October 7, 2008
Try This Tuesday #12: Buckle Up!
Thank you for welcoming our guest posters the last few weeks. I have really enjoyed hearing the great ideas and different perspectives each person brings to the table. I would love to open it up even further, so if any of you has a creative solution that you would like to share, please drop me a line at trish[at]anotherpieceofthepuzzle[dot]com.
I was recently approached for help regarding difficulty with a child not keeping his seatbelt on in the car. With some research and a little help from our local ASA listserve, I came up with a list of suggestions.
The Seat Belt Buckle Guard from McNaughton Inc. will fit on seat belts with buckles up to 2” wide and has a push and turn cap much like you would find on a prescription bottle. Simply remove the cap and you have access to press the release button.
A similar product, the Buckle Boss Belt Guard from GBY, Inc., slides down over the seat belt buckle and has several slots. You fit the seat belt into one of them and then use a key or other thin object in one of the other slots to press the release button when desired.
For more comprehensive solutions, E-Z-ON Products Inc. of Florida offers a variety of products for use in family vehicles, school buses and medical transport. There you will find a selection of vests and harnesses, as well as mounts and other accessories that may be needed for safety.
One of the parents I spoke to swears by her Britax carseat, and I have since seen that brand discussed in several different places, with generally good reviews. If your child is still within the height and weight limits and cannot open the harness buckle, this may be an option for you.
Feel free to add to the list via the comments if you have any other ideas on this topic! You can also join in and share the creative solutions YOU have found to your own challenges. For more details on how to participate, click here.
Trish can be found writing here at 5MFSN every Friday in addition to hosting Try This Tuesday. You can also find Trish at her blog, Another Piece of the Puzzle.
Filed under Stuff We Love, Try This Tuesday by Trish
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9 Comments on Try This Tuesday #12: Buckle Up! »
#1 - Maddy @ 12:12 am
Oh dearie me. You tackle a tackle so close to my heart.[although not particularly dear]
The only thing that worked for us were the school bus Velcro full torsco covering, bolted to the floor versions.
They cost $125 each. If I had a dollar for every time I was bonked on the back of head with missiles from my victims I'd have paid for those things a dozen times over.
[If it's any consolation {probably not} my all time record for stopping on the highway due to escaped children was 17 times.
I would be delighted, nay invite[!] someone to tell me that they have stopped more often.
cheers
#2 - Stacy @ 12:12 am
I work in Early Intervention and have a car-related need on behalf of one of my families. I need a recommendation for a reclining (preferably rear-facing) car seat that will hold a 30+ lb 2 year old. It needs to recline basically as much as an infant car seat would, and have enough padding to keep his head from bobbing around (he has very low overall muscle tone and very little head control).
Anyone have any ideas? We also have a PT working on this, but I thought another parent might have some links I could show to the family.
#3 - Amazing_Grace @ 6:44 am
If you are lucky to have an aide for your child, what should their responsibilities be?
Aide Responsibilities List to Add to the IEP
#4 - Julie @ A Celebration Of Our Journey @ 7:13 am
Thank you! I think I'll be referring back to this!!!
#5 - Christine @ 9:20 am
It took Regan 11 years to master putting on her own seatbelt, and it is still only on the passenger side of the car. I wish they made oversize buckles and kept the clasps stationary to help. It is funny because my grandmother was saying as her arthritis gets worse she wishes they made bigger buckles too.
#6 - Lori @ 2:30 pm
Thanks Trish. Myah is getting so big, I've been nervous about moving her out of her snug car seat because I know she'll try her best to get out. I will look into these products you discussed. Thanks!
#7 - Tammy and Parker @ 9:09 pm
Okay. I have a Britax for Parker. But his shoulders are so teeny…….so teeny that the straps don't stay up where they should. They just slip down.
Any ideas?
#8 - Trish @ 11:42 pm
So glad this was helpful and the info I found for one parent has been useful to some others.
Stacy, I sent you an email with some links; not sure if they will help but hope you find what you need soon. I also found this site which may have some good information: http://tinyurl.com/4np7se
Tammy, I'll see if I can find anything out. Anybody else have a suggestion??
#9 - Another Piece of the Puzzle » Try This Tuesdays: October @ 1:06 am
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