Child loosening harness himself

DH went to buckle Colton into the ProSport yesterday and the harness was super loose. We don't normally loosen it like that, so he asked me if I had done it. Colton claimed he did it, and I didn't believe him. So DH buckled him in and then Colton showed us how he reaches his hand down, pulls the adjuster up, and leans forward. I've never had an issue with him doing this in any other seat. We calmly, but very seriously told him he was never to do that again. That if we were to get in a crash, and his seat was super loose like that, that he would most certainly be hurt and maybe even killed. He said he wouldn't do it again.

Would you let him ride in the seat? His only alternative is boosters, which he rides fabulously in, I just prefer him harnesses in DH's pickup because that's what we take on long trips and camping and whatnot. DH is going to be mad if I tell him we need to buy Colton a new harnessed seat, but not mad enough to cause a fight, lol.

Thoughts? It really scared DH and myself, but when we talked to Colton about it, he wasn't that impressed, ya know? He doesn't grasp the injury or death issue I guess.

He said he understands and won't do it again, so I'd be fine with him still riding in it, if you feel it's the safest option to keep him harnessed.

I think he's old enough to grasp that he shouldn't do it. I'd trust him if he says he won't.

I had the same problem with DD1 in the Prosport, she had just turned 5 years old I think and even though I yelled at her and lectured her she wouldn't stop doing it I ended up selling it and replacing with a FR85 for a while because it was totally unsafe. She couldn't reach the FR adjuster to loosen it so that worked for us.

I would try it again, and watch him like a hawk.

Does he buckle or unbuckle himself at all? Maybe start letting him loosen it like that before you unbuckle it if he wants to help more? Maybe that would help reinforce that you can't loosen it while you're driving?

My DD by the time she was 4 could buckle and reasonably tighten herself in the Marathon, she'd grab the adjuster strap and use her foot in the loop created when she was holding the end and tighten it (and loosen it the way you described). DS on the other hand I can barely convince to help by buckling himself in while I'm getting other stuff in the car.

aeormsby said:

Does he buckle or unbuckle himself at all? Maybe start letting him loosen it like that before you unbuckle it if he wants to help more? Maybe that would help reinforce that you can't loosen it while you're driving?

My DD by the time she was 4 could buckle and reasonably tighten herself in the Marathon, she'd grab the adjuster strap and use her foot in the loop created when she was holding the end and tighten it (and loosen it the way you described). DS on the other hand I can barely convince to help by buckling himself in while I'm getting other stuff in the car.

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If the straps a loosened, he can buckle himself. He can't do it if they start out tightened though. But, if they start off loose, he sometimes twists them, so I feel like there's no winning.

My almost 4 yo loosens himself - but only at the right times.

So I'd let him do it on his own - when it's time to get out of the car and unbuckled. Letting my kids do stuff like that at the appropriate times helped stop them doing it at the wrong time.

Plus, by 5-6 yo, I liked that my DD could pretty much get herself in/out of the car with us just doing a quick check/tighten the harness all the way.

I would be fine with him riding in it again, but I'd keep a VERY close eye on him. Even if he isn't old enough to grasp injury and death, he is old enough to understand consequences. If he does it again, give some kind of consequences so he understands that the behavior will not be tolerated.