2 Problems: Potty Training and Seat Belts

You didn't mention if your son has gone to the store with you and picked out his own underwear. Sometimes picking his, putting on his own and keeping them clean is that last bit of incentive a child needs. We also used quick, simple positive reinforcement (sticker chart with little stickers for wearing the underwear, big ones for keeping them clean and sitting on the potty, and huge ones for potty success - racetrack/train track charts are big hits in my house - when the track is at the end, the child gets to pick (restaurant, toy, book, etc)., Short tracks to start for quick success helps too.

As for the seatbelt, we had a strict rule on that. There are just some safety issues that are not up for negotiations. We have more luck with positive reinforcement than negative, but each child and situation is different. Regardless of which you choose - consistency is key. Good luck!

Dear T.,
For the potty thing I know how you feel. My daughter was doing the same thing with her brothers underwear. We went out and bought her, her own underwear. She would take them off emmediatly. She would be and poop in her brothers, so finally I told her that if she wanted to wear bubbies underwear she had to go in the potty like bubby. So for a whole day I took all of his underwear and put them up so she couldn't reach. The next day I put them back and told her that if she went in his again I would put them up again. That whole day she did really good. I left the bathroom door open with a night light on at all times. I put the toilet ring on the toilet and the step stool right in front of it. When it came time to poop she ran and got a diaper. Some days she goes in the potty really good and other days she still wears a diaper. But she knows that if she wants to wear underwear she can't go in them or they go up. Good Luck! I think every kid is different and that makes it hard to know what to do to get him to stop doing the things we don't want him to do.
B.

I have a couple of ideas. You could put the underwear somewhere where he cant reach it. Perhaps it time to try pullups as well if he doesnt want to wear a regular diaper.
As for the car seat thing They have booster seat with car seat like buckles in them that would probably be better than the seat belt you'll never get himt o stop doing that...

Good Luck!

T. ,

I can't help with the potty thing since my eldest was great at the rewards game. But I can help regarding the booster.

My son used to do that all the time until one day it was snowing out side and I had had it. I pulled over into an empty parking lot, took him out of the car and told him that if he couldn't ride in the car the right way then he couldn't right in it again. So I put him on the ground outside, and pretended to drive off. He screamed and I stopped. He never did that again. I know that it sounds harsh but I look at it like this, I could have done that or I could have gotten in an accident and hurt him. I would try something on those means hope that helps

B.