Is a backless booster seat ok for a long road trip?

[UrbanPlanter]

I posted my question here: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=434463

but was asked to post it again in this forum.

I have a backless booster seat that came installed in my car, and am wondering if it is good enough for a long 12 hour road trip.

The manual says (pictures not copied over):

pg. 10 Child safety, Booster cushion (optional)



WARNING!
Failure to follow the instructions on these pages will increase the risk of your child being injured during a sudden stop or collision. In the event of a collision while the integrated booster cushion was occupied, the entire booster cushion and center seat belt must be replaced. The booster cushion should also be replaced if it is badly worn or damaged in any way. This work should be performed by an authorized Volvo retailer only. The booster cushion should be cleaned while in place in the vehicle if possible. If not, please consult your Volvo retailer.

Make sure that the booster cushion is always securely locked in place.

Always put the belt comfortably over the child's shoulder and across their lap.

If the booster cushion is subjected to severe forces in an accident it must be replaced as a whole, inclusive of belt and attachments.

Never leave children unattended in the car.




Integrated booster cushions
Volvo's own integrated booster cushions have been specially designed to help safeguard a child seated in the rear seat. When using an integrated booster cushion, the child must be secured with the vehicle's threepoint seat belt. The booster cushions are approved for children weighing between 33 and 80 lbs (15 and 36 kg) and between 38 and 54 in (97 and 137 cm) in height.



Integrated booster cushion - outboard positions
Outboard integrated booster cushions - Raising
1. Pull the handle at the front of the cushion forward. 2. With both hands push the cushion rearward. 3. Push the cushion until it locks in place.



Integrated booster cushion - outboard positions


Outboard integrated booster cushions - Lowering
1. Pull the handle at the front of the cushion forward. 2. Push the cushion forward/downward.

NOTE: The booster cushion must be completely lowered before the rear seat backrest can be folded down.

pg. 11 Child safety






Integrated booster cushion - outboard positions

The child should be properly seated on the booster cushion. The head restraint should be carefully adjusted to support the child's head (only center position). The hip section of the threepoint seat belt must fit snugly across the child's hips, not across the stomach. The shoulder section of the threepoint seat belt should be positioned across the chest and shoulder (see illustration). The shoulder belt must never be placed behind the child's back or under the arm.

WARNING!
Do not use child safety seats or child booster cushions/backrests in the front passenger's seat. We also recommend that children who have outgrown these devices sit in the rear seat with the seat belt properly fastened.




Important!
Why Volvo believes no child should sit in the front seat of a car.

It's quite simple really. A front air bag is a very powerful device designed, by law, to help protect an adult. Because of the size of the air bag and its speed of inflation, a child should never be placed in the front seat, even if he or she is properly belted or strapped into a child safety seat. Volvo has been an innovator in safety for over fifty years, and we'll continue to do our part. But we need your help. Please remember to put your children in the back seat, and buckle them up.

Volvo has some very specific recommendations:

· Always wear your seat belt.

· Air bags are a SUPPLEMENTAL safety device which when used in conjunction with a three-point seat belt can help reduce serious injuries during certain types of severe accidents. Volvo recommends that you do not disconnect the air bag system in your vehicle.

· Volvo strongly recommends that ALL children sit in the rear seat of any vehicle and that they be properly restrained.

· A child should NEVER sit in the front passenger seat of any vehicle equipped with a front passenger side airbag.

· Volvo recommends that ALL occupants (adults and children) shorter than 4 feet 7 inches (140 cm) be seated in the back seat of any vehicle with a front passenger side airbag.

Drive safely!

If I should get a booster seat, what do you think of this one:

http://www.kmart.com/catalog/product...pCategoryId=11

or this one:

http://www.onestepahead.com/product/...20757/118.html

[splash]

You said in the other thread you had a simple backless... so is your's built in or not?

Do NOT buy the cosco one. Much much better ones out there. The compass one is fine though.

If you really want a booster and don't want to buy a harness seat, I would go with a Britax parkway or a Graco turbo booster. Recaro makes an awesome booster as well that's a bit more expensive though.

But yeah, I would at least get him a high back one.

[Dragonfly]

For a 12-hour trip, I'd assume that the child would probably fall asleep, so I'd be concerned about having a 3-point seat belt that wouldn't keep him upright or keep his head from lolling to the side. I'm not sure how old your child is, but if he can fit in a carseat still, I'd go with that, with a 5-pt. harness. If he's too large for a carseat, I'd go for a booster with a 5-pt. harness.

[UrbanPlanter]

My car has the booster installed, and I also have the simple backless which we bought for travel (got it at one step ahead)

We were going to use the built-in booster combined with a back/headrest that helps to adjust the seatbelt and gives him somewhere to put his head if he falls asleep.

So you really think I have to buy a high back one? The car manual says this one is fine for up to 80 pounds, and my son is well within the height range, and weighs at least 45 lbs.

[splash]

There is the law and then the law of physics.
If you buy one, and you don't wreck, you're out a hundred bucks, right?

but if you DON'T buy one, and something happens to him, would you still be glad you'd saved the hundred bucks, or would you be wishing you'd spent a thousand?

I think you should get him a harnessed seat. But if you are unwilling to do that, then yes, definitely get him a high back booster.

[UrbanPlanter]

which one should I get? do you have any recommendations?
I'm so lost... we never drive...

[UrbanPlanter]

so far the boosters I am finding don't have a five point harness beyond 40 pounds, just a belt positioner like what we have now with the head rest.

I am willing to buy a highback booster, but can't find one that is five point for a 45lb/45in child.

[splash]

Cosco Apex. harnesses to 65 pounds and then becomes a decent booster. costs about $130

[splash]

might be called alpha elite. they like to confuse people with the name. you can get it at babies r us though, or online

[UrbanPlanter]

we have a BuyBuyBaby a few blocks from us, so I will take ds there tomorrow and he can test-sit in the seats there. I'll look for the Cosco Apex.

Thanks!

[splash]

There is also the sunshine kids radian but that is a BEAR to install with seatbelts. Or the Safeguard GO which is new and cool. Or one I can tell you about via PM but don't want to post it. Then there is always Britax, but that is getting really expensive. Or fisher price's new seats which are reasonably priced.

[UrbanPlanter]

is there a site that rates the safety of differents seats/brands?
where did you find your information?

[Sarah'sMama]

I just wanted to let you know about our experiences with a Volvo sedan and the Cosco Apex. It didn't work. Not with the seatbelt, and not with LATCH. The LATCH was OK, but we couldn't get a tight installation. The seatbelt was worse. The seat was practically suspended in the air. I've been using the Apex in my vehicle, and we were switching carseats with dh's car, as we're going on a road trip as well. I can't say I love the Apex, it gets a passable installation in my vehicle, but dh spent about 45 minutes and finally gave up in his Volvo. It didn't work in his car. I'm not sure what kind of volvo you have, perhaps the SUV? It may work in there, but in our S60 it didn't work. So if you can, try it in your car before purchasing it. Now, our Britax Wizard for dd2 took all of 5 minutes to install. So we're off to buy another Britax for dd1, the ease of use is priceless. Wish we'd have just bought that to begin with.

Hope you can find something! Hope I didn't rain on your parade.

[UrbanPlanter]

we have a V40 which is similar to the S60...

[Throkmorton]

One thing back the backless boosters, and the Volvo integrated boosters is they they simply are not that comfortable for long trips.

If you are unable to find a suitable harnessed booster, I would suggest getting a Graco Turbo Booster because the back and the bottom can be separated or folded over to be smaller making it easier to pack if you ever need to fly with it or store it in a closet

[ameliabedelia]

I would reccomend the Graco Turbo Booster. We use that for my 4-year old and it is very comfortable. She can fall asleep in it, and her head and spine is still supported, doesn't roll around or anything. It is only about $40-50 or so.

I know a lot of people are reccomending harnessed seats, and they are safer but if you buy one make sure your dc sits it in the store and see if he actually fits in it. We have the Marathon which goes up to 65 lbs, and 49 inches, but our dd1 outgrew it at age 3 1/2 when she was about 54 lbs and 42-43 inches, You can't use a harnessed carseat if the child's shoulders are above the top harness slots and for our dd1 (long-torso I guess) that was well underneath the height and weight limit. Just because they are rated up to 65 lbs or 80 lbs, doesn't mean that most children will be able to use it up to that height/weight. Most children outgrow them well before they reach the limit. So, at this point, I would really see if you think a harnessed seat is worth the money, since most likely at age 4-years unless your child is very small and petite, he will be very close to outgrowing it, even if he is well underneath the 65 lb weight limit.

[splash]

I have to disagree with that a bit. Don't want to start an argument... but I know scads of children who have made it to 6-7 years in Marathons et al, and even kids who have made it to nine or ten in super elites/huskies/regents. Unless a child is super tall, they can expect to get to 6 in a marathon easily.
You can use a FF car seat until a child's shoulders are even or a smidge above (1/2 inch or so) the top slots. Where they come out of the seat, not the cover. Or until they weigh too much or the midpoint of their head is over the top of the shell, whichever comes first.
Yes, more kids outgrow by height than weight, but a LOT of kids do fine in high weight seats up to the max weight limit.
And IMO, it's always worth it. Because in one wreck, just one, if that kid is hurt, I guarantee that $100 or more is worth it. It's was hard for us to shell out close to $700 to get 2 seats for Charlie for each car, but it is worth it. Because if we never have to rely on it to save his life, wonderful. But if it comes to the fact that that seat is going to keep him from getting hurt or killed in a wreck, it'll be the best money I ever spent.

[thepeach80]

You can use a FF car seat until a child's shoulders are even or a smidge above (1/2 inch or so) the top slots.

No, once a child's shoulders go above the top slots of his seat, he is too big and needs a new seat. You must know small children, b/c most moms I talk to online don't have their 5 and 6yos in MAs b/c they're too tall. AJ isn't even3 and already in the top slots of his seat (which are at least as tall as the MA, if not a tad taller).

[srain]

Gauge your risks. Think about what the difference in safety between a backless and high-back booster is, and think about the likelihood of getting into an accident. Do the math, and decide if the additional risk is meaningful to you or not.

If it were me, I'd stick with what I had, if my child could be trusted to use it properly.

[UrbanPlanter]

This link: http://apps.volvocars.us/ownersdocs/...0_01b.htm#pg10 illustrates what I have in may car. I also have a soft head rest.

I'm still considering buying a highback booster, but wondering do I really need to? Yes, it is worth $100.... Does the side impact protection really work?