https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 21:24:48 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2838317 Tue, 07 Aug 2018 09:56:35 +0000 Foodnerd81 2838317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well this morning I parked in the street (she has camp there this week) and unbuckled her quickly from her side but closed the door and had her climb down and out of the passenger side by her sister. Easy enough. Certainly easier than convincing two kids to stop fooling around and put their shoes on so we can drive to school in the first place. </p> <p>@Sapphiresun: we have a britax frontier. My friend has the same seat and her daughter can get herself out entirely by herself somehow. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2838244 Mon, 06 Aug 2018 23:07:07 +0000 Sapphiresun 2838244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Probably more dependent on the seat. We have a peg perego and had a second baby when my daughter just turned four. She got tired of having to wait to be unbuckled second and learned to get herself in and out shortly after. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2838238 Mon, 06 Aug 2018 20:57:01 +0000 Foodnerd81 2838238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: ive been leaving my 5 year olds straps tight when I unbuckle them, so when she gets buckled, I don’t have to tighten them again. But it makes it harder to buckle the crotch buckle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2838235 Mon, 06 Aug 2018 20:39:52 +0000 Anagram 2838235@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: my oldest can do it as of this summer, and she just turned 5. The only thing is, she doesn't get it tight enough so I let her buckle herself in while I do little sister, and then I go around and tighten DD1s straps. But she's a good helper and will get herself and little sister out, and they know to exit on the same side to streamline the whole process. DD2 can undo the chest clip and has been able to for some time. She can also fasten the bottom part but it takes her forever, so I rarely let her. She can't open the bottom buckle though. That's in our Radian and Foonf (they switch around). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2838162 Mon, 06 Aug 2018 12:51:55 +0000 Foodnerd81 2838162@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had her try a couple of times yesterday- definitely can’t. But my friends five year old can. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2838161 Mon, 06 Aug 2018 12:40:39 +0000 Mommy Finger 2838161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS1 learned a few months ago how to buckle and unbuckle his 5 pt harness. He's 5.5 now. It's really a game changer! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2838128 Mon, 06 Aug 2018 10:10:09 +0000 Mamaof2 2838128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: DD was 7 - It was always really hard for her! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2838122 Mon, 06 Aug 2018 09:55:26 +0000 snowjewelz 2838122@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>3.5 in a Graco Nautilis, she can unbuckle chest clip but not crotch. And thankfully she has never done it while the car is moving and most of the time still waits for someone to unbuckle her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2838005 Sun, 05 Aug 2018 06:22:57 +0000 looch 2838005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is still in a 5 point harness in my car and he has been able to buckle himself in since he was about 5 reliably.</p> <p>Our car has weird seats and no matter what I do with a belt positioning booster, he has more of a struggle to buckle the belt than it is worth for me right now. We have tried! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2838001 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 22:48:20 +0000 bhbee 2838001@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: it’s so simple but provides just the right leverage! Pretty sure I first saw it somewhere on hellobee :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2837995 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 21:47:15 +0000 PinkElephant 2837995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both my older girls (now 4 and 6 ) have been buckling themselves since around 3.5 (though I always had to check to make sure the chest clip was slid up) HOWEVER - DD1 turned six at the end of June and honestly just learned to UNDO her chest clip a few months ago, after a fair bit of practice. Her hands just aren't very strong. My 4 year old also learned to undo her chest clip around the same time; neither can currently undo the crotch buckle (or is even close, tbh). I thought maybe I could unbuckle my 6 year old (who sits in the middle) and have her undo the 4-year old's crotch buckle, since it's a different angle, but nope! Sh'e's managed the baby's bucket seat once or twice for me. I'm a little frustrated by this, but have heard horror stories of friends pulling over every three blocks because a two or three year old kid unbuckled themselves, so I guess I won't complain TOO loudly! :) I will say that it's not very cumbersome for me to just twist around and undo the crotch buckles myself in the drop off line - their seats are in the middle and passenger sides. Were someone behind the driver, it would be more difficult.</p> <p>@bhbee: Cool! I've never seen one of these and might look into it.@Foodnerd81: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2837994 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 21:39:32 +0000 Foodnerd81 2837994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: she just barely meets the requirements. I’ll probably wait and see how inconvenient it is and reevaluate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2837993 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 21:29:04 +0000 ShootingStar 2837993@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS was able at 4 to buckle himself completely. But obviously an adult still had to tighten it. In February, at 4.5, we moved him to regular belt positioning booster. He met all the requirements (4 years old, &gt;40lbs, &gt;40”)and it’s been great. He completely buckles and unbuckles the seatbelt. And he does surprisingly well at sitting the way he’s supposed to. </p> <p>I’m not sure if your DD meets those requirements, but if she does you should consider it. It’s so nice only having to do one car seat.</p> <p>ETA: forgot to mention he could never undo the 5pt harness. It was way too hard for him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2837985 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 20:25:57 +0000 KT326 2837985@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine was never able to ubbuckle the crotch part. We moved to a high back booster with the seat belt when he was 5. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2837984 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 20:23:29 +0000 Foodnerd81 2837984@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: lol my 2.5 year also “helps” by buckling the chest clip, which only take 2-3 times longer than if she just let me do it myself. </p> <p>@bhbee: I have to get both kids out for drop off so Both aides have to get unbuckled. I’ll see if I can do her from the front- the other day I buckled her in from the passenger seat because we were again on a busy street. </p> <p>Honestly it isn’t THAT busy of a road and there is the option of the parking lot a bit further away. But I was just thinking how easy it would be... </p> <p>@Grace: I don’t really trust her enough for the seatbelt only. Plus I use the seatbelt to install the seat since she’s over the latch weight limit so I can’t go back and forth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2837981 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 20:08:30 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2837981@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO helps with the chest clip only, ever since he turned 2. He hasn’t attempted to unbuckle the chest clip and hasn’t shown an interest in the crotch part. Basically, we split duties. :silly: He’s very helpful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2837980 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 20:07:39 +0000 Grace 2837980@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine could buckle up a Britax pioneer. Unbuckling is still too hard. Have you tried twisting backwards and unbuckling while you are still in your seat? It’s not that hard of a reach from the driver seat to the back passenger seat in my SUV. Another option, if you think she is mature enough not to squirm and fool around, is to use the car’s seat belt. We’ve started practising using it for short trips with my almost 5 year old and it’s quite easy for her to unbuckle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2837971 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 19:42:17 +0000 bhbee 2837971@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: definitely a different issue then! I have my 3yo on the passenger side (no way can he have the buckle bee) and find that easier to reach - I push the loosener thing in the seat while I ask him to pull the straps down and then I have enough slack to reach the chest clip and undo it. Then i push the buckle and ask him to pull the straps up. I’m sure it depends on the setup of your car but might be a way to do it together like that without getting out of your own seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2837970 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 19:41:27 +0000 misolee 2837970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my daughter could do it at 4 (in a britax frontier).<br /> It's useful bc she's way in the back (3rd row) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2837968 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 19:35:42 +0000 Foodnerd81 2837968@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: I’m not sure if she’s mature enough to be trusted, to be honest... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2837966 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 19:31:50 +0000 Sams Mom 2837966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is a little under 2 1/2, he can clip and 25% of the time unclip the chest clip, and he can buckle the crotch part sometimes but has never unbuckled it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2837964 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 19:22:57 +0000 bhbee 2837964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p> [attach=4253/18/pcyp29.337x600.801BC850-AAC4-48D6-83B7-563443D690FE.png] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2837963 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 19:21:29 +0000 bhbee 2837963@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Get a bucklebee to help unbuckle! (Also useful for grandparents with arthritis etc.) That’s what got my then 5yo to do the frontier for preschool carpool. They just need to be mature enough not to do it while driving which doesn’t sound like an issue.</p> <p>ETA it’s also easy to put on and off since it just slides on the bottom, so you could take it away at times if needed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2837960 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 19:03:30 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 2837960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 5 and 7 year olds can both buckle themselves in (5 year old still complains that it’s hard but can do it). Neither can unbuckle though, so I wouldn’t count on that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2837959 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 19:00:54 +0000 Foodnerd81 2837959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hitchhiker: exactly. Probably by the time I really trust her to be able to unbuckle it she will be ready for the booster seat anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2837958 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 19:00:01 +0000 hitchhiker 2837958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine is 5.5 and in a Britax Marathon. She just recently learned to clip the bottom buckle of the 5 pt harness (she’s been able to do the chest clip for a while). She still can’t unbuckle it and doesn’t really seem close. The thing is hard to unbuckle! I actually think that’s generally good, but annoying now that she is more trustworthy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-lo-buckle-unbuckle-a-5-pt-harness#post-2837957 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 18:50:56 +0000 Foodnerd81 2837957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How old was your LO when they could buckle or unbuckle a 5 pt harness? Or maybe they just never could until they moved to a high back booster?</p> <p>My just turned 5 year old is in a britax frontier with the harness. She can buckle the chest clip but not the crotch buckle and has never really tried to unbuckle either. Next year the easiest drop off spot is on the side of a busy road, so it would be easiest if she could unbuckle herself and climb out on the passenger side. She is behind the driver and little sis is in a forward facing convertible behind the passenger seat. Getting her back in will be easier because I won’t be in a time crunch at pick up and can park in a lot further away. Just curious if it’s unrealistic to expect her to be able to get herself out. Also I’m not sure i really want her to know how sometimes... </p>