Car Seat Dilema - Roscommon,MI

I went through this with both of my boys. They saw it as a symbol of defiance to press my buttons and get out of their seats.

First, if you put on his seatbelt and he immediately unbuckles, don't turn on the car or drive until he leaves it on. Tell him "The car can't move unless your seatbelt is on. We have to ALL be belted in." If he unbuckles while you are driving, pull the car over and refuse, again to move unless he is buckled in. Flipping the button part of the buckle over also makes it harder for little fingers to press.

IF that should fail....Well, I think it truly depends upon how you parent, but I beleive that certain things do merit a swat on the butt. Dangerous things that must be stopped. This is one of them. With my oldest, he unbuckled and I pulled over, got out of the car and spanked his bottom. This was, of course, after I had already explained to him that if the car is moving the seatbelt MUST be on.

My second child was stubborn. It required my giving him a little scare to help him understand the importance of wearing a seatbelt. He was 3 or 4. A light tap on the brakes on an untrafficked road is enough to toss him forward a little. Not enough to hurt, just enough to give a little burst of adrenaline because he's unrestrained. My son cried a little and was HAPPY for me to buckle him in. Don't do this if your child sits in a middle seat where they might hit a center armrest, and certainly do not try to send your child plowing into a seat. You're not trying to give whiplash, just make it clear that the car seat is there to keep him safe and he isn't safe if he isn't buckled in. Yes, I know it's a bit unconventional, but it worked like a charm.

Sometimes we moms have to be inventive to send our children a message about real life.

To this day both of my children buckle up without being asked and will not allow anyone to ride with up without being buckled in properly.

Good luck!

i would very sternly and severely discipline him(and before anyone freaks out, i'm not telling her to beat her child) when he does this rather than further preventing it... you don't want to make it such a long process to unbuckle a lock, etc., in the event of an emergency - plus, at 3, he is certainly old enough to learn safety boundaries. maybe get him a certain toy or something that he is allowed to play with only in the car and only if he leaves his buckle alone. good luck! 3 is a very trying age!

You do not need a product, he just needs to be disciplined for it every time he does it. At 3 he should know that it's not exceptable. I have a 3 year old and believe me he knows how to push my buttons. I am reading this really great book by John Rosemond "Parenting by the book" that is really making the difference.

hey i have than situation if you find something works let me know. please!

First off you need to make sure the straps are tight enough (only able to get 2 fingers in between strap and child)and that the chest clip is at his armpits.

LOL my daughter used to do this, we were going up north with my friend and she decided to get out of her seat and start dancing on I75! My friend tried getting her back in and she was throwing her shoes and sippy cup at her head ahhh the life of a mother! I told her that it was the law that everybody buckles and it is for safety I pulled into the police station one time and asked her if we should go in and ask the police if it was a good idea for her not to be buckled and she started crying and got scared, she stayed buckled after that :) I think I also did what the one Mom suggested and stepped hard on the brakes at one time so she would see that the seat belt is there to keep her in the car. Good luck I'm sure he will grow out of it, it is frustrating now but funny when you look back on it when he is 10!