the eye and tell her that is completely unacceptable and you will not be able to drive anywhere until she buckles it again.
Once she buckels it, get back in the seat and drive. Try to really check and make sure she's buckled every chance you get. Maybe you can offer her a reward once you get home if she keeps it buckled the whole time you are out. If she undoes it again, I would spank her hand. Again, this is a safety issue. I would stop the car, spank her hand and tell her again that she cannot undo it while you are driving, only when you say it's ok and you are at your destination. If it continues, I would bring her straight him and put her in time out.
If you have to go get a car seat that will be hard to unbuckle please do so my 3year old niece just passed away this past October a truck pulled out in front of my brother the other guy was at a two way stop my brother was on a straight away and just could not stop the car in time. My niece was in a car seat buckled up correctly it was so bad it still didnt save her because the truck was a huge bucket truck. It broke the baby's neck so my point is the straps that go across the top are very important they secure her neck area so it's very dangerous to not have her buckled in correctly just a little update about how important it is.Good luck and Best wishes!
No way to the booster. She's no where near ready. I personally think TX's car seat laws are still too lax. One of the best places for info and to get the best answers for you question is:
http://www.windsorpeak.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=12
I had my middle son do this. He even got out of the seat while I was driving. I pulled over and told him I wasn't going any further until he is totally buckled in. At 3.5 you can reason with your child and make her understand bad things can happen if she doesn't buckle up. Don't think about how late you'll be to an appointment or how behind schedule you'll be, just stop the car and refuse to go. Kids figure it out pretty quick.
Good luck,
Kathe
SAHM to 3 ages 7, 5 & 3
Hi Cande, You're not alone, our 2.5 yo son has done this several times. I'd pull the car over and buckle him up and try to explain that he shouldn't do this. Well, he did it one last time and as I was pulling over, and to my surprise, he buckled himself back in and said "I did it Mommy". At that point I wanted to ensure that he was properly buckled and took the liberty to explain that if he were to take it off and we were to hit something hard or go over a BIG BUMP he could get hurt and that Mommy and Daddy would be very sad. I also explained that the policeman would get very angry with him and mommy if we didn't have them on. I then showed him as I got into the front seat that I have to wear one too and that everyone in a car has to keep them on when we're traveling. Only when the key is out of the ignition is he to remove it. He understood, because he hasn't done it again and he reminds me (and hubby) while we're out on the road that he is buckled in so that he can be safe.
I believe our children are just trying to show us that they're becoming independent, they're learning and growing up. We just need to communicate at their level and get our point across. Repetition is key, but you already know that.
Hate to tell you this, but my 3yo grandson can unlock the booster seat in a heartbeat. We just talk to him about it and watch him all the time in the car.
Maybe some other moms have better ideas.
Debbie Kimbriel
Grandma to 2 beautiful boys
get a bunge cord
When my nephew takes his car seat buckle off, I quietly pull over, stop and wait him for him to put it back on. It was very inconvenient at first, but once he learned that his Auntie will not drive with his seatbelt off, his behavior faded away and it's not an issue with us. His parents yell and lecture, and he still constantly takes the thing off when he rides with them. Let your actions speak louder than your words; tell your daughter once, tell her why once (in very simple, quick terms), and from then on out, just pull over and wait. Might need to leave early for a while .....
Hi,
I remember having countless problems with my 5 yr old son just to get him to wear a seat belt,he would always try to open it. If any parents out there are having similar issues like we did with their children i would like to suggest something that we used to help get our son to wear his seat belt. I've included the link below which will take you directly to a children's song we found online. Might be worth giving it a try if all else fails.
Kind regards
Bob
website: http://www.wix.com/speakuptoyourteacher/order-page/buzzy