14 month old undoing chest clip-Help!

[psychandrea]

My 14 month old recently learned how to undo the chest clip on her Gracco SafeSeat (still rear facing, she's only 18 lbs).

I searched the archives on this site and found recommendations for someone with a much older child (most of the responses were about teaching her not to do it). Given that my daughter is so young, I think teaching is not the answer right now.

Is there anything we can do to make the clip so she can't open it? Do I have to buy a new car seat? If so, recommendations (we have a '97 honda civic)?

Currently, one of her parents sits in the back with her and redoes the clip when she undoes it. My husband is about to go on a business trip and it's going to be a rough time if I can't take the kid in the car!

Thanks,

Andrea

	Rear Facing Car Seats A rear-facing seat is one in which the infant faces the back of the car. Always install a rear-facing seat in the back seat of your car. This is the safest position for an infant. NEVER place a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle with passenger airbags.

	Graco Safe Seat Step 1 - Click for more info The Graco Safe Seat (Step 1)—if you couldn't gather from the name— is intended to be the first of a three-seat process. The Step 1 is for infants in a rear-facing position; the Step 2 is for bigger, older kids in the forward-position; the Step 3 is a belt-positioning booster seat without the safety harness of the previous two.

[Papooses]

Whenever both adults are in the car, I suggest 1 of you sit in the back with her & simply keep her entertained so she doesn't resort to fiddling with it.... Otherwise, just make sure it's tightened properly such that you cannot pinch a horizontal crease at her shoulder -- while I do not recommend removing the chest clip it is only a *pre* crash positioner (it's not intended to hold the child during a crash, but merely to keep the harness straps properly positioned: which is achieved in Europe without any chest clips )

What I'm getting at is that she's still so young that given enough other stimulation it's likely she'll lose interest in this game

When there's only 1 adult in the car, then a soft plastic mirror would be an acceptable temporary solution.