Booster seats? DO you think they are safe?

[Spinning]

My DD is 8 andweighs about 55-60 pounds. She is in a booster, the half seat kind you can get at Toys R us. I just don't feel like she is secure. Anyone else feel this way?

 

[Manda1219]

Supposedly they are actually safer for the child, because they promote better positioning of the seatbelt. But I'm sure if you are concerned, you can find information pertaining to the specific seat you are talking about.

 

[POLLY ANN]

Why don't you feel like she's safe?

I'm not a big fan of the seats with no back, anyway, for comfort reasons. My dd is almost 7 and about 50 lbs, and she sits in the seat with the back on it, then the seatbelt harness crosses over her. My ped said 8year/80lbs and then she won't need it anymore. My 5yo ds also sits in this type of seat.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

It is safer then what my Mother had, put on brakes throws her arm out to make sure we didn't go flying through the windsheild. They didn't have seat belts back then... They will keep improving them until when your child is my age she will view differences and it will seem about the same.

 

[piglet too]

I understand your concern about this type of booster. However, the puprpose is to raise the child up so that the seat belt is positioned correctly. Contact your local police/fire department to find out about saftey seat checks. They either do them theirselves or can point you in the right direction. I applaud you for having your daughter in a booster. Even though it is law in some states, as it is in Illinois, to many parents just don't do it. My middle son is five and will be in his booster (has five-point harness and all) until he outgrows it, he is just safer that way.

 

[Twigs]

Spinning, I know what you mean. When DS's were younger and ready for booster seats, I got them the Kangaroo booster, I had to order them online. They had very high ratings for safety, and I really liked that they had a full back to them and on the sides they came out a little so that if they fell asleep they could rest their heads on it. They also had velcro straps on the sides at the top to position the shoulder belt in the right position.


Sorry, I just did a search and found out that the Downunder Kangaroo company went out of business. The kangaroo booster that I saw being sold on ebay are the older ones that do not have the velcro strap and those models had a recall safety notice out on them to have the velcro strap installed. I should have checked it out before I posted, sorry.

 

[Spinning]

thanks everyone...I think about every 3 months or so I re-eval what the kids are sitting in. My son just moved into a booster too so I guess that is why I am thinking about it so much. Originally she was in the high back one. It was a century brand (5 points then remove them for a b ooster) only problem when she turned 6 her legs grew so much! I had to get something else the sit in the depth was really short. So I bought a booster that had good ratings. Well she has had another growth spurt and it seems llike the belt doesn't hit her hips as nicely as before...I don't know.
Also the other problem in the mini van if I use the booster in the last row her head is higher than the head rest. I know I can raise it but it just seems odd. We dont' have this problem iwth the center row...

 

[ByTheSea]

I feel they are safer than no booster for small children.

But they certainly don't seem as secure as baby seats.


I remember growing up, when we finally got a car with seatbelts in the backseat it seemed so cool!

 

[aprilgail2]

I think they are safer than just a seat belt....my 4 year old is still in her car seat she had as an infant...it is good until 40 pounds and she is only 29. Once she gets a little bigger I will get her the high back booster.