Many parents in our position may struggle with the same thing, knowing how to keep their autistic child in a car seat.

If your child is anything like mine then they will likely often undo their belt and move around the backseat leading to obvious concerns.

Whilst every autistic child is different here are some things you can try to address the problem.

Autistic child on car journeys

The type of behaviour your child is exhibiting on car journeys will vary but commonly autistic children may undo their seatbelt and move around in an unsafe manner.

Here are some things to try;

Ensure the seat is the correct size

I appreciate this may sound obvious but half of the battle of keeping an autistic child comfortable in a car seat is ensuring it is the right size.

Review your seats specification and if possible take your child’s height and weight measurements to ensure they are compatible.

Add extra straps/harness/locks

There are various options available online which are designed to help stop a child from removing their belt.

Here is one option highly rated on Amazon.

One of the simple options are lock buckle guards which go over the button to the seatbelt.

They vary but many have a key system where only the parent will be able to get to the release button.

Another option would be to opt for something like a 5 point harness and add that to the car seat. It wouldn’t necessarily be lockable but it would add an extra layer of difficulty to removing the belt.

There are some obvious safety issues with making the strap more difficult to remove to consider.

Many parents place signage on the strap to direct emergency service personnel to where the key may be in the event of an accident.

Make the journey as comfortable or enjoyable as possible

Try to make the car ride as comfortable as possible for the child. This can include playing their favorite music, providing sensory toys or blankets, or using noise-cancelling headphones to block out any unwanted sounds.

You could also consider providing your child a weighted blanket if they like the feeling of pressure.

Use picture cards or social stories

Depending on your child’s level of understanding and communication you could consider trying to explain the importance of a seatbelt.

Telling a story through pictures may help with something like a child who removes their seatbelt ending up with an injury from an accident.

Use technology

Parents are often divided in terms of how much screen time they should allow their child but it is an option to make car travel more controlled.

Again there are various options available on the market but you can purchase contraptions which hang a tablet or phone off of the front seat. This is assuming your vehicle doesn’t already have rear facing screens.

You can either download material in advance to play, connect to a phone via a hotspot or purchase a mobile WiFi device.

Swap seating arrangements

Another option would be to change the seating arrangements.

Your child may well have developed a routine or habit relating to car journeys so in order to break it you could move where they sit.

You could for example change their seat to the other side of the car or have a parent sitting in the back with them.

Or you could try what we have done and if it is safe and legal to do so move their seat into the front.

Summary – How to keep an autistic child in a car seat

Car journeys can be challenging for parents of autistic children. Depending on your child’s behaviour and needs you can either try to break their habits or just make it more comfortable for them so they are more content.

It may be a case of trial and error but with persistence and patience you will likely be able to make progress.