Think your toddler is safe in the car seat? --> So did I!

My daughter Miss M, is a VERY active 4.5 yr old, the baby of 4 other siblings.

When she was as little as 18 months she was very strong and always unbuckling the car seat, not the seat straps, but the actual car seat from the car. It's only 1 red button away from a active rug rat who can really reach when she wants to.
This is why I smiled when the latch system was developed. (Learn about it here: http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/LATCH)

So begins my story of 1 1/2 years ago.
Miss M found something you NEED to be aware of.

In this story, to be clear, she was fully strapped in to the toddler car seat and it was fully strapped in by LATCH system HOWEVER, the regular passenger seat belt was free because she unbuckled it and pulled it out.

On Monday, September 10th, 2012 we were driving home from school about 3pm. All the kids were talking about the day of school and it's that usual noisy busy car full of energetic cuties. All of the sudden my 9 year old,
Miss Freckles, screams unnaturally "MOM, pull over NOW!!!!"
I immediately pulled over. I turn around to see my sweet Miss M not breathing, no noises. Her eyes screaming in panic.

There, around her neck was the ever retracting seat belt.

I raced out of the car to her. No matter which way I turned her it seemed wrong and just made it tighten on her. She had taken the belt twisted 4 times making a loop, put her head through it and then rewrapped around her neck in the opposite direction. She wanted to be a puppy and it was her collar, she's 3 years old. She had no idea she had made a self tightening noose.

I was in sheer panic as it squeezed tighter by the second pinning her helpless body to the car seat. I yelled to the kids to say a prayer as I tried to think...scissors= no, knife= no, car to flag down= no, cell phone= no time! as I managed to at least unbuckle her from the toddler car seat.  It was no use though, she was pinned.

Her face and lips were blue and eyes bulging, not a single sound from her, just all my children in the car crying and praying. I pleaded in pure sincerity of desperation,

"OH GOD, PLEASE HELP ME!" 

(and I promise the name of God was NOT being taken inappropriately, I was calling out to HIM, in a way only a parent can understand.)

Right then, a thought came to my mind, like a drop of clarity in the sea of chaotic adrenaline; pull her down, then spin her whole body like a pin wheel. I just went for it.

It came off! I was in such shock that this actually worked, I kept looking, searching her body for more belt wrapped on her. She started to breath. I crumpled to the ground in the road and I held her, checking her over. "Are you ok? Are you ok?"

The children and I just burst out openly crying. By the way, Miss M has asthma! What if my kids took a few more seconds to spot her...she could have died. I can't even write about this now, 1 1/2 years later, with out just tearing up all over again. God was with me this day.

This pic helps you understand but her belt was sooo much worse. It was a full noose.

As for Miss M she acted and looked fine, she never lost consciousness and what seemed like an eternity was really only about a minute. I NEVER want to go through, witness or even hear about this ever again. I took this long to post it simply because I NEVER wanted to be reminded that it ever happened.

How can it NEVER happen again if no one is aware??

So, this is why I finally felt inspired to share this story. So you can be aware and protect your kids! The bruise marks left on her neck are a grim reminder of what could have been. I believe in the power of prayer and of faith.

I also believe that you should warn other people against potential dangers. I hope this post helped you.

-->Every mom should have a seatbelt cutter or scissors in her glove compartment. Period.

Sadly, my sweetie isn't alone, here are several good reads from other unlucky parents:

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=2169050

http://www.kidsandcars.org/miles-stube.html

http://thecarseatlady.wordpress.com/2012/10/22/strangulation/

http://children.webmd.com/news/20110429/young-kids-may-be-able-to-unbuckle-car-seats
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/wellness/caregiving/story/2011/05/-Getting-out-of-car-seats-a-snap-for-clever-kids-/46700488/1