Booster question

[velochic]

Dd does not fit properly in our Nissan with her booster seat. The shoulder belt (she sits in the center) comes quite low recently... more across her arm rather than midway between her shoulder and neck as it is supposed to. She's gone through a recent growth spurt.

She is almost 9 and weighs about 60lbs. She's a little tall for her age at 4'4".

When she sits in the seat without booster, her legs bend at the knees, as they are supposed to, and her feet are flat on the floorboard. The belt hits her where it is supposed to. I think she's gone through a transition and no longer needs the booster in this particular vehicle.

I guess I'm just concerned about the 80lbs. and 4'9" rule.

She still needs a booster in our Mercedes and Dodge Caravan, as the belt does not position where it is supposed to in those vehicles.

I'm assuming that I should get rid of the booster in the Nissan and, of course, continue in the other vehicles. Have I missed anything that would make the booster safer in the Nissan????

TIA!!

[an_aurora]

Make sure the lap belt is low across the top of the thigh--that's normally the last part to fit properly. But as long as she passes the 5-step test, there is no real added benefit for using a booster, provided she'll stay in position and not wriggle around, especially since the booster is causing the shoulder belt to fit improperly.

[leighi123]

Here is the 5-step test to determine if she still needs a booster:
http://www.carseat.org/Boosters/630.htm

Most kids need one until they are around 12yrs old. Can you post pics of her in the booster and just in the seat (doesnt have to show her face or anything, just the seatbelt fit)

[velochic]

Sorry... I won't post pics.

Yes, the belt does come across the very top of her thighs, in the crease of her legs/hips. I do know the 5-point test and she passes them all... in this vehicle only. In the other car and van she doesn't pass half of them.

I think that part of the reason it works for her in this car is that the belt is low (it doesn't fit ME properly when I sit in the middle) and the seats are short. She's not a big kid at all. Average, I'd say, if not a tiny bit tall and thin. I just wanted to make sure there was no *other* reason the booster helped. My understanding what that is was solely for belt-positioning and it appears that I have the info I need.

Thank you so much for your help!

[chickabiddy]

Well... there is a theoretical advantage to using a booster. Post-pubertal hipbones (the bones themselves, not large curvy mature hips) are harder and sharper and help keep the seatbelt down where it belongs during a crash. The armrests of boosters serve as artificial hips for prepubescent children.

I will often recommend that a young child who does technically pass the 5-step test remain in a backless booster, IF doing so does not compromise belt fit. Belt fit is the most important thing. If your daughter does not fit properly with her booster, then she should not use a booster. This was a theoretical answer to "is there ever any reason to use a booster if the belt fits properly".

[velochic]

Originally Posted by chickabiddy

Well... there is a theoretical advantage to using a booster. Post-pubertal hipbones (the bones themselves, not large curvy mature hips) are harder and sharper and help keep the seatbelt down where it belongs during a crash. The armrests of boosters serve as artificial hips for prepubescent children.

I will often recommend that a young child who does technically pass the 5-step test remain in a backless booster, IF doing so does not compromise belt fit. Belt fit is the most important thing. If your daughter does not fit properly with her booster, then she should not use a booster. This was a theoretical answer to "is there ever any reason to use a booster if the belt fits properly".

This was the kind of info I was after. Thank you very much. The belt rides down her shoulder/arm a bit when she sits higher in the booster in this particular vehicle. It doesn't position properly based on the diagrams I've looked at. Without the booster, the lap belt sits where it ought to as does the shoulder belt.

Overall, it sounds like fit of the belt is the most important factor as opposed to any added safety provided by the booster. If I'm not reading this correctly, please let me know. I'm kind of a paranoid stickler about car safety.

Thanks again.

[chickabiddy]

Yes, you are reading it as I intended it.

What booster is it, and is it highbacked or backless?