Child Putting Head Under Headwings

[Mugsmom]

Hi everyone.

It's been a while since I've been here, but I'm having a little issue with my 1.5 year old (she's RF) in her Size 4 Me 70. When she gets angry about being in the seat, she tips her head to the side (as if she's going to lay it on her shoulder) and puts it UNDER the headwing of the seat. I worry that if she were to do this during an accident she'd ramp up against the headwing and break her neck. Currently the straps are at her shoulders. I've tried lowering the wings one notch, and even with her shoulders almost between the bottom of the wings, she manages to lodge her head under the wing. Is this as dangerous as it seems, and if so, do you have any ideas on how to stop it?

 

[ketchupqueen]

Hm. I'd call Graco but it certainly doesn't sound safe. I'm concerned that she'd get stuck and injure herself even without a crash or hard stop, or otherwise cause herself harm.

Unfortunately, anything I can think of that wouldn't be easily defeated also doesn't sound safe as a solution. The only suggestion I have is distraction, and behavioral modification through positive reinforcement (rewards for not doing it; ignore it except to pull over and correct it when it happens. Same as messing with a chest clip.)

Other than that I can only think of switching to a different seat which is obviously not the most desirable solution.

 

[kater-tot82]

I can't imagine that would be safe either and I wouldn't like my child to be doing that.

I am not sure how behavior modification will work with an angry 1 year old. Worth trying to see if positive reinforcement does the trick.

Do you have another seat without headwings that you could easily swap this out for her? Maybe in another couple months she would have outgrown the behavior and you could switch her back?

 

[aept]

I can't imagine that would be safe either and I wouldn't like my child to be doing that. I am not sure how behavior modification will work with an angry 1 year old. Worth trying to see if positive reinforcement does the trick. Do you have another seat without headwings that you could easily swap this out for her? Maybe in another couple months she would have outgrown the behavior and you could switch her back?

Katy's response sums it up for me!
Maybe even trade seats with a local friend you trust. Perhaps after a month or so you could trade back and she would have forgotten her little dangerous trick?

Sent from my iPhone using Car-Seat.Org

 

[Baylor]

Kids. I would immediately switch seats to one without headwings. It would not be worth the worry or risk to me.

 

[Mugsmom]

Okay, thank you! Ugh. I didn't think there would be an easy answer. We sold her MyRide when we bought the Size 4 Me, and my other kiddo has the exact same seat, so we can't swap them out. I'll see what I can do.

 

[MommyShannon]

Do you need a spare seat anywhere? A SureRide would be a good spare for it's entire lifespan, rear and forward facing. You could use that for now and hopefully be able to switch her back later on.