car seat escapee

[nyc_mom]

Need some advice for a friend. Her 20 month old DD has figured out how to undo her car seat buckle and does so while mom is driving. I don't know what type of car seat she has. Any ideas on how to get this little one to stay put?

nyc_mom
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[schums]

Pull over ASAP, turn around in the car and scare the bejeebers into/out of the child (mostly through yelling and threatening). Logic doesn't work with a 20 month old, unfortunately. I have several friends who's DCs have done this, and it was the only thing that worked at that age. Also, one of my friends was not adverse to a swat on the bottom, and that took care of it for her DC.

Good luck, it's a hard one to solve.

Sarah
Mom to Alex (3/2002) and Catherine (8/2003)

[stillplayswithbarbies]

some people have had luck with duct tape applied to the buckle. Leave a tab so you can pull it off to buckle it, but it is enough to deter some kids. It depends on how they are getting out.

Also depending on what kind of seat it is, buying another type of seat might help.

[momtoB]

Here are a few ideas:

Contact the car seat mfg to see if they have another type of seat belt buckle that is harder to undo she can use with the car seat she has.

~or~

Turn the current buckle around so it face-down (buckle facing the tummy) so she can't just reach down and unbuckle it. (I would ask a CPST about this though - I'm not sure it's technically safe and I wouldn't want to give advice that could hurt someone!)

~or~

I have also heard of people taking sticky back velcro and sticking the harder "loop" side on the buckle. Tender "baby" fingers don't generally like the way this feels and it might deter her dc from pressing down on the buckle.

[OneOfEachHowSweet]

>
>Turn the current buckle around so it face-down (buckle facing
>the tummy) so she can't just reach down and unbuckle it. (I
>would ask a CPST about this though - I'm not sure it's
>technically safe and I wouldn't want to give advice that could
>hurt someone!)
>

Good idea ~ I had to try it on the MA I have sitting in storage & the Scenara in the garage just now ~ it didn't work. Bummer. Hey techs would this be OK if it worked ~ I don't have any car seat escapees at the moment but it'd be something to keep in mind for the future.

Shannon
Mommy of
Carter & Lilly

[Joolsplus2]

I've been trying to figure this out, actually... In theory, pressure on the buckle would release it during the crash, and that would of course be bad...but I can't really get an answer (I'm sure car seat mfrs would definitely say NO, however....sigh...).

I would put the rough side of sticky velcro tape, cut in a little square, on the buckle, as little fingers are averse to pushing on that rough stuff. I don't *like* to advocate giving a good blood curdling scream if necessary, but it IS what worked for me once <blush>.
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[nyc_mom]

Thanks for all the good advice. I know she's already tried the screaming but the velcro is definitely worth a try.

nyc_mom
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[Joolsplus2]

Some kids just think it's hilarious when their moms scream or cry to try to make a point...uuuuuugh! I really hope she has good luck figuring something out, and maybe a brand spanking new harness and buckle WOULD be a good idea, he seems very young to be able to unbuckle a harness, and a nice stiff new one might be at least a little more deterrent. Or a nice, distracting DVD player that keeps his attention in the car...or new toys, new snacks...*anything* that works, really.
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[Joolsplus2]

Ooops, change all the he's to she's and his' to hers'.

:)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx