How to get child into car seat?

[kellij]

My DS is almost 21 months. He is next to impossible to get strapped into the carseat. He's fine once in it. This has been going on for months, but he's getting bigger and stronger. He's in a rear-facing Britax. He locks his legs and hangs onto the handle. I've tried everything I can think of to distract him, but nothing seems to help. Anyone have any ideas for me to try?

Of course I know we should keep him rear-facing as long as possible, but I didn't know if we should consider forward facing as an alternative.

He's my third and I've never had this issue before, or at least certainly not as long as this has gone on.

[lhafer]

My 21 month old likes to do this as well. But she's fine as long as I let her climb into the car seat by herself (with as minimal assistance from me as possible). So I take this into account when leaving. It has really seemed to help.

[mikala]

Originally Posted by kellij

My DS is almost 21 months. He is next to impossible to get strapped into the carseat. He's fine once in it. This has been going on for months, but he's getting bigger and stronger. He's in a rear-facing Britax. He locks his legs and hangs onto the handle. I've tried everything I can think of to distract him, but nothing seems to help. Anyone have any ideas for me to try?

Of course I know we should keep him rear-facing as long as possible, but I didn't know if we should consider forward facing as an alternative.

He's my third and I've never had this issue before, or at least certainly not as long as this has gone on.

We dealt with this for awhile and after trying everything else I could think of I finally handled it by counting to 3 slowly. "Would you like to sit down or do you want me to help you? 1, sit down in your seat. 2, sit down in your seat, 3, sit down in your seat, uh-oh " At 3 I forcibly pushed him into the seat and buckled him as fast as I could. Yep, I was that mom in the parking lot with a kid screaming like he was on fire. Mortifying. But it didn't take long for him to figure out that he could do it himself or I would immediately do it for him and things got better pretty quickly. He usually scrambles into his seat and sits still to be buckled by 2 now. I also let him pick a board book or toy to hold if he's good sitting down and that also helps.

I also noticed that he refused more when he had a full diaper since it's uncomfortable to sit with one so I made extra sure to change him before car-rides.

Good luck!

ETA: I also let him climb into his own seat like PP. If he dallies too much while climbing in we start the counting.

[georgiegirl]

Both of my kids went through this at 18 months. I bribed them with m&ms. Worked like a charm. Eventually they stopped fighting me and I phased put the candy.

[wellyes]

I tickle mine.

[Indianamom2]

I give them the option to cooperate and then I force them...even if it makes them scream bloody murder. I'm also "that" mom in the parking lot. Thankfully, that phase ends,...eventually!

[BayGirl2]

I deal with this most days too. Now with the baby, I have DS climb into the car from her side, under the infant seat and then into his Boulevard. He can do it just fine and having him in the car while I strap her in is safer than having him in a parking lot. But he dawdles and gets distracted getting in and out. It.drives.me.crazy.

Sometimes I make it a game and have him "race" me to get in his seat while I walk around the car. Or I count and say "lets see if you can get out faster than yesterday, when you took 20". (He's really into counting right now.) Those are my good days, when I have the patience to challenge positively. On my less good days I count down from 5 as we do when we give a warning for time out. Not as effective. When I'm totally about to lose it and a firetruck with a siren is about to speed by within inches while I stand in the street waiting for him, I will just grab him and push him into the seat. Usually does not end well, but it happens.

[dec756]

i have "car cars" specific cars that we use in the car only and i ask him if he wants them, he always says yes, and i strap him in no problem (fo0r the most part) hth! car cars could really be anything though, a doll, train etc

[hillview]

I have done toys or food treats given when child is in the car seat. But I've also been THAT mom forcing her kid into the car seat. Agree with PP it will pass!

[niccig]

Bribery with snacks and it goes away...eventually.

Turning forward facing doesn't help as they go stiff as a board and fall to the floor of the car....