Booster cushions with no back for a 4yo occasionally?

[woodyandbuzz]

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.

Fab

I don't think your comment is stupid but it is anecdotal. I know someone who didn't strapt their child in properly once and they had no accident.

First the sit on boosters ARE legal.

On any one journey the risk of having an accident is the same.

But a child who travels for 1% of journeys without a restraint is less likely, over a year, to be injured due to the lack of restraint than a child who has no restraint 100% of the time.

Here we are talking about the lesser issue of whether a sit on or high back booster - both legal - is used. I am not suggesting anyone drives about with an unrestrained child.

The fact that you know somebody who came a cropper is really sad but the rest of us don't have a crystal ball so we have to make judgements based on risk.

This is always going to be a problem while cars and child seats are not designed to fit 3 children in the back of an ordinary car - THAT's the problem.

Short answer OP is yes I would do it if it really were just occasionally (like over a short distance once a fortnight or less). I would focus my energy on driving safely during those journeys rather than trying to comprehend the rest of the finer safety points made on this thread.

That's just me, and yes I can't do both and yes I am Super-Lax-Mum.

Of course it is anecdotal. Like a lot of things posted on here.

I never thought I would lose a baby. I lost 2. I never thought my children would have problems, 2 of them do.

I never thought.....

People think things won't happen to them and I would rather tell a story that makes someone think and maybe prevent an injury or death, than say nothing and find out later something awful has happened.

I think I will leave this thread now as I am only getting wound up and it isn't even for a good cause.

Fab - the point I was making about short journeys wasn't really even the stastical point about less chance of there being an accident, more that the worst accidents take place at speed, and short journeys on school run home do not take place at speed.

As someone else said very hard to fit 3 proper car seats in the back of most cars. I have a 7 seater and I honestly think its safer for 3 year old to be in booster in between 2 other kids (safest spot in car) in middle well protected from rear / front / side impacts than sitting in highback booster or even massive stage 1 car seat in boot seats.

Again might be useful for you to read "Superfreakonomics" where they have a chapter dedicated to car seat safety and they explain why there isn't really a difference in safety between a child aged 3 or over in a car seats vs an adult seat belt. The anecdotal about the 3 year old dying is sad, but as others pointed out its illegal to let child travel in front or car unrestrained so in this case mother could even have been prosecuted.

link

Agree with Fab, if you can then have the full seat.

I have a seven seater too and also have 3 high backed boosters going across the middle row of seats no problem. I never put my children in the boot seats.

well i'll just have to buy a new car to give other people's children an occasional lift home from school.... !!!! i can't fit a highback booster in the middle.

interestingly many of my friends (all professional parents) don't even have high back boosters AT ALL for their 3 and 4 year olds, just have then in booster cushions.

based on what i have read the high back boosters aren't actually that much safer anyway (provided that the seatbelt is correctly positioned).

You could use a booster cushion if it is a 3 point belt - but safety experst recommend only friom 22kg - and it isn't actually illegal to not use one if you can't fit it in for a 3rd child in the back. Alternatively use a highback in the front seat, pushed as far back as possible - again not illegal even with an airbag. However each scenario is a safety compromise.

That is being a bit ridiculous. I was saying we have the same size car and I can fit 3 seats in. Don't understand why you can't, that is all.

Had a good look at DS in his seat when we went out earlier. The tops of his ears are almost level with the top of his seat. He only weighs 14.5kgs! He's 3 next month. What do I do now? He's too little for a high backed booster!!