Hi Moms,
I am confused as to the safest booster choices. I feel my daughter should still be in her super safe and comfy car seat and since hers goes up to 85 lbs., I could do this. However, she gets teased about it being a baby seat by play dates and resents that they get to sit in the extra boosters we keep in the car. The boosters are inexpensive, from Target, with backs. But even with backs they feel loosey-goosey and I can't believe would be anywhere near as safe as the solid Britax car seat. So, any suggestions as to a really great booster that will look like a big girl seat? I see some have the 5-point harness which seems much safer but I wonder if we'll get into that looking different and more babyish. Some regular boosters (like Britax) are hundreds of dollars, some at Target are $50. I've read that as long as the child/seat belt is positioned well it doesn't matter, but clearly some are more well constructed than others. Do you have one you love and trust? Any recommendations would be great. Thank you!
I know if you go to carseatnanny.blogspot.com she will be more than willing to help. She also has a list of of booster what she likes and dislikes about each one.
Good luck!
K.
Well, my answer would dependo her age, height, and weight. IF she's under 4 and under 40lbs, I'd tell her too darn bad! If she's under 6 and under 60lbs, I'd probably still tell her too darn bad! My oldest was in a harness car seat (britax Regent) on his own choice until he was 7.5yrs old. My 4.5yr old is still in the Regent. My 7.5yr old is now in a high back Sunshine Kids Monterey booster seat.
IF she's over that 6yrs/60lbs, then a high back booster is ok for her. Purchase one that has good side impact protection (Graco Turbobooster, Sunshine Kids Monterey, etc) and one that is comfy for her, and especially one that fits her properly. THe lap belt should be low on the hips, not up on the belly, and the shoulder belt should lay flat across the chest and shoulder. All booster seats have adjustable headrests, so raise it up so the belt guide is at her shoulders or slightly above, never below.
A 5pt harness IS much safer, but if she's mature enough both mentally and phsyically (over 6and 60lbs) then she's just as ok in a booster seat as long as she can sit properly all the time.
Teach her to tell her friends about how safe a 5pt harness is. Show her the crash tests (depending on age of course, but my 4yr old gets it), and explain to her why you choose tohave her in the seat she is in. But at the end of the day, YOU are the parent, so YOU decide what safest and how she sits in the car. Its sad to me that kids would tease another child for being safe.... and even sadder that it was likely taught by their parents. :(
First I feel compelled to tell a story ...
A friend got into a “minor” car accident (at around 35 MPH) several years ago with her 3 kids. 2 of her kids were in a booster seats and the youngest one (who was ~6) was still in his 5 point harness car seat. well.... The 6 year old was the only one who walked away without ANY injuries what so ever! The others had whip lash, broken collar bone, etc - luckily nothing severe.
I felt like I needed to tell you think because she should NOT feel pressured by her peers to switch to a booster seat. Maybe she can say something like "I'm sitting in my seat because my mom loves me and wants to keep me safe."
that being said there are lots of options out there and it depends on your car (e.g. height of seat/headrest). Below is some general info on booster seats. From:http://www.healthychildren.org/
Q: Is there a difference between high-back and backless boosters?
A: Both types of boosters are designed to raise your child so the seat belts fit properly and both will reduce your child’s risk of injury in a crash. High-back boosters are useful in vehicles that do not have head rests or have low seat backs. Many seats that look like high-back boosters are actually combination seats. They come with harnesses that can be used for smaller children and can then be removed for older children. Backless boosters are usually less expensive and are easier to move from vehicle to vehicle. Backless boosters can be safely used in vehicles with headrests and high seat backs.
How old is your daughter and what seat is she using now (if it's the Britax Regent, she can point to the sticker on it that says "not for infants" if any friends comment that it's a 'baby seat')?
I recommend the forums at http://www.car-seat.org for anyone with car seat questions - there are several certified child-passenger safety techs that frequent the boards there so they're very up-to-date on child safety seats (they'll even admit almost obsessively so, the threads on new seats that are about to be released to the market can get quite extensive!)
Like one of the previous posters mentioned, the function of a booster is to properly position the lap and shoulder belts on your child, and some will do this better than others. The high back boosters will also provide some side-impact protection.
If you'd like your daughter to stay in a 5-pt harness longer, the Britax Frontier and Graco Nautilus are both good options - they're forward facing seats that can be used as a 5 -pt harness seat and then can be converted to boosters when the harness is outgrown, and they also look much more "boosterish" than a convertible (rear-facing/forward facing) harnessed seat.
And as for the issue of teasing - there are a few things that you can consider doing: reminding your daughter that mommy loves her and wants her to stay safe in the car (some parents find that reminding their kids that race-car drivers wear 5-point harnesses helps the kids see the harness as a positive thing), and depending on your daughter's age and your state's laws, there might even be a legal reason for staying in the 5 point harness longer.
My girls are 8YO and in high-back boosters, and when I noticed that some kids (particularly boys) were making teasing remarks about booster seats before a field trip, I sent a polite email to the teachers before the next field trip telling about what I'd seen and asking if, when they review "field trip manners", they could remind the kids that teasing about boosters was a form of bullying and that the classmates who used boosters were doing so because their parents felt it was an appropriate safety measure, and also to mention it (along with a couple links like this one http://carseatblog.com/?p=3966 ) to the parents in the pre-field trip email
We purchased and love the Britax booster with the 3-point harness. Ours is from Buy Buy Baby, but I am sure you can find it most anywhere. Watch for the discounts for Bed Bath and Beyond and use them at Buy Buy Baby (they are owned by the same parent company). It cost us $40 more than the standard booster - a great value for impeccable quality!
Are you talking booster or front facing car seat? The whole point of a booster seat is to raise the child to the proper height so that the regular seat belt in the car hits the child at the right points in the body. In a front facing car seat setup the 5 point harness is used instead of the seat belt of the car.
Some car seats are designed to convert into booster seats without the 5 point harness when the child is tall enough and heavy enough.
I can't tell from your post whether or not you're still using the 5 point harness (which would appear babyish if the child is too old for it). It's unnecessary if the child is big enough to use the regular seat belt with a little booster seat to bring them to right height.
The car seat I used with my daughter converted to a booster without the 5 point harness. I've just now (she's 7) moved her to a small cheap booster seat from Walmart because I need that seat for my son. She wasn't getting any additional protection from that big car seat because she was using the car seat belt.
In terms of safety with a booster seat, the safety is actually from the regular seat belt of the car and not the booster itself. The booster is simply for height so the that the car seat belt works correctly. The safety is from having the seat belt fitting correctly, not from the booster itself. Anything that keeps the child at the right height is acceptable. So the cheap boosters work just fine.
Hope that helps.
Yes, the cheap boosters work just fine, but there are actually alot of booster seats on the market that don't do a real great job of positioning the belt. I know what you are talking about with her getting teased, I worried about that a little with my son, but thankfully he cares little about what his classmates might say. I have two seats for him (he turns 6 on Monday). I kept him in a 5 point harness only until he was 5 and over 45 lbs. Now he rides in a Graco turbobooster in our main car. I have a 5 pt seat still in the 2nd car, the Apex 65, where he can ride in a harness till 65 lbs. It doesn't look babyish at all, but might still get flack for the 5 point harness. But I agree that she should be old enough for you to explain to her that she is safer that way and that it doesn't matter if those kids make fun because if they get in an accident, they most likely get hurt ALOT worse than she will and that you just want to keep her safe.
Consumer reports did a study a while back about which boosters are safest
I can't remember how all of them did but I did base buying the turbobooster on it's results, so I I know it is a good booster for belt placement. I would check out http://www.car-seat.org/ and click on forums. Lots of good suggestions for boosters there. I know the Sunshine Kids Monterey is also a good one, albeit more expensive. The turbobooster does have a "floppy" back, but the reason for that is for it to convert to a backless booster and because with the seatbelt you don't need as much support on the back because the seat of the car is really providing that support. I do use the high back though because I like the side impact protection.
You are correct in thinking that she is safest in the Britax...I'm thinking you have the regeant. And no, not all car seats/boosters are made the same. Over half of boosters with seat belts failed because the lap belt rode up onto the tummy and in a crash caused internal injuries. The Britax Regeant is considered a "booster seat". Although, many kids use seat belt boosters they simply are not as safe for children. Think of a car accident with a seat belt. You fly forward a bit and the seat belt snaps you back. You get sore and whip lash at the least. Now think of such a small child.......they can't take that impact.
Additionally, Britax car seats/booster have side impact and head safety built into them, whereas many "boosters" do not! Additionally, seats with latch and tether are the safest.
I understand the "babyish" and teasing aspect though. And although I would never recommend exchanging safety for kids not teasing...there is a new option. The Froniter 84....Britax's newest booster. It is taking the place of both the Regeant and older Frontier model. It "looks" like a regular seat belt booster...even with cup holders! But uses a five piont harness. Its head hieght adjusts. And after 85 pounds can be used with the seat belt. At that time you use the fourth point (the "buckle" between the legs). The lap seat belt clips into the fourth point to stay in place. Its really cool! I am considering getting the new Frontier this summer as my son is entering Kindergarten...and as you, I'm thinking it will help with him feeling more like a "big kid" or his friends. But I refuse to take him out of the five point harness for years to come.
Accidents happen....we totaled our Durango. An SUV t-boned us. Hit my sons side. We spun 180 and the axel broke in two and the wheel fell off. The wheel my son was sitting on top of! We walked away. The firefighter said we were very lucky as he sees kids with many accidents get very, seriously injured!
Check out the Britax web site...they really explain all the differences and why you should stick with a five point harness for as long as you can.
sunshine kids monterey booster seat is awesome!!!! it is more expensive but worth the $ it has enforced sides it doesnt move around in the car it has the latch system to keep it in place and it has been in the top rated for seat belt positioning. I love this booster I have two and when my daughter gets old enough I will have 4
I agree with the Sunshine Kids Monterrey booster. I have that in one car and the Britax Monarch (no longer available) in the other. I LOVE the Sunshine Kids one!! With the Latch, there's little to worry about with the seat being wobbly and the seat itself expands as a kid gets both wider and taller. My son is very comfortable in it. It's a bit pricier, but most kids will spend a good few years--at least!--in a booster, so you definitely get your bang for the buck with it.
We absolutely love our Britax Frontier. It converts from a 5-point harness to a booster. It doesn't look like a baby seat at all, and it is rock solid and safe. It is a bit on the pricey side, but they just made a change to the Frontier, so you can buy last year's model at a pretty good discount. It's not a convertible seat, so it looks a lot less like a baby seat, but still gives maximum protection.
