Booster Seat Question (slightly OT)

Well, this doesn't have to do with pregnancy, but maybe one of you moms
will have some advice for me anyway. We have a really old car (1976
Dodge Dart) and it only has lap seatbelts in the back seats. My
four-year-old son is outgrowing his carseat and probably won't fit in
it once he needs a coat again. However, I can't switch him to a
booster because there are no shoulder straps. Should I (a) keep him in
the back seat with just a lap belt, or (b) get him a booster seat and
put it in the front passenger seat, which has a shoulder strap (we
don't have airbags, obviously!) Which do you think would be safer? No
one around here, even the police station, seems able to give me an
answer on this one, because so few people have such old cars anymore.

Bryna

I think having the booster seat is important because it holds and protects
them from being whiplashed and jostled around. A lap belt wont prevent
whiplash, so I would put him in the front seat, with the booster seat,
assuming the booster has the attached harness that will restrain him more
completely. I must disclaim though, I am no expert and don't know for
sure...

"Bryna" wrote in message
oups.com...
Well, this doesn't have to do with pregnancy, but maybe one of you moms
will have some advice for me anyway. We have a really old car (1976
Dodge Dart) and it only has lap seatbelts in the back seats. My
four-year-old son is outgrowing his carseat and probably won't fit in
it once he needs a coat again. However, I can't switch him to a
booster because there are no shoulder straps. Should I (a) keep him in
the back seat with just a lap belt, or (b) get him a booster seat and
put it in the front passenger seat, which has a shoulder strap (we
don't have airbags, obviously!) Which do you think would be safer? No
one around here, even the police station, seems able to give me an
answer on this one, because so few people have such old cars anymore.

Bryna

Bryna wrote:

Well, this doesn't have to do with pregnancy, but maybe one of you moms
will have some advice for me anyway. We have a really old car (1976
Dodge Dart) and it only has lap seatbelts in the back seats. My
four-year-old son is outgrowing his carseat and probably won't fit in
it once he needs a coat again. However, I can't switch him to a
booster because there are no shoulder straps. Should I (a) keep him in
the back seat with just a lap belt, or (b) get him a booster seat and
put it in the front passenger seat, which has a shoulder strap (we
don't have airbags, obviously!) Which do you think would be safer? No
one around here, even the police station, seems able to give me an
answer on this one, because so few people have such old cars anymore.

Neither. I'd get a seat that fits him and still has a
five point harness.

From http://www.carseat.org:

"There are several safety seats available that provide a 5-point harness
for children over 40 pounds, with and without a top tether. These
include the Nania Airway by Car Seat Specialty and the Marathon, Wizard,
and Husky from Britax. The Britax Laptop, an energy absorbing shield, is
no longer in production but, if one can be found, can be used with a lap
or lap-shoulder belt for children from 30 to 65 lbs.

E-Z-ON Products produces the tethered E-Z-ON Vest with sizes for age 2
to adult, appropriate for younger children who do not fit in safety
seats with internal harness systems. For older children, the company
makes a Y harness (86-Y) for children over age 4 and 40 lbs. This
tethered harness can be used with a lap-only safety belt, with the child
sitting either on its Ride Ryte booster seat or directly on the vehicle
seat."

Best wishes,
Ericka

Don't know whether you can still get this but I have a booster that is
for using with a lapbelt--has a shield that goes across the tummy.

Leslie

"Bryna" wrote in message
oups.com...
Well, this doesn't have to do with pregnancy, but maybe one of you moms
will have some advice for me anyway. We have a really old car (1976
Dodge Dart) and it only has lap seatbelts in the back seats. My
four-year-old son is outgrowing his carseat and probably won't fit in
it once he needs a coat again. However, I can't switch him to a
booster because there are no shoulder straps. Should I (a) keep him in
the back seat with just a lap belt, or (b) get him a booster seat and
put it in the front passenger seat, which has a shoulder strap (we
don't have airbags, obviously!) Which do you think would be safer? No
one around here, even the police station, seems able to give me an
answer on this one, because so few people have such old cars anymore.


Get a booster with a 5-point harness system and a high back.

Jenrose

oregonchick wrote:
I think having the booster seat is important because it holds and protects
them from being whiplashed and jostled around. A lap belt wont prevent
whiplash, so I would put him in the front seat, with the booster seat,
assuming the booster has the attached harness that will restrain him more
completely. I must disclaim though, I am no expert and don't know for
sure...


Thanks for the advice -- I see your point about the potential for
whiplash!

Bryna

Ericka Kammerer wrote:

Neither. I'd get a seat that fits him and still has a
five point harness.

From http://www.carseat.org:

"There are several safety seats available that provide a 5-point harness
for children over 40 pounds, with and without a top tether. These
include the Nania Airway by Car Seat Specialty and the Marathon, Wizard,
and Husky from Britax. The Britax Laptop, an energy absorbing shield, is
no longer in production but, if one can be found, can be used with a lap
or lap-shoulder belt for children from 30 to 65 lbs.

E-Z-ON Products produces the tethered E-Z-ON Vest with sizes for age 2
to adult, appropriate for younger children who do not fit in safety
seats with internal harness systems. For older children, the company
makes a Y harness (86-Y) for children over age 4 and 40 lbs. This
tethered harness can be used with a lap-only safety belt, with the child
sitting either on its Ride Ryte booster seat or directly on the vehicle
seat."

Best wishes,
Ericka

Thanks for the information -- I wasn't even aware that there were other
options! The E-Z-ON harness looks particularly interesting (probably
would take up less room than a carseat, and with #3 on the way space
will be at a premium... )

Bryna

Leslie wrote:
Don't know whether you can still get this but I have a booster that is
for using with a lapbelt--has a shield that goes across the tummy.

Leslie

I don't *think* those are available anymore, but I'll check it out.
Thanks!

Bryna

Jenrose wrote:

Get a booster with a 5-point harness system and a high back.

Jenrose

Clearly I have not been aware of all my options here -- I didn't even
know that was a possibility. Thanks!

Bryna

Bryna wrote:

Jenrose wrote:


Get a booster with a 5-point harness system and a high back.

Jenrose


Clearly I have not been aware of all my options here -- I didn't even
know that was a possibility. Thanks!

They do have them, but for most of them, the five-point
harness isn't supposed to be used after 40 pounds, and has
height restrictions as well sometimes. So, most of them
either wouldn't work or would be short term solutions. BUT,
there are a few where the harness goes more than 40 pounds
(which are the ones mentioned in the carseat.org site, and
perhaps some new ones if they haven't updated recently).

Best wishes,
Ericka