You’ll do anything to keep your family safe in the car. You buckle up, use car seats, practice defensive driving, follow traffic laws, and probably a lot more to prevent accidents and reduce the risk of injury if you’re ever in one! And, this maternal instinct to keep your family safe starts at the very beginning.
Many women have the same concerns about seat belt safety when driving while pregnant. They’re often worried about the unborn baby getting hurt in a crash due to the seat belt. Because of this, pregnant women everywhere are searching for the best solutions to protect the baby in an accident! One thing you’ll find out there are “pregnancy seat belt positioners.” They’re trendy and they have big promises, but are they a legitimate product?
Let’s explore:
Pregnancy Seat Belt Adjuster: Why This Device Might Be Putting You and Your Baby at Risk
Pregnancy seat belt positioners are marketed to pregnant women to help reposition the seat belt. It promises to adjust the seat belt in a way that improves comfort and safety. The idea is the simple device relieves pressure from the pregnant belly and distributes it to the hips, preventing harm to the unborn child in a car accident.
On the surface, they appear logical. The adjuster sits at the front of the seat and allows a pregnant woman to hook the lap belt between her legs. This hypothetically puts crash forces on the thighs instead of the pregnant belly. But independent testing of these devices have shown that they don't work well and may increase the risk of injury.
Are Pregnancy Seat Belt Positioners Safe?
No. Pregnancy seat belt positioners are not recommended, and here's why.
They may not hold up in a crash. Many positioners claim to be crash tested, but when an independent group, ADAC, tested four types, the results were not reassuring. Some broke apart and all of them let the dummy move farther forward before stopping.
They don't solve the real problem. The biggest risk to an unborn baby in a crash isn't usually the seat belt pressing on the belly. It's placental abruption, when the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus. This is mostly caused by internal forces from your body and the sudden stop of the crash. Moving the lap belt off your belly does not reduce these forces, and letting your body move forward further can actually increase them.
They change how your seat belt was designed to work. Vehicle manufacturers design and test their seat belts to work a specific way and apply force to specific parts of the body. Rerouting the belt changes that, and no vehicle manufacturer approves these devices.
You don't need one! A properly worn seat belt reduces the risk of adverse outcomes for your baby by 84%. If your lap belt feels uncomfortable, a small adjustment to how you wear it or how your seat is positioned usually makes a big difference.
But don't worry, you can still drive safely when pregnant. Your standard seat belt is one of the most effective ways to protect you and your baby. You just need to take a moment to position the lap belt and shoulder belt correctly.
How to Position Your Seat Belt Without a Pregnancy Seat Belt Adjuster
Place the lap belt under the curve of your belly and flat on your hips.
For the lap belt in question, simply pull the lap belt under your pregnant belly so the strap is lying flat and snug across your thighs. When you wear the seat belt this way, you don’t need to worry about excessive pressure on your pregnant belly in a crash.
Position the shoulder belt to the side of your belly.
For the shoulder belt, ensure the upper strap is on your shoulder and rests between the breasts. Route it to the side of your belly.
Here's a helpful guide on seat belt positioning from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Pregnancy seat belt adjusters are unsafe and unnecessary.
It’s easy to be drawn in by trendy “safety” products with flashy marketing. We all want to keep our families safe especially in the car where they’re arguably the most vulnerable. However, it’s important to find trusted sources that research products like this and give you a clear conclusion on what you should do for your family.
That’s what we do here at Safe in the Seat! You can find lots of information on our blog offering car seat education, vehicle safety advice, and other safety recommendations to keep your family protected. We’re here to help!
