I've read over and over again that 5-point harnesses are "much safer" than regular belts, but as a scientist I always wonder "how much?" Has anyone seen any statistics on this, especially for bigger kids? (65 lb and above.) It seems to me that older children might not want to be strapped in so tight anymore, and I just wonder where the point of diminishing returns is.
laurac5
I don't think a 5-point harness is a whole lot safer with an older child who can sit properly in a high-back booster. I don't have any statistics, though - but maybe others do.
I'm a CPST who spends quite a bit of time staying current on child safety passenger issues. To the best of my knowledge, there is absolutely no evidence that harnesses are safer than properly used high-backed boosters. (Proper use includes the physical and developmental maturity to use the booster correctly, as well as correct fit, so a conservative estimate of the age/size for proper use might be somewhere around 6y and 45#-50#.)
Harnesses may protect better in side impact crashes. Harnesses may also increase neck loads in other crashes. Overall, both harnesses and boosters are extremely safe choices when used properly. There's nothing wrong with harnessing big kids if everyone's happy with it, but it is not necessarily a safer choice, and there should be no guilt or shame with choosing a (properly used) booster for convenience or preference.
Harnesses may protect better in side impact crashes. Harnesses may also increase neck loads in other crashes. Overall, both harnesses and boosters are extremely safe choices when used properly. There's nothing wrong with harnessing big kids if everyone's happy with it, but it is not necessarily a safer choice, and there should be no guilt or shame with choosing a (properly used) booster for convenience or preference.
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Preschoolers are often (not always) less safe because either A. they dont fit properly in a booster, or B. they dont sit properly in a booster.
If the child fits correctly, and sits correctly 100% of the time, a booster is going to be safer, at least from what I've read.
The problem is when people put a 30lb, just turned 3yr old in a booster.
A kid who is 5 or close, mature enough to sit still, and fits well in a booster will be just fine.
I plan on keeping ds rearfacing to 45lbs, and then boostering him, unless they come up with something different at that time (it will be a while before he hits 45lbs, he is 24lbs now and almost 3!)
Originally Posted by onemomentatatime  Jumping in here.... are there statistics here for younger kids, like three and four year olds? Just as the stats show toddlers are 5 times safer RF-ing than FF-ing, is there an equivalent stat that shows how much safer preschoolers are harnessed than in a booster? |
If the child fits correctly, and sits correctly 100% of the time, a booster is going to be safer, at least from what I've read.
The problem is when people put a 30lb, just turned 3yr old in a booster.
A kid who is 5 or close, mature enough to sit still, and fits well in a booster will be just fine.
I plan on keeping ds rearfacing to 45lbs, and then boostering him, unless they come up with something different at that time (it will be a while before he hits 45lbs, he is 24lbs now and almost 3!)
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