Car Seat Safety Question.

[Mattkarn]

Hi, I am a nanny to two wonderful boys. I have a question about their car seats in my car, their parents provided me with two high back booster seats. The ones that are two pieces that link together. The boys ages are just turned four and just turned 7, in my car the 7 year old's booster seat is above the head rest in the back seat. But the 4 year old's is not, it's pressing on the head rest and in my opinion puts the seat at a slightly tipped foward angle. I was wondering if I should be taking the head rests off for their booster seats, or if it should stay on?

[azgirl71]

Hi, I am a nanny to two wonderful boys. I have a question about their car seats in my car, their parents provided me with two high back booster seats. The ones that are two pieces that link together. The boys ages are just turned four and just turned 7, in my car the 7 year old's booster seat is above the head rest in the back seat. But the 4 year old's is not, it's pressing on the head rest and in my opinion puts the seat at a slightly tipped foward angle. I was wondering if I should be taking the head rests off for their booster seats, or if it should stay on?

If you have adjustable headrests you can use then without the back. There has to be support behind the childs head. For a 4 yr old I would prefer to have the back on as they tend to fall asleep in the car. The wings on the boost can be a makeshift pillow. Does the 4 yo sit well in his booster? Does not bend over to grab things while you are driving?

[Mattkarn]

He sometimes bends over to pick items up, but not usually. He usually keeps what he wants in his lap, sometimes its Legos and some times a coloring book and markers. Is it better to keep the back of the booster on for the 7 year old or take it off? He's only 49 inches tall and im guessing around 50-55 pounds. And the 4 year old does fall asleep in the car if we are driving for any longer than around 15 minutes.

[chickenman]

i think he was confused by the headrest or if you were trying to remove the back off the booster, assuiming you have a graco booster http://www.elitecarseats.com/assets/product_files/instructions/Graco/Graco_TurboBooster_manual.pdf on page 23 of the manual, it states that the headrest must not interfer with the position of the headrest of the booster. thus it can be removed. otherwise always check the manual for the booster.

[Mattkarn]

I'll take some pictures tomarrow if I can. I was trying to make it the least confusing. Sorry about that.

Edit: Actually Chickenman understood, thats what I was looking for thank you.

But I have another question, the seven year old's seat doesn't directly interfear with the head rest of the car because it is slightly taller than the head rest, so should I leave the head rest of the car on or off?

[CDNTech]

The headrest can stay on or come off... it's really up to you.

The only exception is if you have an Apex carseat (harnesses to 65lbs and then becomes a belt positioning booster)... these MUST have the headrest behind them for support.

It sounds like you have a dedicated belt positioning booster, which does not require headrests. Do you happen to know the make/model?

[azgirl71]

The headrest can stay on or come off... it's really up to you.

The only exception is if you have an Apex carseat (harnesses to 65lbs and then becomes a belt positioning booster)... these MUST have the headrest behind them for support.

It sounds like you have a dedictated belt positioning booster, which does not require headrests. Do you happen to know the make/model?

They still have to have the support of a high seat back or adjustable headrest behind thier head though even if the back is taken off and it is being used as a backless....Correct? That is what we were taught in class. That was why I asked about the headrests.

[azgirl71]

i think he was confused by the headrest or if you were trying to remove the back off the booster, assuiming you have a graco booster http://www.elitecarseats.com/assets/product_files/instructions/Graco/Graco_TurboBooster_manual.pdf on page 23 of the manual, it states that the headrest must not interfer with the position of the headrest of the booster. thus it can be removed. otherwise always check the manual for the booster.

I understood she wanted to remove the back of the booster since the headrest was interfering with the booster. The reason I asked about the headrests is that I was taught in class the a child should not sit in a backless UNLESS thier head was supported by a highback vehicle seat or an adustable headrest ;)

I did ask about him sleeping in the seat as he would stay more upright in a HBB and have the wings to help support his head while sleeping. I don't know a lot of 4 yo that stay sitting properly in a booster that is why I asked about him picking up stuff, ect. :)

[Defrost]

I understood she wanted to remove the back of the booster since the headrest was interfering with the booster. The reason I asked about the headrests is that I was taught in class the a child should not sit in a backless UNLESS thier head was supported by a highback vehicle seat or an adustable headrest ;)

There's more to it than just head support, though. If there's no vehicle headrest, you definitely want to leave the back on the booster. But even with a vehicle headrest, the booster is usually better with the back on as long as the child fits, because kids tend to stay in position better with it on, and (very importantly) the belt guides keep the shoulder belt properly positioned.

I'd recomend leaving the backs on both boosters if possible, and locking the seat belts (if possible) to help prevent them from leaning forwards or sideways.

OP, do you know how to see if the seat belts in your vehicle lock? After you buckle the kids in, pull the shoulder portion of the belt ALL the way out. It should make a slight "ratcheting" sound as it goes back in, if they are locking belts, and then you'll be unable to pull the belts out again until after the kids are unbuckled.

If the vehicle headrest is interfering with the back of the booster, you can remove the vehicle headrest.

:thumbsup: for wanting to use their seats properly and keep them as safe as possible in your car!

[azgirl71]

There's more to it than just head support, though. If there's no vehicle headrest, you definitely want to leave the back on the booster. But even with a vehicle headrest, the booster is usually better with the back on as long as the child fits, because kids tend to stay in position better with it on, and (very importantly) the belt guides keep the shoulder belt properly positioned.

I'd recomend leaving the backs on both boosters if possible, and locking the seat belts (if possible) to help prevent them from leaning forwards or sideways.

OP, do you know how to see if the seat belts in your vehicle lock? After you buckle the kids in, pull the shoulder portion of the belt ALL the way out. It should make a slight "ratcheting" sound as it goes back in, if they are locking belts, and then you'll be unable to pull the belts out again until after the kids are unbuckled.

If the vehicle headrest is interfering with the back of the booster, you can remove the vehicle headrest.

:thumbsup: for wanting to use their seats properly and keep them as safe as possible in your car!

I agree there are other reasons to have the back on the booster. Support was just the main one that I felt was the biggest issue. I would leave the backs on too and remove the headrest of the vehicle if possible.

[Defrost]

I agree there are other reasons to have the back on the booster. Support was just the main one that I felt was the biggest issue. I would leave the backs on too and remove the headrest of the vehicle if possible.

You were right - it's definitely the biggest concern! It's just not always obvious how much the belt positioners and head wings can make a difference until you've had to ride around with kids in them. :)

[azgirl71]

You were right - it's definitely the biggest concern! It's just not always obvious how much the belt positioners and head wings can make a difference until you've had to ride around with kids in them. :)

My oldest is going to be 18 yo in January. I also have a soon to be 15 yo and a 13 yo all boys and I would have been so happy if I could have had wings and locking seatbelts when they were younger. Of course the 18 yo should be greatful he is alive since I moved him to a shield booster when he was 1 1/2 yo :eek: I waited until 3yo for the other 2.

I have a friend right now that has her 6 yo in a no back and I am trying to convince her to put her in a HBB since she sleeps alot in the truck.

[joolsplus3]

You were right - it's definitely the biggest concern! It's just not always obvious how much the belt positioners and head wings can make a difference until you've had to ride around with kids in them. :)
Not to mention, a highback booster provides 70% better protection against head injury in side impacts, which is a benefit you can't see until you're in a crash... ;)

[Mattkarn]

I decided to take both of the head rests off of the car and leave the back of their seats on because I feel the seat belt doesn't lay across their chest correctly with out it. And I do lock the seat belt on the four year old most of the time and not always on the seven year old because he wants to buckle him self in, but I always check to make sure it is not loose and under the arm rests. I also keep their doors on child lock after a few incedents with opening doors before the car was off.

[joolsplus3]

Sounds perfect! :)

[chickenman]

There's more to it than just head support, though. If there's no vehicle headrest, you definitely want to leave the back on the booster. But even with a vehicle headrest, the booster is usually better with the back on as long as the child fits, because kids tend to stay in position better with it on, and (very importantly) the belt guides keep the shoulder belt properly positioned.

I'd recomend leaving the backs on both boosters if possible, and locking the seat belts (if possible) to help prevent them from leaning forwards or sideways.

OP, do you know how to see if the seat belts in your vehicle lock? After you buckle the kids in, pull the shoulder portion of the belt ALL the way out. It should make a slight "ratcheting" sound as it goes back in, if they are locking belts, and then you'll be unable to pull the belts out again until after the kids are unbuckled.

If the vehicle headrest is interfering with the back of the booster, you can remove the vehicle headrest.

:thumbsup: for wanting to use their seats properly and keep them as safe as possible in your car!
i thought i read somewhere that it was a no no to put the belt in crash mode, because it would put more stress on the child or something like that, something about the way it was designed, maybe i can find the post

[chickenman]

They still have to have the support of a high seat back or adjustable headrest behind thier head though even if the back is taken off and it is being used as a backless....Correct? That is what we were taught in class. That was why I asked about the headrests.
correct if you have a van or something with bench seats and no headrests , its best to have a high back booster, but if there is adequate support head rest and for me side air bags, then a backless booster is ok

[joolsplus3]

i thought i read somewhere that it was a no no to put the belt in crash mode, because it would put more stress on the child or something like that, something about the way it was designed, maybe i can find the post
I don't think so, it's sort of up for debate at this point, and since the Turbo manual allows it, I'd feel comfortable doing it.

[Defrost]

i thought i read somewhere that it was a no no to put the belt in crash mode, because it would put more stress on the child or something like that, something about the way it was designed, maybe i can find the post

I seem to remember reading that as well, but in a situation where the children are known to be not mature enough to stay in position (as in the case of a four-year-old), the potential added stress is better than having the child out of position. :twocents:

[UlrikeDG]

Switchable retractor (http://carseat.org/Technical/tech_update.htm#switchable)
...A switchable retractor can also be changed to the ALR mode to help keep an active child positioned correctly in a lap-shoulder belt, with or without a belt-positioning booster.

Belt-positioning booster (BPB) (http://carseat.org/Technical/tech_update.htm#beltposB)
...Less mature or very active children may need some help staying correctly positioned for the entire trip. This might be encouraged by preventing the shoulder belt from loosening, either by locking the shoulder belt with its switchable retractor (if available) or by using a highback booster with a shoulder belt guide that does not allow the child to pull out the webbing. Be careful with some belt guides that may allow the child to lean forward and/or pull the belt out but have enough friction to keep it from automatically retracting again, as loose belts can result in injuries...