Overcoming Objections About Car Seats

Overcoming Objections About Car Seats

As children grow they soon start to crave independence and long to be treated like an adult. It can happen so suddenly – one day you’re carrying them, the next they’re demanding a mobile phone and wanting to go to sleepovers.

Being “treated like a baby” can suddenly become embarrassing, frustrating and confusing for them and you’ll probably do all you can to help them in this transition from child to teen. However, there are some things you can’t compromise on which can cause arguments. For example, car seats.

There are laws and regulations in place to keep you child protected in the car. Children and young people are lighter than adults and can be hurt more easily in a collision. For smaller children under the age of about 11 or 12 a seat belt simply isn’t enough to hold them in place if your car is hit. Unfortunately, we often associate car seats with babies and toddlers, and a 12 year old sees adults and teenagers not using a special seat and wonder why they’re still using something designed for a child.

If it turns into a battle between you and your child over sitting in a car seat, there are things you can do.

1. Try not to make a big deal out of it.

If you just act like using the car seat is normal and natural, and that everyone their age does it (which they should!) you will help to minimise the fuss.

2. Try and make the car seat cool.

Giving them entertainment in the back of the car (a handheld games console, an iPod so they can listen to their own music, an iPad to play with) will lessen the pain of being in a car seat and make them feel more mature, and as though you respect them and their changing tastes. Your 11 year old doesn’t want to feel as though you still see them as the 9 year old they used to be, so make concessions to their new personality.

Car seats are also available with designs and colours, so you can try and pick something which at least appeals visually to them.

3. Use logic and reason.

Explaining to them that it’s the law that means they have to use the seat, rather than you being a fussy old grown up or not trusting them, will help. Remember to also reassure them that it’s not forever and that very soon (a matter of months probably, as they’ll be growing fast) they’ll be able to move out of it.

4. Get tough.

Using scare tactics, stopping the car if they try and undo their seat, or refusing to take them on fun journeys if they kick up a fuss are a last resort that should be used only with kids who really rebel against the seat.

Car  seat champion – created by the team at 
Car Loan 4U

About the author: Kat is a writer for http://www.carloan4u.co.uk/, and is a blogger about women’s lifestyle issues, cars and driving.