Throughout my entire pregnancy, I travelled quite a lot – I flew to Lefkada in Greece during my first trimester and drove all the way to Portugal in my second (3,000 km one way!). That’s why finding the right pregnancy belt for safe and comfortable car travel during pregnancy was a priority from the very beginning.
I decided to put together this review of the BeSafe pregnancy belt for cars. In this article, you’ll also learn what a pregnancy car belt actually does and when you should start using one.
When Should You Start Using a Pregnancy Belt in the Car?
If you’re in your first trimester and your bump is starting to show, you’re probably wondering when to buy a pregnancy support belt for the car. Here’s the thing – if you’re planning to drive during pregnancy, experts recommend getting a maternity car belt right after the first trimester, or even sooner if your bump is growing early. Why?
You’re going to need it eventually anyway, and honestly, it’s incredibly comfortable – plus it’s so much safer for both you and your baby.
Some people will tell you they just held the seatbelt away from their belly and never used a pregnancy belt at all, but that’s genuinely risky and not worth the gamble.
Personally, I bought mine after week 12 of my pregnancy. I’m a little superstitious, so I didn’t buy anything pregnancy or baby-related before that point. After week 12, my bump started to grow, and once I installed the belt, I immediately felt more comfortable and safer in the car.
How Does a Pregnancy Seat Belt Work?
You install the pregnancy belt onto your car seat (and you can easily switch it between the driver’s seat and the passenger seat), then clip your standard seatbelt into the snap fasteners.
This means the seatbelt doesn’t press against your bump. It’s not just about comfort – it’s genuinely safer for you and your baby. The snap fasteners keep the pregnancy belt positioned below your bump and prevent it from riding up.
BeSafe Pregnant iZi Fix Review – My Experience
Let’s take a closer look at why I chose the BeSafe pregnancy belt for the car – specifically the BeSafe Pregnant iZi Fix model.
BeSafe Brand Quality
If you’re a fan of Scandinavian quality like I am, you’ll be pleased to know that BeSafe is a Norwegian brand founded back in 1919 by the Torgersen family.
When I was choosing a pregnancy support belt for the car, I was impressed that this Norwegian company has been developing and manufacturing safety products since 1963. Besides maternity car belts, they also produce a wide range of safety products for babies and toddlers.
Easy Installation and Switching Between Seats
I’m not exactly the handiest person, so I was really pleased to find that I could quickly figure out how to install the BeSafe pregnancy belt on the car seat. You can have it set up in just a few minutes (some people probably manage it in under a minute) and you’re ready to buckle up and go. Thanks to the simple installation, it’s also dead easy to switch the maternity belt between the passenger and driver’s seat.
The Pregnant iZi Fix can be attached to the seat in 2 ways: either using IsoFix connectors in your car or by securing it with the 3-point seatbelt.
Functionality, Safety and Comfort
Once the belt is installed in the car, buckling up is incredibly straightforward. The only thing that might be tricky is if you’re wearing a tight skirt, as the belt fastens between your legs. 😁
I was a little worried the belt might slip out of the fasteners, but it’s sturdy and solid. I drove about 10,000 km with it during my pregnancy, and I consider it the best investment not only in car safety but in comfort too.
With this pregnancy support belt, nothing digs in or presses against you – and as the weight piles on and various aches and pains creep in, it’s a relief to have one fewer thing to worry about.
Key Advantages of the BeSafe Pregnant iZi Fix
- Simple installation using IsoFix or seatbelt,
- ensures incredibly comfortable and safe travel,
- can be used on both the driver’s and passenger’s seat,
- protects both you and your baby,
- can be used from the first trimester,
- Scandinavian brand, Norwegian quality,
- certified to ECE R16 standard.
Disadvantages of the BeSafe Pregnant iZi Fix
- Can’t be used if you’re wearing a tight dress or a narrow skirt.
- The strap around the seat is on the shorter side, though it wasn’t an issue for us.
- Higher price point.
Is the BeSafe the Best Pregnancy Belt for Cars?
That’s a tough one to answer definitively since I haven’t had the chance to test every option out there. 😁 However, I’m very happy with the quality, comfort and ease of use. Plus, it’s made by a fantastic Norwegian brand that I genuinely trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I buy a pregnancy seatbelt for the car?
By the end of your first trimester at the latest, when your belly starts to grow, you should start thinking about investing in a pregnancy seatbelt for the car.
How do I fasten a pregnancy seatbelt?
Pregnancy seatbelts have clips that you attach the belt to, which keeps the car’s seatbelt away from your belly so it won’t press against you.
How does a pregnancy seatbelt for the car work?
A pregnancy travel belt for the car works by pulling the car’s seatbelt below belly level, preventing it from pressing on your abdomen.
How do I choose a pregnancy seatbelt for the car?
Choose a brand that has the necessary certifications, then look at how it fastens and how it attaches to the seat to make sure it’s not too complicated.
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
