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Review · Everyday Aids
UnbuckleMe Car Seat Buckle Release Tool
A $15 lever tool that cuts the force needed to release a car seat buckle by roughly half - built by an occupational therapist with arthritis, and a favorite among grandparents whose hands don't press as hard as they used to.
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UnbuckleMe Car Seat Buckle Release Tool — at a glance
Price
$14.99
Brand
UnbuckleMe
Where to Buy
Amazon
What I liked
- Reduces the force needed to release a harness buckle by roughly half
- Fits standard five-point harnesses used in most infant, toddler, and convertible car seats
- Small enough to leave clipped to the car seat permanently, so it's there when you need it
- Widely praised by grandparents, some able to get grandchildren out of rear-facing seats unassisted for the first time in years
- Inexpensive, sold individually or in multi-packs if you want one for every car seat or vehicle
What I didn’t
- Designed for a specific buckle shape (five-point harness release button) - check your car seat's manual if you're unsure it will fit
- Available in several colors, so double-check you're ordering the one you want
- It's a mechanical aid, not a substitute for supervision when children are getting in and out of a vehicle
The verdict
This is the kind of product we love to point to: unglamorous, cheap, and it solves a problem that shows up in real life over and over. If buckling or unbuckling a grandchild's car seat has become a two-hand, wince-through-it job, this tool is worth the fifteen dollars.