My 2 year old and I commute to my work and her daycare about 30 - 40 minutes everyday. Recently she has discovered that she can slip her arms out of the car seat restraints. When I tell her that she needs to put her arms back, she laughs and giggles, she thinks she is being clever. I have tried tightening the belts and moving the clasp item all the way up to her neck, but she knows how to move it and still gets herself out. It is a very difficult situation, I have tried using an adult angry voice, which prompts laughter. Has anyone had this dificulty and found a solution?
Hi S.,
My daughter (who is now 5) also tried the same thing. I found out that it doesn't help to get mad (hard to do sometimes). I nicely explained why the car seat is needed while we were at home, not in the car. Once she understood that it was for her safety and so mommy didn't get into trouble the problem stopped.
Hope this helps! S. S.
S. -
IF the straps are fitted correctly she shouldn't be able to get her arms out. The chest clip should be even with her armpits, the straps should be snug on her shoulders as well. One thing I did notice in the instructions of my new car seat is that the shoulder straps should start below the shoulder not above. Normally there are 3 options for the straps to come through the back of the carseat. You should thread the straps through the holes that are just below her shoulder. Hope this helps.
I am a mother of 3 children and an Early Childhood Educator. I have experienced this as well. Two options are that you could invest in a new car seat or purchase a seat toy/book/activities organizer that hangs behind the driver or passenger seat. You could rotate new toys and books every week (purchase them at a second hand store to keep the cost down)to keep her engaged and at the same time redirecting her attention away from manipulating her seat belt to an unsafe position.
Good luck:)
A. Higgs
I've had this happen to me, I can't say I have a solution, since mine did the same thing you are describing. And I tried what it sounds like you're trying.
I did try to explain that its against the rules to do this and that Mommy could get into trouble if a police officer stopped us. But generally, its something that you kind of have to keep doing what you are doing and she will stop. Just know you aren't alone! Good luck, keep it up!
I found out about a couple of products that you and other parents might be interested to know about. Don't know if Tiffany in the other post knows how reliable these things are, but you might want to check them out.
www.carseatdepot.com carries one item called the Angel guard, which is a clasp that fits over the harness lock so that kids with busy fingers and hands can't unlock the straps and get out of their seats.
The other product is called "The Mighty Tite" by Sunshine kids. It helps tighten car seat harnesses so there is no dangerous slack which allows wigglers to get out of their seatbelts.
Just click on accessories to get to these products. Hope this helps.
Hi S.
I am licensened in car seat safety. If she is able to get her arms out of her straps they are to loose you should not be able to pinch the straps and the chest clip needs to be even with her armpits. I know that looks really tight but it is the only thing that will keep her form getting seriously hurt in a accident. I know this is challenging. Good Luck T.
My daughter did this sometimes too. I used some of the same 'solutions.' Telling her that the police could pull us over and give us a ticket kind of helped. Maybe you could have a police officer talk to her?
In regards to how tight the straps should be ... they should be at or above her shoulders and snug. the clasp should be at her armpit level.
If you have the time during hte commute, just pull over when she does it and tell her you can't go anywhere while she is like that in the seat beacuse it's not safe.
Good luck
Not sure what type of carseat you are using, but as long as I pull the strap tight so that the straps over the shoulders are tight as they should be, my children have not been able to get their arms out. Even now, my 4 1/2 year old can not even move his upper body (as it should be) to even get his arms out, we need to loosen the straps before getting him out of the car..
Sorry I was no help, but only thing you can do is tighten the straps to the point where she can't move - but also the straps aren not hurting her...
I think you need your straps tighter. I've heard of mom's flipping the chest clip around backwards so the kids can't undo that.
The straps are suppose to be so tight you can't pinch the straps.
If she continues to do so pull the car over and reprimand her and tell her the police will pull the car over if everyone is not properly buckeled.
