Car Seat for a flexible child?

[c.w.e.m.]

We are going car seat shopping for DD(2). We currently have a built in car seat in our minivan, but DD keeps escaping from the five point harness! Does anyone have an experience with escaping children in car seats? Is there a particular model that we should look at for our little escaper?

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

I have a Century Encore 5pt harness that I got in 2000 that worked great for my little escaper. The chest clip only had button on top so it was to hard for their little hands to hold it and open it. I would look for something like that as for a locking clip.

Checkout the Graco ComfortSport, Target carries them in stock. Century and graco are basicly the same company and this is the closest that I saw to what I had. It does come in other colors.

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.htm...-2231067?ie=UTF8&asin=B000EZZWV8&frombrowse=1

 

[tjmw2727]

Hi - yes, my neice has rolling shoulders and is so flexible she could get out of anything.

My advice - based on my sil's experience is a 5 point harness with a chest clip that actually clips in the middle that she can't slide up or down. Some you just slide onto the other strap they didn't work for her. Make sure it the chest clip is at her armpits and make sure the straps are in the correct slot in back and tight enough so you can just slide a finger under them. Check the mfg instalation instructions for more guidance.

Since my neice was almost three my sil got a seat with a 5 point harness that could be removed at some point to become a belt positionion booster. IIRC it was either a century or graco.

I would take the child to the store and see if you can try a few of the models to see what works best.

Wow - I remember two summers ago posting a similar question, time flies -

Good Luck
TJ

 

[tjmw2727]

I have a Century 5pt harness that I got in 2000 that worked great for my little escaper. The chest clip only had button on top so it was to hard for their little hands to hold it and open it. I would look for something like that as for a locking clip.

Yes that's what I was trying to say Something like this:
http://www.toysrus.com/product/inde...clip&kw=car+seat+chest+clip&parentPage=search

Then make sure it can't slide, make sure its armpit high and the carseat straps are tight enough. My neice was able to slide the chest clip down far enough so she could roll her shoulders out of the middle, uggh. But not with this kind

TJ

 

[becca011906]

Britax convertilbes... the harness straps are thick and study so that they don't slip down as easily... this is a price option but it will last our child a LONG time in a 5pt harness system (till 65lbs usally age 5/6 depending on the childs growth ect) And can and SHOULD be used rear facing till 33lbs.
A cheaper option is a Saftey 1st uptown, it's got nice high slots (for lots of growth), nice and very padded, can and should be used Rear Facing till your child is 35lbs. then ffing to 40lbs these are new seats just out this month found at most walmarts.
Great place to get all your car seat questions answered is www.car-seat.org and there are LOTs of certified car seat techs there that have great advice and suggestions!!!

 

[DreaGirl]

We have a Britax Marathon and it is hard for *me* to get it unsnapped!

 

[becca011906]

Yes that's what I was trying to say Something like this:
http://www.toysrus.com/product/inde...clip&kw=car+seat+chest+clip&parentPage=search

TJ

Chest retainer clips are NOT interchangable they are made specifically and crash tested on that car seat alone, this one is a saftey first and the kind of clip the uptown has i mentioned above... but CAN NOT be put on any other seat excpet for a safety first seat...

 

[Lesley]

My 2yo can open the Britax Marathon chest clip. I've been wondering if I could find one she couldn't get open. I've considered trying to find a way to tie the clip or cover it so she can't get to it.

So far we just ask her to clip herself again and pull off the road if its safe to do so. Then we kind of watch that her hands don't go right back to the clip. It's almost like a unconcious habit she has of fiddling with it. Maybe I need to pass her more baby sorts of toys just to keep her twiddling hands happy.

My 2yo can also dress some Polly Pockets (and my 6yo isn't all that skilled at it) so she has some amazing dexterity.

 

[tjmw2727]

Chest retainer clips are NOT interchangable they are made specifically and crash tested on that car seat alone, this one is a saftey first and the kind of clip the uptown has i mentioned above... but CAN NOT be put on any other seat excpet for a safety first seat...

Ok - I am very sorry - although I never said the clips were "interchangable" just that this is the kind to look for.

It was meant to be AN EXAMPLE of the type of chest clip that worked for my neice. I think any carseat with a chest clip like that - used properly will sove the OP's problem.

Your recommendation is just one of many on this thread - although a good one I am sure. Not everyone can or wants to afford a britax and I never recommended purchasing a chest clip that dosen't fit a the carseat. In fact I suggested the OP follow the mfg recommendations for the carseat.

TJ

Sorry for trying to help - I guess only the uptown and

 

[Hannathy]

I tried not answering this since my DD showed it to me with "I know what you would have done" BUT what about NO! There is no way I would be spending more money on a seat if the one I had worked.

 

[becca011906]

Ok - I am very sorry - although I never said the clips were "interchangable" just that this is the kind to look for.

It was meant to be AN EXAMPLE of the type of chest clip that worked for my neice. I think any carseat with a chest clip like that - used properly will sove the OP's problem.

Your recommendation is just one of many on this thread - although a good one I am sure. Not everyone can or wants to afford a britax and I never recommended purchasing a chest clip that dosen't fit a the carseat. In fact I suggested the OP follow the mfg recommendations for the carseat.

TJ

Sorry for trying to help - I guess only the uptown and

Oh i'm sorry, i really didn't mean to direct it like that at all, i was just stating that incase someone though, oh here's a $5 solution to the problem i'll just get this and it will be ok!! (it's so hard to get a point across something in just words and no body language! )
I'm almost a CPS tech 2 more days of class to go I'm kinda a car seat/ safety fanatic and is just scares the crap out of me to see how much miss use there are in the world of car seat safety!!!

 

[all4fun]

Hi,
You don't say how much your dd weighs or what her torso height is, but you might want to check out the Evenflo Generations or Bolero combination harness to booster seat. The Bolero is the "less fancy" version and it's the one we bought for ds to put in MIL's car and for travel. It is pretty hard to unbuckle and the harness adjuster is a knob system on the side of the seat that seems like it would be hard for a kid to release while sitting in the seat. This seat only has a 40lb limit though, the top harness slots are about 17". I don't want to recommend something that won't last you very long but if she's not on the big side, then this seat might work for you. It also makes a decent bpb once the harness is outgrown.

If you're looking for a higher weight limit combination seat, the Safety 1st/Cosco Apex is one that harnesses to 65# and also has 17" top slots. It must be fully supported by the vehicle seat back though. Both of these seats are around the $100 price point.

Just some suggestions. If you go to car-seat.org there is a great forum there and in the FAQ section it also addresses escape artists like your dd. The advice to make sure the harness is snug and the chest clip is up by the armpits is very good. You can also use discipline or reward tactics - Safety is not an option. If that doesn't help, then maybe a car seat that is harder to undo is in order.

Hth and best of luck!

 

[In Luv with Disney]

My 20 month old gets out of her 5 point Harness, too! I don't know what to do...this was my son's old car seat and I never had this problem with him! No matter how tight it is, she still gets out of it. I have an Eddie Bauer car seat...I think it's made by Cosco.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

I tried not answering this since my DD showed it to me with "I know what you would have done" BUT what about NO! There is no way I would be spending more money on a seat if the one I had worked.

Along these same lines..... We always told our kids that if they undid their carseats that the police man would come and take them to jail because it was against the law for them to not have their seatbelt on. Worked everytime

 

[all4fun]

Oh, and another tip I read was to use the stiff part of sticky back velcro (the "hook" side, I think) to stick to the button on the chest clip. It's just prickly enough that little fingers are often sensitive to it and it helps discourage them from undoing the chest clip.

Another thing to is contact the car seat mfg and see if they have a different chest clip or buckle that might be harder to undo. Click HERE for a list of mfg websites.

Hth.

 

[stacy6552]

Kids tend to be able to escape because the straps do not fit right. I recommedn that you find a seat with straps that adjust in height alot, like the Alpha Omega.

 

[all4fun]

Kids tend to be able to escape because the straps do not fit right. I recommedn that you find a seat with straps that adjust in height alot, like the Alpha Omega.

If you're talking about this car seat HERE then the tallest top slot is only 15". The very top "slot" is only for use in bpb mode (withOUT the harness) to move the headrest up to the highest position. The other seats I mentioned earlier have 17" top harness slots and will last taller/longer torso'd kids longer. I only mention this because I used to own an AO carseat and my ds outgrew it by height at 34mos. Other options might be the Graco Cargo or Evenflo Chase/Visions/Traditions, but while those make good harnessed seats they aren't as well liked as bpb's, should you plan on using them for that feature in the future.

Hth

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

We have the Evenflo Triumph. It is a great seat. DS3 has never "escaped", he fits in it very snuggly. I like it very much.