Car Seat Vs. Booster

Both of my girls are in booster seats and have been for about a year. I was told by my pediatrician and after doing my own research that once their sholders are above the shoulder straps or their head is above the back of the car seat than it is no longer safe. Then it is time for a booster seat. The ones we have are for 40 lbs and up. I hope this helps.

My 5 year old is in a booster seat and has been since she was 4 but it is a tall one, not just a base that they sit on. We were actually in an accident when she was in that seat and she was perfectly unharmed I feel she is very safe in it, it is a Compass brand. I never really cared for the boosters that were just a base, I would go with the taller booster.

Hi,

I have my 6 1/2 year old son in a high backed booster seat that was his car seat (just removed the 5 point harness. I plan to keep him in it as long as possible.

S.

Hi S.,

Below is a portion of an informational email my friend and I put together as so many of our friends kept asking us questions about carseats- the link has a lot of information....basically I'll tell you that I have a 5 year old who is currently in a Britax Marathon in one car and a Britax Regent in the other car...if I could I'd buy the new Frontier carseat which harnesses to 80 lbs and then turns into a great booster that can be latched into the car....after doing lots of research I really feel that the 5pt harness is the best way to restrain a child until they are much older...I don't really care that almost everyone else starts using boosters at age 3 and 4...I know I'm choosing the safest option for my child...my son who is 27months will be rearfacing until he reaches 33 pounds....is it possible your daughter has run out of space in her seat (sounds like it might be a Britax Marathon, Boulevard....)..how about looking the pretty pink Britax Frontier...use it as a harnessed seat for now and then a booster...it looks like a booster as it has armrests and everyone I know loves the pink for their girls....online it's around 235.00 shipped...and it will last her forever...

Anyway,, here's the link and feel free to email me with any more questions or the full email...

B.

CARSEAT INFORMATION

The best rule of thumb is:

Keep your child in a carseat till child meets maximum weight or height and has outgrown it (either they will outgrow height limit or weight limit). Whenever they reach the maximum of one of the limits it is time to move them to a bigger seat. After the “infant seat” there are lots of “convertible” carseats that have limits to 65 lbs and/or 49 inches tall.

After the “convertible seat” there are carseats now that they call “youth seats”. They are
bigger and look like a high back booster but still have a 5 point harness. There are several brands that now make these to accommodate up to an 80lb and/or 53 inch tall child. There are also seats that convert from harness to booster. So they go to 80 lbs and then convert to a booster seat accommodating up to 100 lbs.

There is a variety of “High back boosters” that can accommodate a child up to 100 lbs and /or 60 inches tall.

Following these guidelines will help you keep your child safe and ensure they are in the proper carseat/booster based on their weight and height.

Here are some facts why a 5 point harness seat is safer than a booster seat:

* The crash forces are spread over the skeletal body over five points rather than three.

* The crash forces are spread to the strongest parts of the child's body.

* Forward head excursion (the distance the head is thrown forward) are lessened.

* The child is secured in the correct seating position rather than being able to wiggle
around, lean forward etc

In 5-point child restraints, there is also the added safety of the top tether (so long as the vehicle has this feature). The top tether or top strap (as its sometimes called) helps hold the top of the child restraint back against the vehicle. In a frontal crash at 30mph with a car seat installed properly and no top tether, there is a 32" frontal head excursion.

In the same seat, same crash, child restraint installed along with the top tether, you reduce that frontal excursion to 4-6", thus making it more likely that the child will not hit the seat in front of them.

When used correctly, 5-point harness car seats provide significant safety advantages over securing your child in a booster seat using the adult seatbelt. A child is safest in a 5 point harnessed seat. A child should remain in a 5 point harness until they outgrow it.

Here is a great link with detailed information and a video clip of a vehicle crash test video comparing a 5 pt harnessed seat vs a booster seat:

http://www.kyledavidmiller.org/pages/4211/Car_Seat_Safety...

If you want to go straight to the crash test video, here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2kO8AxKbrM

Highly Recommended 5 Point Harnessed Seats:

1. Graco Nautilus and it turns into a booster after the harness is outgrown but
is a 5pt until 65 pounds)
2. Britax Regent will harness to 80 lbs and/or 53 inches tall
3. Frontier a great new seat can harness to 80lbs and then can be used as booster to
100 lbs and/or 60 inches tall
4. Britax Marathon is a good seat to harness to 65 lbs and/or 49 inches tall
5. Evenflo Triumph Advance is also great

If you choose to put you child in a booster it is important to choose a HIGH BACK BOOSTER with side impact protection...those LOW BACK/NO BACK boosters are really meant for children age 9 and up....

Here is a study that talks about side impact protection and booster seats and quotes from this article:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-09/chop-htb09...

QUOTES:

· Most of the injuries to children seated in backless booster seats were head
injuries.

· Possible explanations for non-significant reduction in injury risk for backless
booster seats are that parents may be less likely to use to use the shoulder belt-
positioner that comes with backless booster seats and that high back boosters have a
contoured back that may better contain the occupant in side-impact crashes.

· The risk reduction provided by booster seats in side-impact crashes varied by booster seat
type: 4-to 8-year-olds riding in high back booster seats were at a 70 percent reduction in
injury risk, while those in backless boosters did not experience a statistically significant
risk reduction as compared with seat belts alone.

Booster seats protect against serious injury 3 ½ times better than seat belts. High back Booster seats protect against head injury 4 times better than seat belts.

Here are some links of videos showing crash tests for different booster types:

Video of a no back booster

http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_s...g_P3_vorne.mpg

Video of High Back Booster with deep side wings:

http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_s...ordliftpro.mpg

Video of high back booster with shallow side wings

http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_s.../htsbesafe.mpg

There is a big difference in booster quality...listed below are some good choices...most are available online very reasonably.

This info is from a carseat tech who is the best we've ever found! She states:

Avoid the Cosco/Eddie Bauer ones because they have virtually no side impact protection and they all require high headrests behind them.

Highly recommended Booster Seats:

Sunshine Kids Monterey
Britax Monarch
Recaro (any of them).
Jane' Indy/Indy Plus
Maxi Cosi Rodi (though it has the headrest rule)
Compass Premier or Deluxe (new names for B510)
Britax Frontier

Avoid Evenflos (not good side impact)

Graco Turbo is easy to find and ok, but not on my top list of excellent seats (not designed especially for side impacts, plus kids tend to route the belt wrong over the armrests...but it's a lot better than an Evenflo or Cosco!)

Hi S.,

My son will be 5 in August and he is still in the car seat, he is only 42 pounds and I think he is safer in that seat. His shoulders still come below the straps and if that is the case I was told by a fireman that the harness is WAY safer if their shoulders still fit under where the straps come out. So, I agree with you on the saftey of the car seat vs the booster. With your daughter being so light (in weight) I would keep her in the car seat.
Good luck! Have a fun trip!

I have the Britax convertible car seat(basically like a booster only with back, head, and neck support). My 5.5 year old boy loves it and it is great for long car trips cause it supports his head and neck when he falls asleep. In my opinion a booster is not sufficient for your petite daughter. Why not go online to the other vendors to get specifications.

Happy and safe travels.

My son will be 6 in October and we've had him in the Britax Regent for over a year - it's a 5 pt harness and wider and more comfortable. We also recently purchased the new Britax model, the Frontier for our second vehicle and it fits much better into the car, has a 5 pt harness and looks like a booster seat. if you have the ability to get the Frontier - that's what I would recommend.

I'm the mom of a 3 1/2 year old, and I'm in the opposite boat - I cannot WAIT to get my son into a booster. I know a carseat is probably safer overall, but he is miserable in it. He whines and complains of being uncomfortable every time we put him in it. So for an 11-hour car trip, make sure your daughter's comfortable. They make the boosters to keep kids safe too, and chances are, you'll have a smooth trip and won't have to worry about the safety factor anyway. Good luck!

11 hour trip???? Safety seat for sure. What she wants is not priority in this case....let her win some of the smaller battles in life not one that has to do with safety. What's dad thinking? Get him on the band wagon right away.

I agree the car seat is definitely the seafest way to go. My twins are 5 1/2 & are still in their MArathons. they are 37 & 40#.......My son has a highbacked booster in my husbands truck for the occasional day he needs it for a baseball game.

AS much as I fantasize about the smaller size & ease of the booster, mine will stay in thier 5pt harnesses for as long as possible....which will be one more year, when their Marathons expire (6yrs from manufacture date.

Deb~ SAHM to 5y/o B/G twins & a liitel girl who will be 3 in July

I have my 5 1/2 year old twins in high back boosters without the harness. They outgrew the height requirements for the 5 point harness when they were 5 so now we use the seatbelt. They feel like they are bigger kids now that they don't have to use the harness. Sleeping is more comfortable in a highback booster. You childs safety is the most important thing, and a high back booster is safer. There is no discussion about it with my kids. For smaller shorter trips with school and field trips, they do have a small booster for ease of use. They fit the height and weight requirements for a regular small booster or a high back one, why wouldn't you pick the safetest one? Our high back goes till 80 pounds. For sleeping using one of those neck pillows are great for long trips, they their head doesn't flop around. Maybe let her use the booster for those special short trips in your husbands car, but have a rule of thumb that all trips in your car uses the booster. Good luck!

Once my kids turned 3 I put them into a booster seat. My son is now 5 and is in a booster seat. We are actually leaving for a 7 hour trip tomorrow. Last year we drove from IL to FL and that was two days worth of traveling. As long as she meets the booster seats weight requirement it is completely fine.

My son is 7 yrs. old now, but he has been in the booster seat since he was 4. He is not a big kid and he wasn't too small for it at 4. He was above the minimal weight guidelines when we bought it. He has always felt more comfortable in the booster.

Most boosters start with a weight of around 30 something pounds. I too have lighter children and by 5 they are all in boosters, even more daughter who is 4 is already in a booster. Just make sure you check the weight and if she is heavy enough. My children were much more tolerant of longer car rides in their boosters.

My son turned 5 in May and is still in a Britax car seat with a 5 point harness. He has never been in a booster so he does not know the difference. I know that a car seat with a 5 point harness is the safest way to go. I will have my son in a 5 point harness car seat until he out grows them. I believe Britax has one that goes up to 85 lbs. He is only 40 lbs now so we have a long way to go. I would try to explain to your daughter that her car seat is the safest thing for her and you want her to be as safe as she can be.
Just my opinion,
A.

Be sure to check the height recommendations, too. Has she exceeded the height recom. for the car seat?
5-pt. harnesses are safest, but the right high back booster seat has been crash tested and is safe if used properly. BUT, if youthink she'll fall asleep and slouch during the drive, 5pt. harness may be the way to go.

My 4 yr old could not WAIT to get out of the car seat. He was always hot, and crowded in it, even though it was rated for even bigger sizes.(My son is on the small side.)
He now has a booster in both my car, and DH's.
If your dd gets hot, and cannot move around a bit, an 11 hour car ride is going to make her miserable. She can't shift from side to side, mover her legs as well, etc.
Try to imagine having to sit as still as she'll have to, for as long as she'll have to. (Obviously you'll be stopping for food, restroom, walking, etc.)

My older 2 went straight from car seats to the regular seat. No booster at all. (It wasn't required yet! Just think, years ago, not only were seatbelts not required, but they weren't even offered in the backseats of most cars! LOL)

Have a great trip, no matter what you decide!

Hi S.,
I have to agree with several of the moms who have told you to stick with the 5pt harness car seat. It IS the safest - especially since she is so light. You're the mom, put your foot down for safety!!

We have our 4 year old in the Britax Regent (LOVE this seat, by the way). And because of his size, he will probably be in that seat until he leaves for college! :-)

I hope you have a great (and safe) trip!
B.

if she is more comfortable in the booster your 11 hour car ride is going to be more fun.

Hi S.,

When I went to a car seat safety check, I was told by a Fireman and a State Farm Auto Insurance Claims Adjuster that when your child's shoulders (regardless of weight & age)are higher than the shoulder straps in your car seat, it's time for a booster seat. Now depending on what type of seats you have in your vehicle is what kind of booster seat is the safest. For bucket seats and captains chairs a no back booster seat is the safest. I was told it's very dangerous to have a high back on a high back or a booster seat with a snap down padding over the lap (not sure what they're called).

My children are very tall(90%) and have been out of their car seats since 3 1/2.

Hope this helps, and safe travels.

Verify the regulations on the car seat you have. I had a five point harness that removed to be a back seat booster and the weight limit was 40 lbs for the 5-pt harness, higher for the booster.

My daughter felt the same way. She currently prefers her booster with no back to the one with a back (which holds the belt better).

Our 6 1/2 year old has been in a booster for a few years. 5 was about the transition point.

A long car ride is a very difficult time to have an upset 5 year old. Does it look like she's uncomfortable? Some carseats position a child differently (like four month olds trying to sit up in infant seats). Is she willing to bargain? If you'd like her in the harness, can you bargain with some new coloring books, etc. that she will enjoy in the ride?

Good luck.

Most 5-yr olds I know are in boosters. However, if you are going on a roadtrip, she'll be much more comfortable sleeping in the carseat. The boosters are so uncomfortable for sleeping kids.

Aside from the roadtrip, I'd let her sit in the booster. Think of how it feels to you when your seatbelt is locked. It's very uncomfortable. That's what a carseat feels like to a child who has experienced a booster. I have three kids and when they are big enough for the booster and can stay in the booster without trying to climb out and climb all over the car, then they can sit in a booster. My oldest was in the carseat much longer just because we didn't have a booster. The other kids have wanted to switch earlier. Currently my 3-year old is in a booster and does fine. I think you are right that the carseat is safer, but with all the "big kids" in boosters he feels like a baby in the car seat so, it became a battle and I decided to let him win this one.

My son will be five in a few weeks and still only weighs 35 pounds so he's still in a car seat. We wanted to buy a booster, but he still doesn't weigh enough. I did finally break down and buy a booster with a removable back, however. I made this concession due to PreK and K field trips. As a teacher I know those boosters are a heck of a lot easier for drivers than traditional seats. However, I agree that I felt much safer with his old harness car seat.

For an 11 hour car trip I'd take the more comfortable seat, though. Keep in mind that when installed properly they are proven to be safe. ;)

I have a 5 year old daughter too. She is in a booster that has a back on it (made by Graco). The weight limit on it is 30 lbs. My daughter is 42 lbs and has been in it for a year (after turning 4). She loves it. I did research it and it did have good safety ratings also. Hope this helps!