car seat Houdini

My 2 yr old (just turned) can unbuckle her car seat.   It is a 5 pt harness type and she easily undoes the buckles and get out of it.  Further, she refuses to sit in it or rebuckle and proceeds to walk around the inside of the minivan and come to the front etc.  I've tried to offer reward if she stays in seat.  I've pulled the car over and restrapped her.  I've explained that it is dangerous, the police will come etc.  I don't know if a device exists to child proof the seat but if it does, I haven't found it and I don't know what to do.  Our pediatrician had not heard of this before.  We need suggestions.

[RockRose]

I've never heard of this before either.  My 2 year old was a houdini and so to allow me to take a shower, less than 5 minutes by the clock,  I bought an extra car seat and buckled him in it in my bedroom,  bolted to the wall,  in front of a small tv with toys at his side.   That's the only thing that would contain that child for 5 minutes while I showered.  Cribs,  playpens,  nope.

I also had to devise my own cabinet locks for him,  because there weren't any on the market that would keep him out of my cleaning products/medicines cabinets.  Some children are brighter and more inventive than others!!  

Have you looked into a Fisher Price carseat?  The kind with a 2 point harness,  that takes all the strength you can muster in your thumb to push the button?  That's what you need.   Something that just takes raw brute strength.  

If there isn't one that will fit her,  you need to devise a system with a bicycle lock,  or a key locking mechanism with O rings and paddlocks.

If you can't do it,  post back,  I'll figure one out for you.  There are all kinds of rivets,  and O rings,  and paddlock mechanisms that will keep her locked up tight in her carseat.  

[twokids19]

Hi...My daughter also mastered the 5 pt harness, (she was 2 1/2)  & I to tried the "treat reward system" to no avail.  I did finally find a way to stop this.  You know the part of the seat belt that clicks together?  Push that all the way up, almost to her neck, it didn't hurt, but she found it to be very annoying, tighten the belt as tight as you can. She could not pull down that part & after a while stopped trying to get out.  I hope this works..let me know.  Good Luck!

[cjtm]

Same problem here. My son is 2 1/2 and started doing that at about 18 months. We did just as suggested, pushed the seat belt up closer to the neck and not the belly. It Worked for us., Be carefull not to lock your child in a vechile in a way that is not recommended by DPS. If there were an MVA or a fire, How would you get them out quickly enough? Try simple first.

[pleasehelpus]

Wow!  NO NO NO please do not use RockRose's advice on locking your child up with a padlock system!  This is not good advice at all.  I agree with twokids and cjtm...try the seatbelt thing.  That will probably work better for you.  A padlock is asking for trouble and could be considered abuse.  What if a fire broke out...or just anything that you would need to get baby out in a hurry...a "padlock" system...would not allow you do to so.  Would you want to be locked up with a padlock and chains Rock?  Goodness gracious no...  Plus ask yourself this...if you had an accident and the police showed up and saw your kid strapped down with a chain and lock...what would happen?  

RockRose jumped me for giving my child a simple spanking...a pat on her behind...just 1!!!  Then she suggests this...that makes me wonder about her methods and anyone taking her advice!

I wish you luck in keeping your daughter safe!!  Maybe you could call your local DPS office or police station and ask them for suggestions.  This would be of great help to you also!  Take care and please don't go to the extreme of chaining and locking your child up!  I really don't think that you will though!  lol.  You probably were just as stunned by the suggestion.

[Trialanderror]

Around 2 1/2 my son managed to wind himself out of the car seat belt as well a few times, I forgot how he did it. He was a bit young to understand the what-if explanations, so the third time around I stepped harshly on the brakes so he would notice his upper body darting forward. I said: "See. You almost hit your head." That helped.
Conicidentially, a week later we turned on the TV in a hotel room and they showed a police officer stopping a frantic mother with her child driving down the highway. The cop accused her of bad driving and not having strapped in her child in the car seat. She denied and it ended in him yelling: "I saw your baby standing in the car seat. I saw her standing while you were driving." Even 3 years later, my son is still impressed by this and has never dared to fiddle around with his seat belt again. So maybe a visit to the police may help. They often do have car seat safety days - and maybe an officer can impress your daughter.

[redneckmom]

I agree with trialanderror.  If the other option of moving the seatbelt up higher doesn't work, take a trip to the police station.  Many times police seem so much more authoratative to children.  She may listen to them better than a parent.  Good luck.