[IN BLOOM]

For the past 2 weeks, my daughter who is 2 1/2 has not wanted to sit in her car seat when we need to go somewhere. I have skipped out on going to the grocery or other important errands because I can not get her in her seat. Leaving church Wednesday night, she actually scratched the heck out of my face (looks very attractive) to the point of drawing blood. I am a stickler about seat belts and car seats. I do not believe she is ready for a booster, she only weighs 27 lbs. I can't be stuck in the house forever. Does anyone have any advise??? I have tried to let her buckle herself in to make it fun, I have tried to do races who gets their seat belts fastened first between the kids, just to get her to let me buckle her. I am going crazy!

[Chelziee]

My son had this problem for a few days. It took on stressed mommy and one stern, firm, mom voice. For my son it was east. I picked him up and sat him in the chair, when I went to buckle he did the same, kick scream, cry, hit routine he had been doing only this time i was ready for it. I popped my head into the car, looked him dead in the eye (with my nose touching his) while holding his arms to his side in a firm but not hurtful manor. I said "Caelex Miles, you WILL listen to mommy and you WILL sit still to be buckled." He looked and gave me that big bottle lip, but he was still. When he was buckled he was rewarded with Gold Fish. Hope this helps!
-Chelsey

[Crystallee21]

Maybe you could keep a basket or bag of goodies for your children to do in the car right next to her car seat. This way she will be excited to sit there. Throw in a surprise treat for her as well. Then you can say lets go in your seat and see what surprise is waiting for you in your basket after you get buckled. Hope it helps. Good luck!

Crystal
~My Three Sons & More~

[ClarissaNassar]

you know what? my 3 yr old does the same thing and he just screams his head off for about 2 minutes ad then either stops or falls asleep! lol

I think just either rewarding him or her for sitting nicely woud work as well as my way--forcing him into his seat {ok now I sound like the meany mommy lol}

[Chelziee]

lol clarissa, I know I sound like on monster of a mom on my end. but i know my son is just like his dad and if he dosent learn that i am in charge now he will try to run all over me! I think all of you sound better than my advice. But every baby is different!

[advocatemom]

My girlie is almost 3 and has recently become a car seat hater as well. I have held her in the seat until she let me buckle her a few times. I always thank her and give a lot of praise when she just gets in and lets me buckle her up. Like everything else, I am sure this behavior will go away as the next one emerges.

[KatieBeach]

I guess I'm one of the meany Mommies. All 3 of my big kids have hit that stage (the youngest just the past couple of months) and my stance - they simply don't have a choice. As a standard I allow my kids each a toy/book in the car as we go. If they act up, that privelege goes away until they can behave. Which means that if they act up when getting into their seats, no toy until the next time we get back into the car. My youngest stopped pretty quickly once he watched his big brother and sister happily reading their books and his was put away... for the whole 20 minute drive. Poor guy. LoL - it was a long drive. I wanted to pull over and give in!! But I stuck to my guns and now he does (sometimes grudgingly, I'll admit) sit in his own seat without a scene.

[MrsAshley]

I use to babysit a 2 year old and every now and then he would have his car seat tantrums. I always tried to make this a fun time b/c with my two door car it was really a big dread. After in the car seat we would sing a song or two of his favorites and he would settle down. I'm sure your child doesn't love songs as much as this boy did so maybe a toy would help. I would probably go in the Meany Mommy category with Clarissa and just force her then try to change her attitude by distracting her.