Interesting Car-Safety Idea for Children Ove - Page 4

[an_aurora]

Originally Posted by PassionateWriter

anna,
what about a child that is 57" though? from a safety point of view...just use my son as an example. the Britax Monarch didn't work for him...it annoyed him (and kind of me but that wasnt impt) to be tipping when driving...and now he's in teh Ollie Clek...but after 57" would he still be "safe" if i kept him in it (im sure he would be ok w/ it b/c he loves it).

i agree UP TO 5'7" all kids...but is there any advantage to after 5'7" or any disadvantage to keeping them in teh booster after 5'7"?

Tippy boosters are a pain, definitely. They make LATCHable boosters now, which prevent the tipping

The height limit in boosters are just like height limits in harnessed seats--just a guideline. You can use a highback booster until the child outgrows it by height (that is, the child's shoulder is even with the belt guide at the highest setting OR the child's ears are even with the top of the headrest at the highest setting) OR weight. Then, if they still need the boost (ie don't pass the 5 step test) you use a backless booster until they pass the 5 step test OR hit the weight limit.

[an_aurora]

Originally Posted by PassionateWriter

i agree UP TO 5'7" all kids...but is there any advantage to after 5'7" or any disadvantage to keeping them in teh booster after 5'7"?

Sorry, I forgot to address this.

The advantage of keeping them in a highback booster after 57" (provided of course they still fit the booster by height and weight) is the extra SIP, and the headrests keep a child in position if they still sleep in the car.

As far as disadvantages, if a child is too tall for a booster, the shoulder belt would be improperly positioned on the child's shoulder.

[mimie]

We're confusing 57 inches and 5'7". 57 inches is 4 feet, 9 inches. 5'7" is 5 feet, 7 inches.

Most kids who are 4'9" can still fit in and benefit from a booster (particularly a backless booster).

[an_aurora]

Originally Posted by mimie

We're confusing 57 inches and 5'7". 57 inches is 4 feet, 9 inches. 5'7" is 5 feet, 7 inches.

Most kids who are 4'9" can still fit in and benefit from a booster (particularly a backless booster).

Duh

Good catch

[mammal_mama]

Originally Posted by mimie

Most kids who are 4'9" can still fit in and benefit from a booster (particularly a backless booster).

Okay ... now dh has a question about dd's backless booster that's been through the car accident. He's wondering if, since she wasn't there and wasn't sitting on it, and he doesn't think it even moved off the seat during the impact -- is it likely to be too damaged for her to continue sitting on it?

We actually have the back-part still in the house (it wasn't in the car during the accident, either) -- so, now that I've learned from an_aurora about the added protection of using the back-piece for as long as it fits, I think we'll see if it still fits her with the back, and keep using the back if so.

So, you're saying that the backless booster should still be okay to use after the child exceeds the height-limit? I guess it makes sense, since I'm 5'10 and still fit in the adult shoulder-belt, that a child could benefit from a booster well beyond 4'9". That's good to know! When I saw the height-limit, and thought dd only had one more inch to go before she'd outgrow it, I wondered if there was a better option.

[PassionateWriter]

Originally Posted by an_aurora

Tippy boosters are a pain, definitely. They make LATCHable boosters now, which prevent the tipping

The height limit in boosters are just like height limits in harnessed seats--just a guideline. You can use a highback booster until the child outgrows it by height (that is, the child's shoulder is even with the belt guide at the highest setting OR the child's ears are even with the top of the headrest at the highest setting) OR weight. Then, if they still need the boost (ie don't pass the 5 step test) you use a backless booster until they pass the 5 step test OR hit the weight limit.

ok, so for my 10 yo (as an example), he can use the Ollie Clek as long as the seat belt fits, even though it says only up to 57" ?(its a backless booster and he hated the booster w/ a back and at 10, i feel i need to respect his preferences a bit, yk?)

Originally Posted by an_aurora

Sorry, I forgot to address this.

The advantage of keeping them in a highback booster after 57" (provided of course they still fit the booster by height and weight) is the extra SIP, and the headrests keep a child in position if they still sleep in the car..

its a bit late for my 10 yo at this point, but im a bit confused about keeping kids in a highback booster after 57". i know the Frontier goes to 60" and thats the next seat my 2.5 yo will have (after he reaches 35 lbs. and has to go FF'ing). But is there another seat that is over 57" inches (booster, highback and/or backless). Also, from what i am understanding, as long as the booster seat (highback or backless) fits the child (seat belt wise), you can disregard the height limitation? sorry if im being dense about this but i havent ventured into boosters in as much detail as i have the convertibles at this point.

Originally Posted by mimie

We're confusing 57 inches and 5'7". 57 inches is 4 feet, 9 inches. 5'7" is 5 feet, 7 inches.

Most kids who are 4'9" can still fit in and benefit from a booster (particularly a backless booster).

see my Q's above. and i corrected my substantive typo in my post but i guess that doesnt correct quotes...i was referring to 57" (4'9). sorry about that.

[an_aurora]

Originally Posted by PassionateWriter

ok, so for my 10 yo (as an example), he can use the Ollie Clek as long as the seat belt fits, even though it says only up to 57" ?(its a backless booster and he hated the booster w/ a back and at 10, i feel i need to respect his preferences a bit, yk?)

Yes. He needs to be in a backless booster until he passes the 5 step test.

Originally Posted by PassionateWriter

its a bit late for my 10 yo at this point, but im a bit confused about keeping kids in a highback booster after 57". i know the Frontier goes to 60" and thats the next seat my 2.5 yo will have (after he reaches 35 lbs. and has to go FF'ing). But is there another seat that is over 57" inches (booster, highback and/or backless). Also, from what i am understanding, as long as the booster seat (highback or backless) fits the child (seat belt wise), you can disregard the height limitation? sorry if im being dense about this but i havent ventured into boosters in as much detail as i have the convertibles at this point.

Height limits on boosters are just like height limits on harnessed seats--an approximation. As you know, you can have 10 different 57-inch tall children who can all fit the booster differently. Some will have long legs and short torsoes, some will have short legs and long torsoes, some will be in the middle. Boosters have a written height limit on them because they are required to by FMVSS213, and they state 57" because that is the point at which most children will fit properly into an adult seatbelt.

The Frontier is one of the tallest boosters available. As long as the child fits into the booster by weight and height (and by height I mean the child is within the belt guide) it is not dangerous to be in a booster beyond the stated height limit. Again, the SIP provided by a high back booster is very beneficial.

There used to be a great video on youtube showing crash tests of a side impact and a dummy in a high back booster with very deep side wings (like the European boosters, or the Parkway, Start, Vivo, Frontier or Monterrey), a high back booster with shallow wings (for instance the Graco Turbo, or the Evenflo or Cosco boosters), and a backless booster. In the deep winged booster, the child's head and body was contained and very well protected by the EPS foam. In the shallower booster, the seat and EPS foam still absorbed alot of the energy, but the child's head was not contained and struck the window/side panel. In the backless booster, of course there was nothing absorbing the energy and the child not only struck the side of the vehicle but also there was much movement of the child's whole upper body after the crash. So you can see why the high-back portion of a booster is important!

[PassionateWriter]

i guess the thing that was confusing me about the backless booster (that the 10 yo is in now) is that its "clear" (relatively) when a kid outgrows something by ear level (if that makes sense) but since there isnt anything around the head w/ the backless booster, its a bit more confusing. I would love for my 10 yo to be in a high back booster right now but its a no go for him after getting teh Ollie.

thansk for the explanation though. the 2.5 yo will be in teh Frontier until the max, and depending on how long that is, so will teh new baby.

this makes me wish i had a middle seat though...i realize my 10 yo is not as safe as he could be and wish he could be in the middle. after buyng the Ollie though, there is no going back for him....he HATED teh Monarch.

[an_aurora]

Originally Posted by PassionateWriter

i guess the thing that was confusing me about the backless booster (that the 10 yo is in now) is that its "clear" (relatively) when a kid outgrows something by ear level (if that makes sense) but since there isnt anything around the head w/ the backless booster, its a bit more confusing. I would love for my 10 yo to be in a high back booster right now but its a no go for him after getting teh Ollie.

thansk for the explanation though. the 2.5 yo will be in teh Frontier until the max, and depending on how long that is, so will teh new baby.

this makes me wish i had a middle seat though...i realize my 10 yo is not as safe as he could be and wish he could be in the middle. after buyng the Ollie though, there is no going back for him....he HATED teh Monarch.

Sorry, I wasn't insinuating that you need a HBB for the 10 year old, I was just trying to explain why the high back is safer and why it's ok to continue using it

With the backless booster, just keep an eye on where they shoulder belt is hitting his shoulder. You can tell he is outgrowing it when the shoulder belt is hitting low on his shoulder instead of crossing the collarbone. If you have non-adjustable headrests, keep an eye on where his ears are in relation to the top. Otherwise, you can leave him in it until he reaches the weight limit or passes the 5 step test

[Jes'sBeth]

if the car was totalled, how did the booster stay on the seat?

I'd probably get a new carseat for the 3 yr old (go for that nautilus and reharness her!!! You won't have wasted your money because you'll be able to use it as a booster when she' ready for it) and a new booster for your older child. Boosters aren't that expensive when you consider that it could protect your child in an accident. Accidents just can't be planned. (We were rear ended by a transport on a wet road one day a few years ago.)

[mammal_mama]

Yeah, we've already decided to get a new Graco booster for our 8yo -- and we're going to see if it still fits with the high-back on, now that we know how much more protection it provides that way. And we're getting the Graco Nautilus for our 3yo.

I don't know that dh noticed the positions of the carseats following the accident; he was pretty much in pain and had to be transported to an ER. A coworker leaving work noticed that dh was in an accident, and called to let a supervisor know. Then another coworker walked over to check on dh, and grabbed our 3yo's seat out of the car and walked it back to work for dh to get later.

Then when dh went to the lot to get stuff out of the car a few days later, he got our 8yo's booster, and I guess at that time noted that it hadn't moved. But, for all we know, someone could have moved it back to the seat. Not likely, but possible.

[mammal_mama]

Update

We went to Walmart yesterday and got the carseats.

Guess what? When I sat my 3yo in the Graco Nautilus they had on display, we found out her shoulders were higher than the highest slots for the harness. This was the case with every. single. 5-pt harness-seat on display there.

At 42" tall and 44 lbs, our 3yo is as big as, or bigger than, many 5yo's we meet, so I guess I shouldn't have been so surprised.

We ended up getting Graco Turbo Boosters for both girls. Our 3yo can still wear hers with the highback, but our 8yo's shoulders are higher than the slot for the shoulder-belt, so she has to wear hers as a backless booster.

I now wish I could believe Levitt's research-findings -- it would make me feel better about our own personal situation ... The one positive thing that's come out of all I've learned on this thread, is at least they're no longer riding in the seats that went through the accident.

[goodheartedmama]

What is her shoulder height (sitting)? There is no way, just no way. My kid is really huge for his age, 40 inches at 2, and he has plenty of room in his regent. You're compromising your kids safety, and you don't seem to care (as I've stated before, and you were so offended).

[chickabiddy]

Did you adjust the Nautilus to the tallest setting? I cannot believe that a 42" child would not fit in the seat.

My very-long-torsoed daughter had a 16.5" seated torso height at 42" (I remember these stats because it's when we retired a Marathon), and that would have given almost 2" of torso growth room in a Nautilus.

[mammal_mama]

Originally Posted by goodheartedmama

What is her shoulder height (sitting)?

I don't know -- but I had her sit in the actual seat, and saw for myself that her shoulders were above the slots -- which, ignorant as I am, I know is an indication that she's too tall for the harness. I don't remember a Regent there, but I had her sit in every harnessed carseat on display -- and checked the boxes in case there was another possibility not on display.

There is no way, just no way. My kid is really huge for his age, 40 inches at 2, and he has plenty of room in his regent.

Well, good for you guys.

You're compromising your kids safety, and you don't seem to care (as I've stated before, and you were so offended).

I'm still offended, but, you know, you don't really seem to care about hearing or understanding others' experiences and perspectives. Maybe I posted about all this on the wrong forum.

One thing I told dh was, if we ended up finding a better option for dd, at least we could sell the booster for maybe half what we paid, at whatever point we were able to purchase the better option. I'm guessing that there may be carseats like the Regent that work for taller, larger children ... maybe you intended your post as a roundabout, rather rude way of letting me know that.

goodheartedmama, when you came back previously and said you hadn't really meant that you didn't think I cared about my children, I figured I'd misunderstood you and you really weren't trying to be hostile. But I don't think I'm misunderstanding anything this time. I'm sorry you feel such a need to try to hurt others.

[mammal_mama]

Originally Posted by chickabiddy

Did you adjust the Nautilus to the tallest setting? I cannot believe that a 42" child would not fit in the seat.

I didn't move the harness to the highest setting, because I could see with my own eyes that the slots the harness was to go through were below the level of her shoulders.

My very-long-torsoed daughter had a 16.5" seated torso height at 42" (I remember these stats because it's when we retired a Marathon), and that would have given almost 2" of torso growth room in a Nautilus.

All I know is what I saw with my own eyes with the actual carseat. I didn't see any way to adjust the carseat to make the slots go higher -- but maybe somebody can fill me in if there's a way to do this with a Nautilus.

In my previous experience with carseats, you adjust them to a higher setting by re-threading the shoulder-straps through the higher slots. And, as I've said, the highest slots were below the level of her shoulders.

Maybe I'm missing something here. I'm open to hearing about it if so.

[mammal_mama]

Okay, I just checked ... my 3yo's seated height is 24 inches, and she's 16 inches from seat to shoulders. That means her torso is more than half her height.

[cognito]

Originally Posted by mammal_mama

In my previous experience with carseats, you adjust them to a higher setting by re-threading the shoulder-straps through the higher slots. And, as I've said, the highest slots were below the level of her shoulders.

Maybe I'm missing something here. I'm open to hearing about it if so.

With the Nautilus you have to move the headrest part up to reveal more slots. Maybe that was the problem? I think it has 4 set of slots.

[chickabiddy]

Originally Posted by mammal_mama

Okay, I just checked ... my 3yo's seated height is 24 inches, and she's 16 inches from seat to shoulders. That means her torso is more than half her height.

16" from seat to shoulders means she will fit a Nautilus, a Radian, a Frontier and a Regent (perhaps others). It also does mean that she probably won't fit most of the harnessed seats sold at WalMart.

How many sets of slots did you see on the Nautilus? There should be four. As a PP wrote, you need to move the headrest to access the taller slots.

[mammal_mama]

Originally Posted by chickabiddy

My very-long-torsoed daughter had a 16.5" seated torso height at 42"

Okay, I just re-checked your post and saw that you were talking about torso-height, not seated-height (at first I thought my daughter's shoulders fell where your daughter's head did, when seated at the same height).

So, my daughter's torso is about the same length as your daughter's was at that height, which should have meant 2" room with the Nautilus? But when the slots are lower than the shoulders, doesn't that mean it's hazardous to use?

Dh and I are both pretty sure that I checked behind the fabric-cover and found the slots in the actual carseat. But all this has got me wanting to go back asap and re-check.