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Car seat safety and advice please

Busymummybear

Hello. Total newbie here. I was told to join here by the school nurse 0-19 admin hub.

She said hopefully other parents will have advice due to it being something they may have dealt with.

My boy is 5yrs, weighs 16kg and 105cm tall. He no longer copes in his car seat. I stopped using the 5 point harness thinking that was causing his meltdowns and escapes. But sadly not.

He can undo the harness buckle, he can also undo the adult buckle. Once i put him in the middle and the buckle was wedged between 2 car seats, he couldnt undo the adult buckle but due to his flexability he was able to slide out.

I am the only adult in the car. It began at the end of July with meltdowns, but now it is a regular daily thing. He just escapes.

I have had him in the front seat, in the middle row and in the back row. I have done him up with both harness and adult belt, just harness or just adult belt. And he manages to get out. He is so fast and doesnt make a noise when doing so. Car rides are no longer enjoyable.

Thankyou to you all for reading

  • Hi, might not be, but many on spectrum really struggle with legs dangling. Something about nerves and blood vessels (popliteal fossa) can cause a lot of discomfort. Is often overlooked and blamed on seat. Usually noticed about this age because of growing, change of position or seat. Are some seats with footrests or use small step depending on room in footwell. Hope that helps

  • Hi and welcome to the community!

    You might find this resource helpful. It's published by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) in conjunction with the Department of Transport, and offers some advice that might be useful - including in respect of seats, buckle guards, anti-escape systems, and harnesses:

    RoSPA - Transporting Children with Additional Needs

  • Sounds like a nightmare for a parent! Perhaps distraction might help? I take it rewards don't, like having something for if he manages a journey without escaping (almost do small test drives like literally round the corner) to show how it works? You've probably tried this or doesn't work for him (if he's high needs this logic wouldn't work)?
    Having something to play with or watch, like a tablet to make him forget about escaping? (if he doesn't get car sick?).