The Law: Tethering a booster?

[marciemp]

Does anyone know what the law (in Canada) is for tethering boosters? Have 3 kids now but planning a 4th, looking for a new vehicle but don't know if we need 3 or 4 top tethers.

I am sort of thinking that if we kept our youngest rear facing for as long as possible (2.5-2.75 years if they grow like our other 3), then the oldest should be booster age (she would be about 6 when the youngest was born, so about 8.5 or so when he/she moved to forward facing), and maybe she could go in a booster, but I don't know what the law says in Canada about tethering a booster? I know that harnessed seats need to be tethered, do boosters too?

Is it safe to use just a seat belt on a booster, thinking about Kyle Miller and how his seat belt failed? I guess if the booster was latched in and the belt failed the kid would still come out.

What does the law say, and is that likely to change in the next few years?

Thanks

[QuassEE]

Boosters don't have to be tethered...in fact, I believe some/most manufacturers of combo seats recommend disconnecting the tether when using their seats in booster mode (eg. Cosco)? I do know some manufacturers have said you can keep a combo seat tethered to stop it from becoming a projectile (eg. Graco)... I personally would recommend a somewhat loosely connected tether when allowed a) to avoid an unoccupied seat becoming a projectile and b) to ensure that the tether itself does not become a projectile. Dedicated boosters (which your then-8.5 year old will likely be in, due to height) do not have top tethers. Because the seatbelt is restraining the child in a booster, a booster seat doesn't see the same load in a crash as a harnessed seat would--it's a positioning device, not a restraining device.

As far as the Kyle Miller thing goes--preschoolers, quite simply, do not belong in boosters. They might not be mature enough to leave the seatbelt latch alone, or could possibly just not notice or communicate effectively if a belt did become disconnected for some reason. Just ensure that your children are harnessed until they're mature enough for a booster.

-Nicole.