Help! 2 Year Old Escaping from Britax Marathon

Explore the options you have for not taking her in the car. She sounds like a bright young lady. I assume you probably have to transport her to daycare or something like that -- but any other trip -- tell her if she unbuckles again, she can't be in the car for "x" amount of days, trips, times -- whatever can work for you. Check out some of the "Love and Logic" books or tapes. They are wonderful, and they work. It's all about choices and consequences. And it allows you to say "Yes, .... when: ...... Good luck.

Hi S.,
We have the same car seat for both our kids. My daughter is five and has been able to do it since she was two and half or so. She has only unbuckled herself once while driving to pick up something she dropped on the floor. We disciplined immediately and sternly, making sure she knew it was a safety issue. It seemed to work, but I feel for you because it could easily become a chronic problem depending on the kid...I think at two, they just like to be able to do something independently. Unbuckling is more of a problem for us when she's angry and doesn't want to buckle in to go home, etc. That's when she likes to pull the Houdini. Let me know if you find the solution to your problem, though, because my son is almost two and is well on his way to learning how to unclip himself as well.

i would take her and the seat into the carseat inspection place at childrens hospital and make sure she is in it right they may also be able to help out with lots of ideas to help you out. I did that when my twins learned how to get out of their seats turns out i did not have them buckled in tight enough

I know you don't want to hear it, but a 2 year old is old enough to be diciplined and to learn to obey.

In the meantime though, install the chest clip backward so the button is pressed up against her chest and not facing outward. Then, twist the crotch strap before buckling (if the design allows) and then she can no longer reach the buttons.

Good luck. My son just turned 2 and is learning the magic of the "red buttons". Don't you think they should make the button blend in more.. like black?

I dealt with the same thing, and I finally decided to instill a fear into my daughter. I started telling her that if she didn't stay buckled, the policeman was going to stop us and we would get into trouble. And we talked about what could happen to her if we got into a car crash and she wasn't buckled (not in a gruesome way). This worked! But Mine was more like 3 when we did this...so I am not sure about a 2 yr. old. Another idea, would be to give her something to do in the car that would keep her hands busy? An etch-a-sketch? Good luck to you!

Wow! You have a very highly skilled little one! My daughter has 2 Marathons and I can barely get the thing undone!

Please put the Britax chest clip back on your daughters seat, you can't change anything on a carseat. Sorry!

As for the unbuckling, some techs on car-seat.org recommend putting the selfstick velcro (the harder, pointy side, not the soft side) on the buckle releases and the chest clips releases. It won't feel good on her fingers, but you should still be able to unbuckle her without too much pain.

Well all else fails she can be the next Houdini when she grows up....lol! Since I don't know her height and weight its a bit more difficult but maybe getting her a booster seat? I seem to remember my son was an escape artist too around that age but he was tall enough to move to a high back booster and it was harder for him to twist around and undo the car seatbelt. Is there something on the market now that covers the buckle area to prevent them from undoing it? My youngest is almost 10 and my oldest is 14 so its been a while since I have needed a car seat. If not maybe you can fashion something with Velcro and fabric.

Take it off and put it on back wards(the clip). If you have it on snugly like it is supposed to be she won't be able to press the button. It will be tough for you even.

My son did the excat same ting at 2. I told him that he had to stay in his seat or no more car trips for him. I think I finally got him a new car seat. Can't remember excatly as he is now 7. Try a different type of car seat. I hope this helps you. Good luck

You don't need to buy more thing, you need to teach her not to do it. The easiest way is to plan a trip that she would like (a park, zoo and etc.) and when you strap her just simply tell her: "We are going to the park but if you unbuckle your-self mommy will have to turn the car around and go back home.". And be ready to do it. Stay calm and just tell her why you had to do it. It will take few times before she gets the message. If she likes to play with stuff like that, just get her one of these teddy bears with buttons, zips and etc. and let her play with it only in the car. Buckle her in and tell her that she can't touch her sit buttons but she can open and close the teddy Bear's buttons. Good luck!

wow that is a lot to handle!!! I had to write cause the only thing I can think of is what if you got one of those car seats that have the bar that goes over their head into their lap.. she wouldn't be able to reach the button.. and if that doesn't work.. keep the box and return it AS soon as it happends.. MAN O MAN I do hope you figure out something.. Hang in there!!!

I was wondering if you have tried one of those dolls that have the buckles, buttons, and zippers. That might help her to feel like she is unbuckling but not her seatbelt. And it will keep her busy while you are driving.

I know that car seat is spendy, we had one but maybe it's time for a different type? One that she can get unbuckled.
How do you punish her? I would be very stern with her.
D.

I don't have any advice, but wanted to encourage you. I know it is hard to deal with when you are scared for your child's safety. I recently have had to deal with my two year old (who is huge and had to go into a booster seat) unbuckling herself. There is, for booster seats, a clip you can buy that makes it impossible to undo. It's a lot easier than adjusting the rear view mirror to watch her buckle.. LOL. Obviously that won't help you yet as your two year old likely still fits in a car seat. I hope you find some help regarding your car seat and not too many judgemental people. Have you tried googling for items that "lock" the "chest clip" maybe there is a product out there to help. Your child cannot be the only one that is doing this. Good Luck!

We also have the Britax Marathon. Neither of my boys ever figured out how to get out of it (yet!) but my older son was fascinated with undoing his seatbelt in his booster (the regular car seat belt) and he undid it one of the first times we were out. I told him the police would stop us and we'd get in big trouble if he wasn't in his seat. That was all it took. Of course, he was 3 1/2 and maybe understood that concept better at that age. Sounds like you have gotten some great advice. Hope it works! I still have a 2 year old in our Marathon, so I'll have to keep these ideas fresh in my mind, just in case! (and he is an escape artist, so you never know!)

Great timing! My one and a 1/2 yr old has recently discovered the joys of undoing the chest clip and is currently working on that red button. So far I've been able to give her a stern NO and she stops if I catch her in time but that only works when I'm a passenger and can keep an eye on her. I think this weekend I'm going to have my husband flip the clip around so it faces her and pick up some velcro as a preventative measure.

I was amazed when I saw this same problem stated on another forum I frequent. There is a ton of advice at this link but the best idea I gleaned was: "Put the buckles on so the buttons are facing her body rather than facing out." Here is the link:
http://www.mayasmom.com/talk/a215445/my_8_month_old_can_u...