Help on booster car seat please!

[C.Ann]

I was reading on-line yesterday that "shield" booster seats are a definite no-no for children in terms of safety and serious injury and here I sit with one in my van for my granddaughter!!!!

I need to know what to get to replace it.. (She's 5 yrs. old..) I use it in the center back seat of the van (always worried about side collisions) so there is only a lap belt there as opposed to the harness type..

Can anyone make a suggestion?

Thanks!

 

[jel0511]

First off, since you only have a lap belt in the center, your DGD should not be riding there. A booster seat is designed to be used with a shoulder seat belt, and using one with a lap belt is more dangerous than having a child sit in an outbound seat. There are many booster seats on the market that are easy to use. I personally use the Graco Turbo Booster for DD 6. It has a high back and armrests and is very comfortable for DD. She loves the seat and even has two built in cup holders.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by jel0511
First off, since you only have a lap belt in the center, your DGD should not be riding there. A booster seat is designed to be used with a shoulder seat belt, and using one with a lap belt is more dangerous than having a child sit in an outbound seat. There are many booster seats on the market that are easy to use. I personally use the Graco Turbo Booster for DD 6. It has a high back and armrests and is very comfortable for DD. She loves the seat and even has two built in cup holders.

---------------------------

Oh geez...that scares the living daylights out of me to have her on either side.. If it's safer than the alternative though then that's what I'll have to do..

Anyone know of a web site that shows the various booster seats and rates their safety?

 

[Kimberle]

I have the Graco Turbo Booster too. My dd really likes sitting in it. It's also easy to move from car to car.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

DD has a Britax car seat. It was one of the highest rated for safety when we bought it 1 1/2 years ago. Here is a link to their web page for boosters: http://www.britaxusa.com/products.cfm?id=80B943C9-A16A-4FA7-A2C44407FE79E875

Here is a link to car seat safety ratings: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/CPS/CSSRating/Index.cfm

My Sister recently bought the Britax Marathon car seat for her DD and they really like it. She ordered it online.

 

[Pembo]

My 5 yo doesn't use a car seat. Just the shoulder belt.

We also like the Graco Toddler seats. Not expensive either.

 

[jel0511]

Go to booster seats this is the babiesrus.com website's listing of booster seats. I have the first one listed and it's great. The Graco Turbobooster gets the same safety ratings as the Britax, but is much cheaper. I'm a Britax nut (my DS 3 is in a Marathon) and it's not practical to buy for a 5 YO IMO.

Edited to add: that the AAP recommends that children under 8 and 80 lbs be placed in a belt positioning booster. A seatbelt alone doesn't fit properly on a child under that age and size. Also, depending on what state you live in, some states are requiring children below the 8 and 80 lbs be in a booster seat. I know that in NJ and PA have that rule.

 

[jfulcer]

Originally posted by Pembo
My 5 yo doesn't use a car seat. Just the shoulder belt.

We also like the Graco Toddler seats. Not expensive either.

According to NHTSA, your 5 year old should still be in a booster seat unless (s)he is over 4'9''. The shoulder belt is not positioned properly for children and can cause injury in an accident.

To the OP, we use the graco toddler seats. They are comfy and we can move them from car to car easily.

 

[laurie31]

Children too small for the adult seat belts are often ejected in a crash They slip right out from under them.

Children wearing lap belts only are classified as "unrestrained passengers" in our ER.

Please whatever you do, don't use a lap belt alone, even an adult shouldn't do this. You should be able to take your vehicle to the dealership and have a shoulder belt added. Lap belts alone can sever the spinal cord (even at speeds of only 25 mph!) or lacerate the liver.

Side impacts are a valid concern; I suggest you read ratings of cars in side impact crashes. I personally chose my car because of its side-impact rating. If you're T-boned, it doesn't matter what kind of restraint you're using, if your car crushes in on you

Congrats for wanting to do what's best for your granddaughter!

Really all you need in a booster seat is one that will cause the lap belt to cross the child's hips and the shoulder belt to cross the shoulder itself, not the neck. Most of them are lightweight and easy to move from car to car. Get one your child/grandchild thinks is confortable. Your car's seatbelt is what's actually restraining the child with the booster, the seat is just to make to belt fit properly. Happy shopping!

Laurie

 

[floridaminnie]

I also use the Graco Turbo Booster seat for DD who'll by five in July. I went to Consumer Reports and that's the best one.

 

[C.Ann]

Thanks for all the great info here! I'll be shopping for a new booster seat soon and until I get a proper one, either my granddaughter won't be riding with me or I'll have to take one of her parent's booster seats..