lifting heavy grandchild

I always found, with grandsons, it was easier if they wanted to be lifted. They gave that initial "upspring". But if they did n't, and the arms went straight up.....

How do they manage to work that out?!

My youngest GS is 16 months and I find him heavy to carry I must say as I'm not as strong as I was with his siblings and cousins. I tend to carry him on my hip when I have to but this tilts my pelvis which ain't good for my spine. But hopefully my Pilates helps to rectify anything untoward. My DD has a swivel car seat and its so much easier. When my children were small we only had a 2 door car which was a real killer. As a grandma I have what I call a 'sit up and beg' 4 door car which makes it easier to sort out car seats and the tangly belts that go with them

In the days of the Britax 'egg' car seats (museum pieces now!), DS2 became a past-master at extricating himself from the straps. We never saw him doing it, just became aware of him breathing down our necks. Never mind that we strapped him in to just short of strangulation! Pity he didn't make a profitable career as an escapologist.

My GS aged 3yrs in April climbs in and out of his car seat, but he still has a nap in the car and sometimes I have to lift him out while still asleep into the buggy, that's what does my back the lifting and twisting - any suggestions?