Buckle cruch in HBB?

[Irishmamaof3]

Hi there, I'm asking this on behalf of a friend!

She'd like to use a HBB for her DD, but ther 'female' seabelt receiver is quite long and even after twisting twice(won't go a third time), it's still up against the side of the seat, does 'buckle cruch' matter as much in a booster? Or is that just for 'full' seats? Is there any way around this?

Thanks,

D

[safeinthecar]

I'm not sure what you mean by "cruch" but the buckle of the lap/shoulderbelt is fine touching the side of a booster seat as long as you can make the seat belt snug around the child. As a general rule you don't twist the female end for booster seats, or for seat belt users because a twisted belt on the child's body will not spread the force of the crash out properly.

[Irishmamaof3]

Thanks for the reply, I'm just wondering if our seatbelts the same as yours? The female(receiving part) would be the part that comes out of the seat around the seat bight, not the part that goes accross the body?

This is a good example of buckle cruch:

http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/images/graphics/CCS-13B_200.gif

Just wondering if it's ok for the seat belt clip to sit in that position(which is almost under the armrest) on a Britax Kidfix/parkway/monarch type seat? Or would that be the norm where the receiver hangs out like that? Our own are deep into the seat base, so we don't have that problem.

It seems to be a good fit once the female end is twisted, just want to be 100% sure that's ok with a booster! :)

[Irishmamaof3]

Thanks for the reply, I'm just wondering if our seatbelts the same as yours? The female(receiving part) would be the part that comes out of the seat around the seat bight, not the part that goes accross the body?

This is a good example of buckle cruch:

http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/images/graphics/CCS-13B_200.gif

Just wondering if it's ok for seat belt clip to sit in that position(which is almost under the armrest) on a Britax Kidfix/parkway/monarch type seat? Or would that be the norm where the receiver hangs out like that? Our own are deep into the seat base, so we don't have that problem.

It seems to be a good fit once the female end is twisted a couple of times :) Just want to be 100% sure that's ok with a booster! :)

[Kat_Momof3]

no, because the armrest could release the seatbelt in a crash.

you need to try other boosters or consider keeping the child in a harness.

[KristiD761]

Out of curiosity, where is it that armrests can release a seat belt in a crash?

[BookMama]

no, because the armrest could release the seatbelt in a crash.

Out of curiosity, where is it that armrests can release a seat belt in a crash?

I'm also trying to picture how that would happen.

[Maedze]

no, because the armrest could release the seatbelt in a crash.

you need to try other boosters or consider keeping the child in a harness.

I own two boosters and one combination and none of the manuals say anything about that:confused:

[safeinthecar]

The reason it is not allowed to have the buckle restraining a harnessed car seat arching against the side of the car seat (like in the pictures) is because some types of seatbelts will not stay tight (holding the car seat in pre-crash position with less than 1 inch of movement) if the webbing is not parallel with the buckle. Also, if the rigid edge of the car seat is putting pressure on the connection point of the male and female pieces of the buckle, theoretically, it can cause the belt to release. With the seat belt on the child, that is not a worry. The seatbelt is not supposed to hold the child in the vehicle seat with less than an inch of movement, and the child's body is not rigid enough to break the seat belt open.

As far as the armrests unlocking the seat belt by pushing the release button, seat belts are required to be designed in such a way that it is impossible for an object the size of or larger than a 1 inch ball bearing to press the release button. Several years ago a certain type of seat belt called the Gen 3 (commonly used by Chrysler), failed that test and is no longer being used. This is a picture of a Gen 3 belt. The Gen 3 belt is the one where the red button is exposed. As long as the seat belt is not a Gen 3, and can be pulled snug around the child, there is no problem and no need to twist the seat belt.

[Maedze]

So the short version is, 'no it's not a problem to have the buckle resting in that way for a booster unless it's a generation 3 seatbelt.' ??

[safeinthecar]

So the short version is, 'no it's not a problem to have the buckle resting in that way for a booster unless it's a generation 3 seatbelt.' ??

Pretty much, yes. The only other way that particular set up could be a problem is if the seat belt is getting caught under the armrest in a way that prevents it from tightening.

[Irishmamaof3]

Thank you!!! :D