Booster seat for use with a lap belt? - Page 2

[Mirzam]

Originally Posted by dallaschildren

Just a quick note.... the Cosco Apex release date was recently pushed back to late 2005. So no May-June 2005 release as Cosco previously reported. Cosco is acting very mysteriously about this seat. What is weird is they had the prototype out and in full view at a safety convention in March and now they pretend as if it doesn't exist or that they know nothing.
I know a lot of you have PM'd me and we've discussed this seat. So I thought I would let you all know the status. It is very frustrating. Not everyone who wants their kids to remain in a 5 point harness for longer than 40 pounds, can afford the Britax models. I was so excited. :

Dallaschildren
CPS tech and mom to 2 sons in seats

I heard it was because it failed in testing.

I hope Cosco hurries up and gets it through, but not at the expense of lower harness slots.

[Teensy]

Perhaps I missed something, but did any of the above answers indicate that there is a seat that can be used with only a lapbelt if your vehicle does not have tethers?

I guess I need to bite the bullet and have tethers installed in my van.

With carpooling and watching my niece, I need to be able to have up to five children in car/booster seats in my minivan. I haven't figured out how to transport everyone safely (ages 5, 5, 3, 1, and newborn).

[Mirzam]

Originally Posted by Teensy

Perhaps I missed something, but did any of the above answers indicate that there is a seat that can be used with only a lapbelt if your vehicle does not have tethers?

I guess I need to bite the bullet and have tethers installed in my van.

With carpooling and watching my niece, I need to be able to have up to five children in car/booster seats in my minivan. I haven't figured out how to transport everyone safely (ages 5, 5, 3, 1, and newborn).

There is no belt positioning booster that can used with a lap belt but a regular car seat can be installed with one. All a lap belt is good for is installing a harnessed car seat and all car seats, except for the Husky which requires a tether for some installs and for children over 50 lbs, can be used without a tether.

Car seats always perform better when tethered so it is certainly worthwhile installing tether anchors, but you don't have to.

[3boobykins]

THanks dallaschildren and uccomama, for sharing your knowledge! Sounds like the Marathon is narrower than the Apex, so we'll probably go with that for our center seat at least.

[Verity]

So our current (almost outgrown) seat, a Britax Freeway (almost identical to the Roundabout, but forward-facing only), is ok without a tether? And the Marathon would be, too? I have it in the center of the second seat in my 1995 Suburban, installed with just a lap belt.

I tried to get a tether anchor installed in my car, but all the dealers I contacted about it were clueless.

[dallaschildren]

Originally Posted by Verity

So our current (almost outgrown) seat, a Britax Freeway (almost identical to the Roundabout, but forward-facing only), is ok without a tether? And the Marathon would be, too? I have it in the center of the second seat in my 1995 Suburban, installed with just a lap belt.

I tried to get a tether anchor installed in my car, but all the dealers I contacted about it were clueless.

Verity....Yes, it is best practice to install Britax seats with their top tethers attached. Britax is the only line of safety seats on the market right now that can be tethered forward or rear facing. Always verify this with your seats owner's manual. Are you in the UK?
As for the installation of tether locations in your 95 Suburban...go here:
http://www.chevrolet.com/safety/latch/
The dealers you went to are being lazy. Of coarse someone there knows about tether locations for child seats. Be agressive and don't take no for an answer. If you are in the UK, then you can at least call a number in the above link, and get some referrals. Good luck.

Dallaschildren
CPS tech and mom to 2 sons in seats both in 5 point harnesses

[Verity]

I appreciate the information.

I'm not trying to be dense here, but where would a tether anchor go for the second seat (or captain's chairs) in an SUV or minivan? In the floor? I can only picture a tether anchor in a sedan.

[cjr]

Sounds like the Marathon is narrower than the Apex, so we'll probably go with that for our center seat at least.

I have been following this thread because we are in the same situation. We have 3 kids and drive a Jimmy. DD was in the middle with the lap belt, ds on the passenger side in the back, and dd#2 in a booster behind the drivers side. I have always been uncomfortable with this configuration, but I don't know what to do. If ds is in the middle then the girls can't get the seatbelt done up and neither can I. Ds's car seat is too wide where the seatbelts clasp into the seat. It takes a good 20min of blind searching for me to get them buckled and then another 20min to get them out because I can't squeeze my hand in there.

DD#2 is only 38lbs and technically should still be in a harness, but she's too tall. It's uncomfortable for her because her shoulder's are way above the holes the strap comes out of. For now we have put ds in the middle and dd#2 back in the harness carseat because it's easier to get her in and out of. DD#1 is in a booster seat in the front passenger side of the car. We don't have an airbag on either side, but I still don't like her being up there.

I have been looking at the Marithon for ds. I was hoping that it would be narrower at the back and the bottom so the girls can get themselves buckled up properly. I want to get the girls the new boosters from Britax as well. They just seem like they would be much safer since they are all squished back there and the boosters are right up by the side doors. Can anyone tell me if the Marithon would accomidate other children having to buckle up in a booster seat?

What did people do before minivans? This is so frustrating. We had a minivan, but downsized on our luxeries so I could be a SAHM. The Jimmy is great for us otherwise. Cargo room and great in winter weather, but trying to get 3 kids in the back with all the seating regulations and safety concerns is really frustrating.

[Mirzam]

Originally Posted by cjr

I have been following this thread because we are in the same situation. We have 3 kids and drive a Jimmy. DD was in the middle with the lap belt, ds on the passenger side in the back, and dd#2 in a booster behind the drivers side. I have always been uncomfortable with this configuration, but I don't know what to do. If ds is in the middle then the girls can't get the seatbelt done up and neither can I. Ds's car seat is too wide where the seatbelts clasp into the seat. It takes a good 20min of blind searching for me to get them buckled and then another 20min to get them out because I can't squeeze my hand in there.

DD#2 is only 38lbs and technically should still be in a harness, but she's too tall. It's uncomfortable for her because her shoulder's are way above the holes the strap comes out of. For now we have put ds in the middle and dd#2 back in the harness carseat because it's easier to get her in and out of. DD#1 is in a booster seat in the front passenger side of the car. We don't have an airbag on either side, but I still don't like her being up there.

I have been looking at the Marithon for ds. I was hoping that it would be narrower at the back and the bottom so the girls can get themselves buckled up properly. I want to get the girls the new boosters from Britax as well. They just seem like they would be much safer since they are all squished back there and the boosters are right up by the side doors. Can anyone tell me if the Marithon would accomidate other children having to buckle up in a booster seat?

What did people do before minivans? This is so frustrating. We had a minivan, but downsized on our luxeries so I could be a SAHM. The Jimmy is great for us otherwise. Cargo room and great in winter weather, but trying to get 3 kids in the back with all the seating regulations and safety concerns is really frustrating.

Are you putting your DS in the lap belt in a booster or are you installing a harnessed car seat there? Either way, I think you have a major *problem* on your hands. No booster can be used with a lap belt. But the other issue is, you CANNOT use the middle seating position for a car seat in the Jimmy and many other GMC SUVs. Please check your car's manual because I am not 100 percent certain but I do know for sure there are some GMC SUV models that do not allow this.

I am asking a friend who is an expert on GMC (works for them) dallaschildren will hopefully see this post too and maybe she will know for sure.

ETA: I was correct, I am afraid. My friend has confirmed that no car seat is allowed to be installed in the center of a Jimmy back seat. This is also the case for the Bravado.

[Verity]

I don't have a Jimmy, or a Bravado, but why can't you use a child's car seat in the middle of their back seat? I assume it's not the issue of the seat having a lap belt only. My understanding is that it is ok to install a harnessed car seat using just a lap belt. (I have been doing this for years in my Suburban.)

[Mirzam]

Originally Posted by Verity

I don't have a Jimmy, or a Bravado, but why can't you use a child's car seat in the middle of their back seat? I assume it's not the issue of the seat having a lap belt only. My understanding is that it is ok to install a harnessed car seat using just a lap belt. (I have been doing this for years in my Suburban.)

It is only an issue with the Jimmy and Bravados, your Suburban is fine. The problem is the space is too narrow. It is perfectly fine to install a carseat with a lap belt, actually, that's all a lap belt is good for.

[applejuice]

Lap belts have been shown to injure the lumbar vertebra in a collision, so I would go and have the dealership install a shoulder harness. I did this for my 1988 Subaru DL stw.

[cjr]

ds is in a tethered carseat, using the lapbelt in the Jimmy. This is the first I have ever heard about not being able to use a carseat in the middle position. I am very upset about it right now. If I had know that I would have never allowed dh to purchase it (it has always been a sore topic for me).

applejuice, I am well aware of the dangers of using a lab belt. DD is in the front seat until we can figure something out. How would they instal a shoulder belt?

[Mirzam]

Originally Posted by cjr

ds is in a tethered carseat, using the lapbelt in the Jimmy. This is the first I have ever heard about not being able to use a carseat in the middle position. I am very upset about it right now. If I had know that I would have never allowed dh to purchase it (it has always been a sore topic for me).

applejuice, I am well aware of the dangers of using a lab belt. DD is in the front seat until we can figure something out. How would they instal a shoulder belt?

I am really sorry, it seems totally lucidrous that GMC would make a car that cannot have a car seat installed in the center.

AFAIK, there is no way a shoulder belt can be installed in the center. Shoulder belts can only be retrofitted in the outboard positions and that isn't an issue for you. Even if you could refit a shoulder belt in the center, it still doesn't alter the fact the middle seat cannot be used to install a car seat. All it would do, is make it a useable position for an adult.

[cjr]

Thank you for starting this thread. Dh and I have been very worried about what to do with the kids and the Jimmy. Today I went to Ford and we are test driving a Taurus. They have given it to us for the whole weekend so we can make sure it's right for our family. It's a 2002 with 51,000km on it and hopefully we will be able to get financing for it (that will be the hard part so keep your fingers crossed).

We decided to go slightly used so our payments will be lower and financing would be easier to get. We decided against a mini van because with car payments we will need a more economical car to operate. There are 3 teathers in the back seat and 3 shoulder belts. DS's car seat fits great, DD#1's booster fits nicely and the shoulder belt comes across DD#1's body perfectly. We may not need to put her in a booster seat because the shoulder belt comes across her body right where it should be, and she will be in the center seat. We are going to try several things to see which is safer and what will work best. It has tons of trunk space and lots of nice options.

If the financing goes through then we will either trade in or sell the Jimmy and be done with it. Operating one veihicle will make it easier to cover the payments, which will be hard to get used to. However, I just can't keep driving the Jimmy knowing that my kids lives are at risk. It's different when you know. I don't think I could live with the guilt if something happened to them. Somewhere we will find the money to make the payments and keep our kids safe.

[Mirzam]

Originally Posted by cjr

Thank you for starting this thread. Dh and I have been very worried about what to do with the kids and the Jimmy. Today I went to Ford and we are test driving a Taurus. They have given it to us for the whole weekend so we can make sure it's right for our family. It's a 2002 with 51,000km on it and hopefully we will be able to get financing for it (that will be the hard part so keep your fingers crossed).

We decided to go slightly used so our payments will be lower and financing would be easier to get. We decided against a mini van because with car payments we will need a more economical car to operate. There are 3 teathers in the back seat and 3 shoulder belts. DS's car seat fits great, DD#1's booster fits nicely and the shoulder belt comes across DD#1's body perfectly. We may not need to put her in a booster seat because the shoulder belt comes across her body right where it should be, and she will be in the center seat. We are going to try several things to see which is safer and what will work best. It has tons of trunk space and lots of nice options.

If the financing goes through then we will either trade in or sell the Jimmy and be done with it. Operating one veihicle will make it easier to cover the payments, which will be hard to get used to. However, I just can't keep driving the Jimmy knowing that my kids lives are at risk. It's different when you know. I don't think I could live with the guilt if something happened to them. Somewhere we will find the money to make the payments and keep our kids safe.

I am so happy to read your post. I felt so bad for you. It sounds like the Taurus is a great choice and I am keeping my fingers crossed everything goes smoothly for you.

[TiredX2]

cjr---

I am SOOOOO impressed you actually went out and got a new car! I've seen lots of people told that info, none of whom actually did anything about it.

[cjr]

Thankyou. It is all depending on the financing. If it does not come through I honestly don't know what we will do. I hate the Jimmy so it really was a great excuse to get something more appropriate.

[cjr]

Just wanted to update and let you know that we are working on a deal with a 2002 Ford Windstar Sport minivan. It's in great shape and we managed to deal in a 2 year extended warranty on it. We're just hashing out down payments and so forth. Thanks again for bringing this to my attention. We knew we needed to make a change, but it's such a big expense. Knowing that we were putting the kids in serious harms way, gave us that insentive to get the ball rolling. The payments are going to be tight, but we should be OK.

[Mirzam]

Originally Posted by cjr

Just wanted to update and let you know that we are working on a deal with a 2002 Ford Windstar Sport minivan. It's in great shape and we managed to deal in a 2 year extended warranty on it. We're just hashing out down payments and so forth. Thanks again for bringing this to my attention. We knew we needed to make a change, but it's such a big expense. Knowing that we were putting the kids in serious harms way, gave us that insentive to get the ball rolling. The payments are going to be tight, but we should be OK.

Thanks for the update. Your new van will also have LATCH which "should" make your life even eaiser!