Anyone elses kid FIGHT going into the carseat?

Peyton(23 months) has been giving me a hard time getting into her carseat. She arches her back, screams and cries. She is a big girl and is Sooooo strong. I leterally CAN NOT get her in. I just got a letter from Jordan's school saying she has been late 15 times(and it's NOT ok). I drive her everyday. I have been in tears in parking lots on a few occasions after 20-30 minute battles. I have bribed her with candy, crackers, you name it. It used to work, but now she could care less. She wants to be in the regular seat like Jordan. I am at a total loss and dred the thought of going anywhere. Has anyone else gone through this and have any suggestions?

Re: Anyone elses kid FIGHT going into the carseat?

Yup... DD hates it.

I'm always afaid someone is going to call the cops on me when I'm in a parking lot strapping her in the way she carries on.

ETA: I don't have any advice, as my DD is still too young to really understand there are other seating options right now.

I can usually distract her with a sippy cup, or one of her stuffed animals. But it is a battle most of the time.

Message edited 3/18/2010 3:19:44 PM.

Re: Anyone elses kid FIGHT going into the carseat?

DS pulls this with me sometimes. I usually just "force" him in and deal with the scene. Luckily, I got a new truck recently that has a DVD player, so I ask him if he wants to see Big Bird, and it calms him down just enough to strap him in.

Re: Anyone elses kid FIGHT going into the carseat?

Posted by 1stimemom

DS pulls this with me sometimes. I usually just "force" him in and deal with the scene. Luckily, I got a new truck recently that has a DVD player, so I ask him if he wants to see Big Bird, and it calms him down just enough to strap him in.

Re: Anyone elses kid FIGHT going into the carseat?

I do and my DD will be 3 in June. She is getting MUCH better but we still have problems some days. It has taken me as long as 30 mins in the past to get her in - my parents gave up several times they had her. I would get a phone call that says I brought DD to town to get her a cookie or take her for a walk etc and we have been trying to 20 mins and SHE WILL NOT go in the seat please come and get her and put her in. She is pretty good for me these days b.c I won't put up with it - but before DD#2 came around EVERY SINGLE time I tried to put her in the car it was a battle - the big issue was she would get in okay when we were going somewhere but would not get in to go home - or she would ONLY fight me when I had to be somewhere.

My DD is high spirited though so not sure if that makes a difference. DD#2 is much less intense then her sister and I can already see I'm going to have the same issues with her. She hates the car seat and sometimes even fights me with the stroller and she won't be 10 months until next week.

I find that I just don't put up with it. I will just stand there and wait for her to get over it and ignore the scene she is causing. That worked for a while. One of the moms I know recently told me that she learned from her friends a trick that seems to work now. Tickle their stomachs. They crunch in turn and aren't ridged so you can then force their arms in the straps and get the leg strap on. It worked the past few times I tried it.

Re: Anyone elses kid FIGHT going into the carseat?

Posted by ChrisDee


OH, there is no forcing She is stonger than me. I try with all my might. If you saw me at Target you would probably call the cops from the scene that goes on. And usually Jordan(my older one) is screaming in the backround too, "Mommy, stop it, your gonna hurt her!!!!!!" Which is just GREEEAAAT!

Re: Anyone elses kid FIGHT going into the carseat?

Natalie does this sometimes too. I literally climb in and practically sit on top of her. She doesn't like it but it works and gets us on our way! I get her in her seat, and put my knee between her legs so she can't shimmy down and then buckle up as fast as i can!!

Re: Anyone elses kid FIGHT going into the carseat?

We would bribe DS1 with a "lala" (aka lollipop) when he was that age. Now that he is older, I threaten time out and that seems to work (thus far...)
Thankfully DS1 is small and I am still stronger than he is

Re: Anyone elses kid FIGHT going into the carseat?

Us over here!

DD # 1 NEVER NEVER EVEr did this. NEVER!

Dd # 2 and # 3 it's torture. It's a major effort and thank the lord it is getting better. I'm knocking on wood.

Last summer you should've saw me. Amelia is big too, at 15 months she was 28 lbs and I was 7 months pg. I was dripping wet from sweat, stress and aggravtion. I hated going anywhere with them b/c it was such a project. I have a mini van and that's the one thing I hate about it too much room for them.

I'm with you on this one!

Re: Anyone elses kid FIGHT going into the carseat?

MY 9 month old is pulling this cr@p just lately!!! also when i put a onsie on her its like I am KILLING her????

Re: Anyone elses kid FIGHT going into the carseat?

OH MY GOD - can i say that i read this post yesterday and was like - thank GOD this isn't what's happening with Emma....and then we left the sitter's house...

she actually ARCHED out of the seat & turned around in it - trying to climb out of it... screaming like i was stabbing her! i was almost in tears!

Message edited 3/19/2010 2:15:27 PM.

Re: Anyone elses kid FIGHT going into the carseat?

Re: Anyone elses kid FIGHT going into the carseat?

both of my boys are starting to fight me. 13 months and 2 1/2 years. it drives me NUTS!

Re: Anyone elses kid FIGHT going into the carseat?

Abby has hated it from newborn infancy.

Re: Anyone elses kid FIGHT going into the carseat?

we are starting to have the same problem. dd is getting strong and it is not fun. I hope it doesnt get that bad..