How do you get a Cranky Toddler into the Carseat?

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Okay, I’m a bad, bad Mum…

I bribed my son with a lollypop to get him to sit in his carseat.

But wait!  Before you brand me for the evils of my sins, you have to hear me out first.

I was taking Gavin and my Dad to have lunch with my 93 year old (or is it 94?) maternal grandfather.  He recently gave up his car so it meant he was pretty much homebound.  For a man who prides himself on his independence, this must have been a major blow for him.  Add the fact that he loves going out and it is almost like nailing the coffin shut.  He was clearly in desperate need for an outing.

Gavin was pretty good in the carseat until it was time to go home.  Dad drove us back to my other grandparents house and by that time, Gavin was clearly due for a nap and starting to get rather cranky.  He resisted my efforts to put him into the carseat for the final leg of our journey home.

I had two choices:

1. Force him into the carseat, endure his wails and let him vomit all the way home; or
2. Give him a chuppachup lolly pop and deal with his sugar buzz when we got home.

For obvious reasons, I elected option number two.

You would not believe how well behaved he was in the carseat.  There was not even a peep out of him all the way home.  He sat quietly in his carseat, licking his lollypop and looking at the passing scenery.  When we got home, he made no fuss to get out of the car.  In fact, I think he would have happily sat in the carseat for a some time more.

Admitedly, he woke up crying after his afternoon nap but at least I could console him.  Was it not a small price to pay for obedience in the carseat?

Even though I bribed him, I have to add that the following day, he sat in the carseat all the way home from 1Utama without fussing at all – AND he didn’t need the lollypop bribe, so I perhaps I haven’t yet created a nasty habit.  I’m still pondering how I managed to get such good behaviour all the way home, though.  If only he could sit like that every time…

Do you have a toddler that refuses to sit in the carseat?  What tricks do you use to get them to sit?  Please share them in the comments below.

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