step stool for inside car?

[Unregistered]

It is difficult to lean over and lift my tall 40 lb 3 yr old into his carseat. I drive a 2006 Honda Civic. His carseat is a Graco Nautilus.

Is there some type of step stool designed for use in a car? I realize in an accident anything unattached in the car can become dangerous.

What is the best way to get him physically into the carseat without straining my back?

Thank You!

 

[wendytthomas]

Can he climb into the car and into the seat himself? At that age Piper could make it to the top of my truck, so I know she could climb in and up on her own. Then I just buckle her in.

Otherwise some tightly compacted blankets kept where you can grab them for him, and then put them back in the footwell, that would be ok. They'd be a footrest as well for while he was in the car.

Wendy

 

[mommy_quigg]

Is your son in the centre or outboard? In the centre, I lift my son in and sit him in the outboard seat. I then climb in and sit next to him, lift him again and place him in his carseat. I cannot twist and lift at the same time. But that's just because of the height of my vehicle (Pontiac Aztek). Yours is quite low to the ground so I'm not sure what the issue is.

 

[HEVY]

My dd always climbed in the car then car seat, then I would kneel on the seat and strap her in. I don't quite understand where a step stool would come in.

 

[myliljunebugs]

I have a footstool, but it isn't for your issue. I'm a little confused as to why a footstool would help you? We got my son a thin cheapo plastic stepstool and wedged it in the floor at his feet because his legs were dangling. Have you tried asking him to climb in to help you?

 

[Unregistered]

Thank you for all the good suggestions.

I may have exaggerated on his height. He is not tall enough to get in the carseat without help from myself or a step stool. When he is sitting in the carseat, his feet are way off the floor.

He has not been able to climb into the seat by himself in the past. But I will try that again also.

Thank you!

 

[mommyto2angelgirls]

i'm guessing he isn't able to climb in so the footrest would be to help him climb into the seat himself. you could put on to let him climb in the put it into the trunk if it is so an issue. other then that i don't think there is anything. just make ure you put it in the trunk...that would be deadly in a crash

 

[CTPDMom]

Is there just the one car seat in the back? If you have only one and it's outboard, then try getting him in from the opposite side. Teach him to get into the car footwell, then onto the vehicle seat then into the car seat. Maybe that will work?

If I were to use a foot stool to help ds get in I would then secure it in the trunk. In my minivan there would be no place to do that so that wouldn't be an option for me.

 

[myliljunebugs]

Just to clarify. My stepstool is literally wedged in there. I have to move the passenger seat forward to wiggle it out. I wouldn't recommend one sitting loose at all.

 

[southpawboston]

you can try using a small styrofoam insulating cooler as a stepstool. they're hard to find since most of the ones available at supermarkets are thin and brittle, and large. we get thicker, small ones at work (biological samples are shipped in them). i may try it acually.

 

[joolsplus3]

Just to clarify. My stepstool is literally wedged in there. I have to move the passenger seat forward to wiggle it out. I wouldn't recommend one sitting loose at all.

I have one of those too and am not concerned about it being a danger...even in a super high speed rollover, which is what it would theoretically take to have it lift off the floor to hit someone in the car.

 

[myliljunebugs]

You are the one that gave me the idea actually!! So thanks!

 

[Patriot201]

Thank you for all the good suggestions.

I may have exaggerated on his height. He is not tall enough to get in the carseat without help from myself or a step stool. When he is sitting in the carseat, his feet are way off the floor.

He has not been able to climb into the seat by himself in the past. But I will try that again also.

Thank you!

I would definitely have him try again. I have been having my DN climb into her own seat since she was 14 months old. Granted, the seat was RF until she was 24 months, and then has been FF for the past two months (long story...). She hasn't had any problems crawling in by herself. I would encourage your son to try.

I also have a 2006 Civic, btw.

 

[CarSeatPoncho]

What I used to do was give him a leg up by putting my knee into the car, and letting him climb onto my thigh and then into the car. (This is a variation of the pyramid climb that I used to do as a cheerleader!)

Of course, I pretty much only wear jeans so I didn't mind him putting his shoes on them.

 

[Mara1973]

Yes, I would just help teach him how to climb in. Barring any physical issues of not being able to do it, at 3, this should be able to be worked out. My 3 year old can climb into my 4x4 trailblazer and into his seat.

Mara

 

[mommy_quigg]

Yes, I would just help teach him how to climb in. Barring any physical issues of not being able to do it, at 3, this should be able to be worked out. My 3 year old can climb into my 4x4 trailblazer and into his seat.

Mara

Sorry to deviate from the topic a little bit. What do you do with an almost-3 year old who gets distracted easily and just wants to play with everything he sees (mapbook, daddy's sunglasses, etc.) rather than getting into his seat?

 

[Patriot201]

Sorry to deviate from the topic a little bit. What do you do with an almost-3 year old who gets distracted easily and just wants to play with everything he sees (mapbook, daddy's sunglasses, etc.) rather than getting into his seat?

With my two-year-old DN, I make it a game.

I say, "Do you think you can get into your seat and buckle your chest clip (her favorite thing to do!) before I finish singing (insert name of song here)?" Then I start singing. It rarely fails. She giggles and climbs in.

When that doesn't work, I bribe her with interesting tidbits. I say, "If you climb into your seat, you may look at (insert name of object here) while I buckle you in." She usually falls for that.

 

[mommy_quigg]

Ohh thanks, I'm going to try that!

 

[Tara]

I just say..."get your hiney in the seat...now!" and they go

 

[skaterbabs]

Barring any physical issues, a 4 yo shouldn't need much help getting in and out of his seat. And if he's anything like MY 4 yo, he wants to do it himself anyway.


It's really funny watching her climbing into my Jeep Cherokee.....