List Price: $20
Seat Compatability: Britax Combination Seats
The Good – Avoids the problem of incorrect lap belt positioning; Adds an extra point of restraint for your child when using a Britax Combination seat in booster mode.
The Bad – There is nothing to dislike about this cheap solution to an important problem.
The Bottom Line – This Clip is worth every cent of the $16 price tag. If you are not happy with the lap belt fit when transitioning your child from harness mode to booster mode, then buy one of these clips. It will grant you peace of mind by improving the safety of your child and prevent them from submarining under the lap belt in an accident.
What is the Britax SecureGuard Clip?
The Britax SecureGuard Clip is a great little accessory that can be used to significantly reduce the risk of abdominal injury in an accident, by preventing your child from sliding underneath the lap-belt when using their seat in belt-positioning booster mode.
It is compatible with all 3 of the Britax Combination harness to booster seats that are currently on the market: the Pinnacle 90, Frontier 90 and Pioneer 70.
The SecureGuard Clip has been a popular aftermarket accessory for a few years now, but it has attracted even more attention ever since the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded all of the Britax Combination seats a “Check Fit” rating in their 2013 booster seat evaluation tests.
Many people were surprised by this assessment and some parents were understandable very worried about the potential safety implications of this development.
I have previously written an entire post on the Britax “Check Fit” ratings and explained why I would not be overly concerned about these results. You can read my full post on this subject here, but for now all you really need to know is that the SecureGuard Clip completely avoids any fitting problems that might otherwise arise in relation to the lap belt.
So, my advice is that if you are transitioning your child from 5-point harness mode to booster mode in any of the Britax Combination car seats, make sure that you check the fit of the lap and shoulder belts.
A properly fitted lap belt will lie flat across your child’s upper thighs, not across the soft abdomen. A properly fitted shoulder belt will cross snugly over the middle of a child’s shoulder, not across the neck or upper arm.
If you are not entirely happy with the lap-belt fit, then buy one of these SecureGuard Clips. In fact, even if you are satisfied with the lap-belt fit, you might want to buy one anyway to help prevent “submarining” in the event of an accident and to simply add an extra point of restraint at all times.
How to Use the Britax SecureGuard Clip
The SecureGuard is very quick and easy to install.
Once you have fed the clip through the harness seat hole, you simply slide the lap-belt into the groove underneath. The lap-belt is then held securely in position and is unable to ride up too high on your child’s abdomen.
Video of the Britax SecureGuard Clip in Action
This video explains how the Britax SecureGuard Clip can be used to avoid the problem of incorrect lap belt fit and also to prevent “submarining” in the event of a collision:
Where to Buy the Britax SecureGuard Clip
Find the Britax SecureGuard Clip here.
Safety Information
After purchasing any child car seat, you should always read the User Manual thoroughly before using it. It is also advisable to visit your local Fire Department or NHTSA Child Car Seat Inspection Centre to ensure that the seat is definitely suitable for your child’s specific requirements and that you have installed it correctly. These services are usually provided free of charge.
You can find your nearest NHTSA Centre here.
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If you have any feedback or questions about my Britax SecureGuard Clip Review , please feel free to leave a comment in the box below or send an email to kristian@kidsafetyfirst.com
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