Toddler Carseat Tantrums

Kelsey has begun fighting all out crazy against being put in her carseat lately. I mean she cries like its torture and its not! She loves the car! Or used to. But just fight to no end to NOT be strapped in her seat. Screams, hits, kicks, pulls hair, you name it. By the time we get her in we are wiped out and she is screaming and most of the time konks out as soon as we get moving because she has exhausted herself! This is her familiar seat. Nothing has changed. She has not grown out of it... not by a long shot. She just insists to not be in it. She is 17 mos. Has anyone had this defiant behavior regarding their toddlers carseat? Is it just a "phase" It sure is getting purely exhausting and somewhat embarrassing in public. and I feel like a HORRIBLE TERRIBLE mother listening to her cry and scream and carry on but I know nothing is hurting her and she HAS to be in her seat. I mean I dread going anywhere now.

as far as I know, most kids do it at some point. Charlotte was really good and we never had problems with her in seats although George went through a short stage of it and sometimes pulls his arms out of the straps even now.

At times i had to just force George into his seat (I felt horrible but I just had no choice but to get him in because we needed to go) other times we would sit in the car until he stopped paddying and then would try to get him back in, at first we had to do this up to 4 times but eventually he got less and less and he gets in fine now.

candgsmum said:
as far as I know, most kids do it at some point. Charlotte was really good and we never had problems with her in seats although George went through a short stage of it and sometimes pulls his arms out of the straps even now.

At times i had to just force George into his seat (I felt horrible but I just had no choice but to get him in because we needed to go) other times we would sit in the car until he stopped paddying and then would try to get him back in, at first we had to do this up to 4 times but eventually he got less and less and he gets in fine now.

Thanks hun......... That is reasuring that hopefully Kel will settle out of this and itas just a "phase" for right now. Its just exhausting and makes a Mama feel terrible.
Thank you for your input!