When do backless booster cushions (in cars) become OK?

[Smithagain]

Any car seat experts out there?

I'm finding it hard to locate chapter and verse about when booster cushions, without a back, become an "appropriate child restraint."

DD1 is 5.5 and most of her friends now use boosters without a back. She's still in a high-back booster. She is small for her age and I prefer that she carries on using it, but there are occasions when she need to travel in someone else's car and I don't know how long I need to carry on making special arrangements to make sure she has her own seat.

I keep trying to work it out from the various web sites, but they make my brain spin!

[tassisssss]

my ds will be 5 on Friday and he is still in his booster-and-back car seat, but i'm happy enough for him to go in just a booster seat for short journeys or in other people's car or whatever...

[Desiderata]

An ordinary booster seat, without back, can be used when a child reaches 17KG, the age of four, or when the child's head is higher than the back of the car seat .. whichever comes sooner.

Unless she is very petite for her age, she shouldn't need the high-back booster. That said, if you're comfortable with it, stick with the status quo.

[hippipotami]

Dd is 5.4 but tall for her age.
I have just taken the back of her highback booster, as she had grown too tall for it (the seatbelt clip was below her shoulder so in effect the seatbelt was pushing down on her shoulder and thus uncomfortable)

I am not 100% happy with her being just on a booster, but she appears comfortable and the seatbelt runs nicely over her shoulder.

So I think she will stay as she is now...

[Hulababy]

Not recommended until 6yo IIRR.

However my DD (just 6y) is still in a high back booster and will remain in it for the foreseeable future. It is safer and more comfortable, esp when travelling at night if she falls asleep.

However for the odd short journey, such as going home with a friend, or when we go on holiday andd taking it on the plane, we only take the booster cushion and have done for the past few months.

[Hulababy]

All of DD's high back boosters has adjusters so you can make the back higher. Ours say they last till 11 years old.

[Sidge]

My 9 year old still has a booster-with-back!

I like the fact it gives her better support (she is really skinny) and brings the seatbelt down to a suitable position over her shoulder.

[hippipotami]

Ah, maybe mine has too then, I have never looked

[Hulababy]

More info here

[Hulababy]

We also bought a booster cushion which has a strap attached to it. This attaches to the seat belt and adjusts the way it sits on the child's body - so that it doesn't cut into their neck and sits more comfortable and safely. It is a Britax one.

[hana]

if my 6 year old has a lift with a friend , or if we are taking a friend somewhere - we have a booster seat (no back) for them, and that's what she would use - short journeys ok

[LIZS]

Safety wise it is 22kg/6 years min. although most state they are legally approved from 15kg. ds (10) is almost 135cm (legal minimum fr nothgin) btu still uses a highback , as it is more comfortable.

[popsycal]

ds1 is 5 and a half and will stay in a high backed booster for as long as i can get away with it

we have a booster without a back for emergencies or picking up a friend from school etc. Would rather he was in backed one everytime

[popsycal]

check your link hula

[Fizzylemonade]

Ds1 is in maxi cosi rodi with the high back and he is almost 5. He will stay in it because it has side crash protection which would help protect his side, lower back and hip if God forbid we were in an accident.

I don't understand why people put their children in just the booster seat, even for short journeys.

We chose ours because the belt feeds through an adjustable head rest and he fits in it very nicely. And Which magazine rated it as one of the best in a crash, the only downside is the belt is a bit tricky to pull through the belt feed but that is not the end of the world to me. I want my son to be as safe as I can make him.

[furrycat]

When do they change from a proper car seat to a high-backed booster? DS1 is three but only about 88cm (!). Some friends have said it's age related rather than height related - is that true? If not, he'll be in a toddler seat till he's 13 at this rate

[Hulababy]

Ooops wrong link - that is the link o see Horrid Henry, which we recently got tickets for, lol!

should be the Child Car Seat website!

[Hulababy]

furrycat - weight is most important factor. Age is just a guideline. Height does come into to.

Will go find that link...

[Hulababy]

Link here

[furrycat]

Thanks Hulababy - poor DS1 will indeed be in his seat until adulthood.

[Smithagain]

Thanks for the link Hulababy. I think that tells me that some booster cushions are Group 2 and some are Group 3. The Group 2 ones can be used from 15kg and the Group 3 ones from 22kg.

So at the moment, skinny DD1 could use a Group 2 booster cushion, but not a Group 3, because she's not heavy enough. (And not likely to get heavy enough till she's about 7 or 8 at current progress!)

I am intending to keep her in a high-back booster as long as possible when she's in our car - it's occasional issues about travelling in someone else's car that I want to be better informed about. In particular, her school is on three sites and there are occasional requests for children to be authorised to travel in teachers' cars, to attend a special event at another site. The school has a supply of booster cushions, but I don't know what Group they are. Up till now, I've either driven her myself or provided them with our seat and asking them to use it. Which they've been happy about so far, but as she gets older I need my facts at my finger-tips!

[nannyL]

i dont understand why people think short journeys are ok?

a crash can happen on any journey

i child should NOT use a booster until at least 22kg but are safest in a high backed booster til 36kg...

given you clearly have the seats WHY take the back off and remove a safety feature?

[Hulababy]

22kgs is just under 49lbs, so about 3.5 stone.

[Smithagain]

So the follow-up question is whether we believe the manufacturers who are rating their booster cushions as Groups 2 and 3 - i.e. from 15 to 36kg.

Because having now done a quick check of some retail sites, that's what most of them are now.
Which gives me less credibility when I want to insist that DD1 is in a seat with a back.

[nannyL]

yes

there is lots of stuff that says children should be in a booster with a bck until at least 25 kg (min 22kg)

but EU regs allow them to put from 15kg on a booster cushion..... BUT they should have a back for much longer.

It is worth bearing in mind the EU regs allow car seats that are so unsafe they KILL children to pass and get their kite mark too

as i understand it, the booster cushion ensures the belt is in the correct place so it doesnt crush their internal organs in a crash (hence still essential) but offers no side impact / head protection etc, which IMO is also pretty important

And all this short journey crap makes me really cross

accidents can and DO happen on short journeys and you are most likely to have a crash in roads closest to your house apparently (probably as you are more likely to be driving there)