Booster seats, Car seats for kids...
By Feona1962
@Feona1962 (7526)
United States
September 2, 2007 9:09am CST
I am just curious about car seats for kids. I have a seat for the boys and they use it all the time. I was thinking about just getting a booster seat without the back part of it. How safe are these seats? I mean, when you strap a child in, what is protecting them besides the seatbelt? The only thing I can see is that is sets the child up higher than just putting them on the regular seat..I know with the baby seats there is a front part that comes down in front of the baby and helps protect him/her when they are in it. But as far as a booster seat I don't see the difference in them and just placing the child on the regular seat of the vehicle..
Does anybody else feel this way? Any good advice for me?
3 people like this
9 responses
@muscare (3068)
• Australia
3 Sep 07
My son's booster seat is like a full seat, not just the bit he sits on, and has side bits. The other thing that we have is a special harness that connects to the mounting bolt in the back. It has the straps coming straight down over each shoulder and one across the body and the lap belt goes through it as well. I know he has to be a certain height and weight before he can sit in a normal seat, but sorry, I don't know what weight off hand!
1 person likes this
@muscare (3068)
• Australia
4 Sep 07
I've just watched the video, being in the dark ages, we're still on dial up so it's taken about half hour to see it. Just let me wipe the tear from my eye. I think the issue was a lot about the seatbelt more than the booster seat, but I'm very glad to have a harness, attached to the top anchor point, as well as using the seatbelt.
1 person likes this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
4 Sep 07
The seats we have are the full size also. They are open in the front, unlike some of the baby seats where another part comes down over the childs head. I just don't think the booster seat without the full back is a good idea.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
2 Sep 07
your the same as me booster seat just looks like it boost them higher so they can see. BUt I do know that when strapped in it is pretty tight but still like just seeting in the seat and it dont strangle them with a booster seat ya know how the strap come across you and some are to high even for me and I am 5.6
1 person likes this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
4 Sep 07
The booster just sets them higher and nothing else. The seats with the backs is what I am using now. The seatbelts coming across the chest seem to cut into the childs neck..That isn't safe either.
@massaj03 (4367)
• United States
3 Sep 07
The booster seat is fine, and seems very safe to me..there is no difference..they are just up higher a tad bit, and the seatbelt fits them better....myself I think the seatbelt is worse then the booster seat..at least the seat can't hold them back in an accident and get stuck and not be able to get out if the car was to catch a fire...but thats another story I guess.
1 person likes this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
4 Sep 07
The booster seat you are refering to, is it the one with a full back on it? Because that is what I am using. The booster's that just set the child higher in the car just don't seem safe to me. Thank you for your response.
@Foxxee (3651)
• United States
3 Sep 07
I would suggest going to this link. Its a video on youtube about a little boy named Kyle. It will explain why a booster isn't so safe and it also tells you the best kind of care seat you should use.
Here is the link about Kyle Miller. His mother made this video to help parents be aware of safety with booster seats and car seats. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azgBhZfcqaQ
and here is another link on Kyle: http://kyledavidmiller.memory-of.com/
And here is the link to the Kyle Foundation:
http://www.kyledavidmiller.org/
1 person likes this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
4 Sep 07
Thank you Foxxee for this great information. This is the very reason I don't want to get just a booster seat.
@Katlady2 (9904)
• United States
2 Sep 07
When I would use the booster seats for my kids, I always thought they weren't as sturdy as the car seats or putting them directly on the seat of the car. But since the law here stated that they had to be used I just made sure to buckle them in tightly so that the seat wouldn't move around.
1 person likes this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
4 Sep 07
I have the child's carseat where it has a back included. I just don't think the booster's without the back are safe at all. 40 Years ago all four of us girls rode in the backseat of my grandmas car without carseats..How times have changed.
@rueandash1 (365)
• Australia
2 Sep 07
when they are in a booster seat it brings the seat belt into the correct position, most kids die in car crashes due to the seat belt being to high and on impact does damage to the throat area. if you can imagine what would happen car stops quickly your child would go back so they will move down in there seat and as they go forward the belt would be around there neck
1 person likes this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
4 Sep 07
The seatbelt on the full carseats I have are that way with the belt coming across the throat area. It is very scary to imagine them being strangled.
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
4 Sep 07
I would prefer they were in a safety seat. I don't think placing them in the plain seat of the vehicle is safe and I don't trust just a booster seat without the back attached. Thank you for your response.
@sunshinecup (7871)
•
2 Sep 07
I like them cause they put the child up high enough the seat belt fits them just right. Without one my youngest had the belt that come across the chest, going across her neck. I did not like that. When we put her in a booster seat the belt was across her chest, making feel better, LOL.
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
4 Sep 07
Even with the carseats with the backs the belt comes across their necks and it isn't safe. I guess it denpends on the height of the child.
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
2 Sep 07
I don't like thosebooster seats at all! I think they are even MORE dangerous than just putting the child in the regular seat and seatbelt. I have tried them before and every single child I put in it managed to squirm right out halfway down the road.If they are that easy to get out of just imagine what would happen in a bad car accident!
I prefer the boosters with the back and a 5 point harness for as long as they will fit in one..
1 person likes this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
4 Sep 07
The seatbelt is the only thing holding them and it doesn't seem safe enough for me. Right now I am using the ones with the backs and all.
