Originally published 12/20/2019
Updated 7/2/24
Have you heard about people using seat belt extenders to make it easier to buckle kids into car seats and booster seats?
This is one “tip” to ignore. Seat belt extenders were not created for car seats or booster seats and are not tested to work with them.
Furthermore, seat belt extenders do not fit car and booster seats the way they do for their intended users: large-size people sitting in the front seat who need additional belt length to safely buckle in.
Seat Belt Extenders Are Not Safe To Use With Child Booster Seats
Lap and shoulder belts are designed to lock, tighten, and restrain drivers and passengers from flying forward during a sudden stop or collision. Seat belt extenders won’t restrain a kid in a car seat or booster seat because the extra length of belt weakens the restraint function. There isn’t enough bulk and weight to balance against the extra length.
Even a couple of inches of extra belt is enough to prevent that crucial locking function.
Also keep in mind that the buckle from the extender will be sitting on the child’s body. The gravitational force from a sudden stop or collision can cause a lot of organ damage. This is why car seat belts buckle away from the body and close to the seat surface.
Car and Booster Seats Are Safety-Tested But Not All Seat Belt Extenders
All car and booster seats sold in the US are tested for safety. But safety testing for car seat extenders isn’t universal and they certainly are not tested with car seats or booster seats.
If you are looking for a seat belt extender for an adult, this article discusses seat belt extender safety issues.
Make Sure Your Car Seat Or Booster Seat Is Installed Correctly
We know that booster seats and car seats can be difficult to install and use. Proper installation can make both easier by using the right amount of belt length and making sure any center buckles remain up between seats.
If you’re concerned that your car or booster seat is properly in place, you aren’t alone. Child safety experts say up to 80% aren’t done right. Luckily, just about every local city and town offers free installation and training. This article from Raising Arizona Kids lists local resources that can help you get that seat installed the right way.
The Pool Noodle Hack Makes Seat Belt Buckles Easier To Reach
The Car Seat Lady is a great resource for car safety. An activist for child car safety, she came up with a hack for parents who struggle with seat belt buckles.
Cut off a few inches of pool noodle and make a full cut to open the curl. Slide the noodle part over a buckle that’s frustratingly close to the seat surface and you’ve got a firm prop in place.
Watch the Pool Noodle Video to see how it’s done. It’s easy and no pool noodles were harmed during filming.
There are also seat belt holders sold on Amazon that do the same thing. Unfortunately, they are advertised with seat belt extenders, as this screenshot from a search pulls up:
However, once you click on the ad, you’ll see that belt holders and belt extenders do not have the same function. Still, we wish the ad wasn’t so dangerously misleading.
Car Seats And Boosters Save Lives
When they are properly installed and used, car seats and boosters make traveling with kids a lot safer
The CDC says car seats reduce injuries from a car crash by as much as 82% compared to using just a seat belt – which won’t work anyway for babies and toddlers. For kids ages four to eight, booster seats reduce their injuries by almost half.
Make sure your older kids are buckled in. That alone reduces the chance of a serious injury by half. And while Arizona doesn’t have a minimum age for sitting up front, experts advise for parents to keep kids in the back until age 13, when most are tall and heavy enough to get full protection from seat belts and airbags.
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