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Original poster

Booster cushions with no back for a 4yo occasionally?

35 replies

woodyandbuzz · 02/02/2010 19:25

I have a britax two way elite, rear facing for a 2yo in my car and also a high backed booster for a 4yo.

Would it be safe to put another 4yo in the middle sitting on just a booster custion?

Both 4yos are only just 4, they weigh 18kg.

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FabIsGoingToBeFabIn2010 · 02/02/2010 19:26

I wouldn't use a cushion without a back. It is irrelevant that it might only be occasionally. That won't stop an accident happening.

overmydeadbody · 02/02/2010 19:28

depends on their height I would think.

hana · 02/02/2010 19:28

i would want my 4 year old in a high back booster, even for short journey - doesn't make it any safer going a short distance

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Original poster
woodyandbuzz · 02/02/2010 19:29

one about 114cm
one about 105cm

OP posts:
NightShoe · 02/02/2010 19:41

I would want a high back booster too.

rookiemater · 02/02/2010 20:38

My parents have DS aged 3yrs 10 months on a booster seat without a back and we have had DS friends same age on one sometimes for short journeys.

I thought it was ok.

tootootired · 02/02/2010 20:43

We use a sit-on booster for some journeys because it's the only one that will physically fit in the vehicle. It's not ideal, but it's legal. For occasional journeys the risk is going to be fairly low I'd think.

Original poster
woodyandbuzz · 02/02/2010 20:46

I also thought that it was OK because the booster cushions say from 4yrs and 15/18kg. I am a bit confused.

Could anyone tell me when the cushions are suitable?

DS is 114cm (height of a 6yo, but very skinny) weighs 18kg and 4.0 years. Car also has headrests so although seat has no back, his head would have back protection, not side protection (is that the issue?)

OP posts:
tootootired · 02/02/2010 20:59

Possibly the issue is the seatbelt - the shoulder bit should go over child's shoulder not their neck. High back seats have a slot for this. Some booster cushions have an extra strap and clip to put the seatbelt through. That might be a problem for a short child.

The criteria are on weight AFAIK. the age is a guideline until age 12. The way he's going my DS will be well over 5 before he reaches 15kg so months still to go in his harness seat.

Chapter and verse can be found here

FabIsGoingToBeFabIn2010 · 03/02/2010 07:53

tootootired - do you really believe that it being an occasional journey makes it safe and okay?

Oh yes, I won't crash into that car because they are on an occasional journey.

Romanarama · 03/02/2010 08:11

They're legal. The issue is where the seatbelt is. My niece was in a crash and had lacerations on her legs from the seatbelt because of the pressure in the crash, and also chest bruising. If the seatbelt is across the neck and abdomen rather than chest and hips, it could cause a fatal injury.

Better to get a booster with a back though - it's not that expensive and is definitely more secure. You should use it until their head is right out of the top, then take the back off and use just the booster with the car headrest.

I wouldn't trust the strap and clip things - I think it would all just come off in a crash of any magnitude.

NoahAndTheWhale · 03/02/2010 08:19

I have used a booster with no back for DD who is 4 on one occasion. We ran out of petrol and a woman very kindly gave us a lift to a petrol station. She had a booster with no back and so we used it.

It is not something I would do on a regular basis at all - I am not happy with DS who is 6 using a booster without a back but on that occasion it is what happened.

GoldenSnitch · 03/02/2010 09:00

I'm dreading getting a high backed booster for DS as I know as soon as I do, his GP's will think it's OK to take him out in their car with just a booster cushion. Will have to look into getting 2 I think.

Does anyone have any scary details on why booster cushions are such a bad idea so I can show them to stop them being offended?

He's not quite 3 yet but is tall and his head is already very near the top of his Group 1 seat. He's also skinny though and is not yet heavy enough for a high backed booster. Which do you think is more important? The headrest behind his current seat can go higher so should I use that till he's heavy enough?

FabIsGoingToBeFabIn2010 · 03/02/2010 09:12

Yes.

Original poster
woodyandbuzz · 03/02/2010 09:36

GoldenSnitch

your DS will have grown out of this group 1 seat when his eyes/ears (check instruction manual) are level with the top of the seat, not when the top of his head is level with the top of the seat.

If he grows out of it and you want to keep him in a 5 point harness, you could get a combination seat like the recaro young sport

www.johnlewis.com/230693551/Product.aspx?SearchTerm=recaro+young+sport

as this is a group 123 combination seat, the seat itself is bigger so it can accomodate a taller child in the 5 point harness.

If his head is poking out of the top of the group 1 seat more than it should, the car's headrest will not offer any side impact protection.

My problem is fitting 3 seats across the back (occasionally) - I would happily spend the money on an additional highbacked booster, but it won't go in the car.

OP posts:
GoldenSnitch · 03/02/2010 10:06

Thankyou woodyandbuzz - that helps

Bramshott · 03/02/2010 10:21

I would.

DD has been going to school in the taxi since she was 4 and in Reception, and she takes a booster seat with no back - no way she could carry anything else.

MumNWLondon · 03/02/2010 12:50

I do, even for 3 year old. I can't fit third car seat in middle of my car, and I honestly think its safer for child to be in booster in middle than in proper car seat in boot seats (zafira).

The safest place in the car is the middle, child in the middle v well protected from side impact due to children on either side so highback booster not as important HOWEVER I do have a seat belt router to ensure the seat belt sitting nicely on shoulder and not compromising neck.

link

Also I just read superfreakonomics and they reported on a study done in the USA on car seats for over 3's and it turns out that very little difference indeed in terms of outcome in collison on child in age appropriate car seat and NO CAR SEAT AT ALL! (ie child strapped into to adult seat belt)

MumNWLondon · 03/02/2010 12:55

And re: fab - the worse collisons are at speed on motorway/fast roads - thats when you'd really want a proper car seat - ie for a long journey however collisons at this sort of speed and severity unlikely to happen on school run around town.

FabIsGoingToBeFabIn2010 · 03/02/2010 13:02

If you say so but I think you are wrong.

I know of a 3 year old who died because her mother thought it would be okay for her to sit in the foot well of the front seat as it was only a short journey home.

MumNWLondon · 03/02/2010 13:12

come on big difference between footwell of front seat and strapped into back of car in legal booster seat possibly with seat belt router to keep seat belt on shoulder.

what a stupid comment.

these booster seats are legal for a reason. its because they have been extensively tested and found to be safe.

no one has said its safe to sit in foot well of front of car for a short journey or otherwise. its illegal to start with. also illegal not to strap your child in in the back seat of the car for a reason as well. because its not safe.

FabIsGoingToBeFabIn2010 · 03/02/2010 13:18

I am merely making the point that that woman thought a short journey would be fine and it wasn't. You are saying short journeys would be less risky. They aren't.

Calling my comment stupid is just lovely.

amidaiwish · 03/02/2010 13:19

i have two high back boosters for my kids (4 and 5) and an extra 2 for my mum's car as she has them occasionally and they drive around quite a bit with her.

If one of them has a friend over, then DD1 goes on a booster in the front of my car. I know this is a risk, but am i really going to buy a 5th high back chair for the very odd occasion and keep it in the boot? maybe i should... but as someone else said life is full or risks. you weigh up the risk. the drive from school is minutes and no fast roads.

amidaiwish · 03/02/2010 13:19

and i also think comparing using a booster to sitting in the footwell stupid and not at all helpful to this discussion.

FabIsGoingToBeFabIn2010 · 03/02/2010 13:34

fgs I was not comparing it!

Okay - a woman I know took a risk and didn't strap her child in properly and that child is now dead. She thought it would be okay as it was a short trip. That okay?

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