LO has discovered how to unbuckle the chest clip. Any suggestions on how to stop this?
I told him no, explained it was dangerous, etc. but he's done it 2x. He's rf and I have a mirror but it's really hard to tell when he has unbuckled it.
Do you think I should flip him so I can see more easily? I would think ff would be safer than rf with the chest clip unbuckled.
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts
If he keeps unbuckling it I would 100% switch him so you can see when he does it.
grapefruit / 4321 posts
My LO did this a few times and I started promising her that as soon as the car turned off I would let her unbuckle herself. But that if she ever ever does it when the car is on she loses the privledge. It worked for us. Now she even double checks with me "The car is off mama??"
grapefruit / 4278 posts
How old is he? I would try some other techniques before I considered turning him. I've heard of putting a button down shirt on the child and buttoning it over the straps so that they don't have access to the chest clip.
pomelo / 5524 posts
How old is he? Is there something you can put around the chest clip to prevent him from unbuckling it?
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
I'd buy a special chest clip like this: http://www.escapeproof.net which was reviewed here http://carseatblog.com/27151/merritt-chest-clip-guard-buckle-guard-review-the-end-of-the-line-for-the-carseat-escape-artist/
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@blackbird: I thought the chest clip was supposed to be able to slide down during a crash and that one looks like it will stay in place because of the strap that loops around the neck?
@Applesandbananas: I don't have any advice, but I'd ask a CPST before you add any aftermarket products to your car seat, as they may make them unsafe. Sorry you're dealing with this.
kiwi / 635 posts
I want to echo Adira and say sorry you are dealing with this...I don't have any wisdom to offer, but Car Seats for the Littles on Facebook might be a good place to ask the question.
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
@Adira: I have no idea! I just know there are some products out there to keep them from messing with them
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@blackbird: haha, I don't really know either! I just thought I saw that in a video on how it was supposed to behave, so was thinking this might interfere with that. Probably always best to double check with a technician before adding anything anyway.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I would immediately pull over and stop the car, and make a big deal that we can't start moving again with an unbuckled chest clip...assuming that you can determine it's unbuckled before you arrive at your destination.
I've heard the backwards shirt thing before, I would try that.
pear / 1586 posts
@Applesandbananas: I read on a blog that the mom used a toilet paper tube to cover the chest clip until her daughter stopped. I would try that!
Here is the link:http://www.journeyofparenthood.com/2013/04/smarty-pants.html
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
@cheesetomywhine: genius! Until she rips it....but hmmm you could reinforce it with duct tape!
pear / 1586 posts
@blackbird: good call on the duct tape! I dread the day mine realize they can unbuckle themselves.
pomegranate / 3375 posts
Can you grab a button up shirt from his closet? Just put it on him backwards (over the harness). He won't be able to access the chest clip. If heat is an issue, you can cut the sleeves off.
How old is LO? If over 2, I would think that you could talk with him, and explain that it's really dangerous? But, if he's like my kiddo, he won't care, lol. I'd try the shirt.
pomegranate / 3845 posts
Just though I'd come back with an update. The car seat in my car was the Nextfit, but there was a Britax in DH's car, with a chest clip that's much harder to undo, so we swapped out the seats (he drives LO maybe once a month, if that) and flipped LO to ff in his car, so he'd be able to see if LO undoes the chest clip. I'm going to keep him rf in my car unless he manages to undo the britax chest clip!
apricot / 347 posts
Opposite - he's much less safe FF, especially with the chest clip unbuckled. You can't spend your whole drive watching him and he can be hurled from your vehicle if you get in an accident and he's FF unbuckled.
Rear facing vs forward facing position in the car:
apricot / 347 posts
@Applesandbananas: glad to have read the update. Hopefully it keeps him snug as a bug!
pomegranate / 3845 posts
@mrsrugbee: that was why we opted to swap the seats since I drive DS 99% of the time and feel strongly about erf. I do think I'll put a button down shirt in DH's car so he can button that over the buckle as well, but doing that every day would be frustrating. Obviously if he unbuckles the britax, I will!
apricot / 347 posts
@Applesandbananas: that's a great idea. Going to remember that in case DD becomes a little Houdini some day.
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