For instance, arrange a special trip to a place the child likes to visit and explain that the car will get there faster if everyone stays buckled up. If money is tight, try trading toys with a friend or relative, then trading back again when the children are bored with the first set of toys. If your child belongs to a group program, discuss the need for a buckle-up program for all of the children and parents. There are probably other parents who would welcome this kind of help as well. This is true even for babies who have strong neck muscles and good head control.
Babies have heavy heads and fragile necks.
The neck bones are soft, and the ligaments are stretchy. The head is thrust forward, wrenching the neck. Older children and adults wearing safety belts may end up with temporary neck injuries. But a baby's neck bones actually separate during a crash, and the spinal cord can rip. It's like yanking an electrical plug out of a socket by the cord and breaking the wires.