Chest Clip of Harness

[melann]

A child who has special needs and has no sense of danger/safety keeps opening the chest clip of the 5 pt. harness on a car seat. Anyone have any suggestions to help prevent this from happening?

[mommyto2angelgirls]

some people have said to put velcro on the harness. not stick it together but put some of the rough side pieces on. he may not like the texture and therefore not bother it anymore. the other thing since he is special needs and depending on how severe his needs are you may not want to deter him from something like that since it improves his fine motor skills. perhaps you could get some old car seat buckles and put them on a string and he could undo and do those to his little hearts content

[papooses]

A child who has special needs and has no sense of danger/safety keeps opening the chest clip of the 5 pt. harness on a car seat. Anyone have any suggestions to help prevent this from happening?

www.EZOnpro.com has vests that are specifically designed for certain special needs -- contact their customer service for help....

Otherwise, we may have other helpful ideas if you can share the child's age/weight/height, current carseat & diagnosis?

[melann]

I already considered EZ On Products but the child really needs the support of a car seat rather than just a vest, despite the fact that she has some fine motor strength to open the chest clip. The child is currently using a Special Tomato MPS Car Seat http://www.adaptivemall.com/lampscarseon.html. I am sorry...I do not have the child's weight, height, and diagnosis.

[TerisBoys]

The bumpy velcro may help deter her.

I'd also contact the manufacturer to see if they have any ideas. Hopefully the number is on her seat or in the carseat's manual.

[melann]

The manufacturer was already contacted. They have a buckle guard option for the crotch buckle but nothing to help with the chest clip unfortunately.

[SanDiegoLady]

Does anyone know if it would lessen the safety or be incomfortable if the buckle was rethreaded onto the straps so that it was basically inside out. This would make it harder to unbuckle and assuming the adult can do it quickly may be okay as far as getting her out if there was an accident.
Although I can't tell from the picture what kind of buckle it is.

Otherwise maybe put an apron on her and have it go over the buckle and tuck in or tie at her waist. I have had student who undo their shirts or tear their shirts and have had to have them wear aprons of some sort. I am a special education teacher, proud to say :thumbsup:

[melann]

Thank you so much! Are there safety concerns with rethreading the chest clip so it is backward?

[TerisBoys]

I don't tihnk I'd do the backwards clip without the manufacturer's permission.

(It's got an IMMI clip - like the Britax seats).

I *would* try a bib over the harness or shirt put on backwards over the harness to deter her though.

[SanDiegoLady]

Yes, ask first about rethreading to see if it would be a safety issue - I don't really see a problem with it but for sure it would be best to ask first.