The middle seat-belt at the back of the car - at what age does it become safe for a child to use?

[GiantSquirrelSpotter]

DS has a booster seat for the shoulder belts, but what's the deal with the middle seater? Is it dangerous to use it, adn why? Anyone know?

If the middle seat doesn't have a shoulder belt then I personally wouldn't use it - think the safety thing is to do with whiplash and what will happen to their tummy/ribs if you had an accident in just a lap belt. I'm pretty fussy about car seats though!!

HTH

I wouldn't just use a lap belt either.

And not just for kids btw - adults too.

What about if you used it with a booster seat?

(I'm always a bit confused about this one and wonder hwat the point of the middle one is)

we use it fo ds1 on short journeys

my 5 year old uses back middle, but it has a shoulder strap

Makes no difference if just a lap belt. I can see your point about its purpose - most cars used to have lap belts in the middle but think now they should have proper shoulder seatbelts - may be wrong

Ideally I wouldn't use just a lap belt for a child , definitely not until they no longer legally need a booster (135cm atll) as they are not compatible. It could cause severe injuries especially in a child for whom it goes over the tummy rather than pelvic area for which it is designed.

Ford cars apparently used to have only lap belts in the middle until the MD was sat in the middle seat in an accident. As a survivor of an accident from the days before full seat-belts in the back were the norm, I would never use a lap belt. The possiblity of severe spinal injuries in an accident (let alone whiplash) is far too great.