Pics of older kids in High Back Boosters, please! 38 pound kid in backless....

[heyruthie]

My best friend just told me that her 38 pound 8 year old finally "outgrew" the highback portion of his booster. Yes, he is 38 pounds and has been boostered for years. I just hoped to encourage her to keep him in a HBB as long as possible.

However, she balked, when I suggested getting him a new HBB that would allow him to keep the back on, saying that "He already has enough self-esteem issues already" and all the other kids "don't use a booster seat at all anymore" so by using the backless booster, he is "safer than most of the kids out there." she says that in her state of PA, he is technically legal to use no CR, since he is 8 yrs. old.

I asked her if she would be willing to look at A) pics of older kids in boosters and B) stats for why highback is safer for her son. She agreed.

[snowbird25ca]

Kids under 40lbs in a booster are at higher risk of submarining or being ejected, but at 8yrs old those factors are going to be quite a bit lower because his body should be more physically developed than a child who is just 3 or 4yrs old and under 40lbs...

The way I see it, the biggest issue with a backless booster is that most start at 40lbs - do you guys have any 30lb minimum backless boosters in the US?

High back boosters and backless boosters perform the same function - high back boosters just tend to position the belt better on small kids. If the seatbelt fits him well with a backless booster, the vehicle has adequate head support, and he is within the manufacturers stated limits, there isn't anything wrong with an 8yr old being in a backless booster.

Sorry, I know it's not necessarily what you want to hear. :o

I'm sure others will have some pic's for you, I just don't want you to stress yourself out if mom is going to put him in a backless booster. :thumbsup:

[CelticLabyrinth]

The way I see it, the biggest issue with a backless booster is that most start at 40lbs - do you guys have any 30lb minimum backless boosters in the US?
Yep.

I would be so glad his mom kept him in a booster this long, and has chosen to continue to booster him. Personally, I think the fact she is boostering him passed her states minimums is impressive :thumbsup:

[Michi]

I do like some HBB's because of the added side-impact protection, but other than that I agree with snowbird25ca.

If you still want pictures of older children in boosters, there is a nice photo album here.

http://www.freewebs.com/sacredjourneys/apps/photos/album?albumid=3103944

[christineka]

That's not the response I got here when I asked about letting my 54 pound 9 year old go backless???

Here are my kids:
7 year old dd.
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m277/christineka/car%20seats/booster7.jpg

9 year old
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m277/christineka/car%20seats/booster9.jpg

[Starlight]

well, sometimes we have to pick our battles. If we're talking about someone who is needing to be convinced, well yeah, we might settle for less than best. But fortunately, you know better.

I'd be fine w/ a backless booster at 8, too, and simply happy that she was keeping him in a booster at all! :D

[Qarin]

That's not the response I got here when I asked about letting my 54 pound 9 year old go backless???

I think there's been a bit of reining in of the fanaticism here lately, and especially when talking about someone who isn't asking for best-practice advice (for themselves/their children/the children in their charge) I think it's a good thing- it's not terribly helpful to encourage people to feel worried to the point of panic about friends or acquaintances who are doing really quite well with their kids.

[Joyofbirth]

Christineka-What kind of booster is that? I like it. Your 9 year old looks a little big in it, but I don't know about boosters yet. Is she fitting in there well? I have two 9 year olds I watch that I would like in boosters in my car. Not sure what to get for them.

[Andie]

Christineka-What kind of booster is that? I like it. Your 9 year old looks a little big in it, but I don't know about boosters yet. Is she fitting in there well? I have two 9 year olds I watch that I would like in boosters in my car. Not sure what to get for them.

That is a Recaro Vivo.

Here (http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=70534)is a thread with photos of my son and Scatterbunny's daughter in different boosters, including the Vivo.

[christineka]

That's the recaro vivo. It's actually 7 year old's seat. 9 year old gets the turbobooster, but the pic I have of her in it is pretty old. 9 year old has ridden in the vivo when sister is not present and said se really liked it. I want to get her the monterey, but it looks like I'm saving up for a radian for a younger kid, so older dd gets to stay in the turbo. The vivo has a very short seat depth, but for some reason my kids think it is comfy.

[Judi]

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=68413

[Gypsy]

That's not the response I got here when I asked about letting my 54 pound 9 year old go backless???



I was pretty sure I posted on that thread, so I went to find it. There were no fanatical posts, I even said that if you came through a seat check with her in a backless I'd be thrilled. http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=76581&highlight=backless

[chickabiddy]

well, sometimes we have to pick our battles. If we're talking about someone who is needing to be convinced, well yeah, we might settle for less than best. But fortunately, you know better.

I'd be fine w/ a backless booster at 8, too, and simply happy that she was keeping him in a booster at all! :D

Yes, and

I think there's been a bit of reining in of the fanaticism here lately, and especially when talking about someone who isn't asking for best-practice advice (for themselves/their children/the children in their charge) I think it's a good thing- it's not terribly helpful to encourage people to feel worried to the point of panic about friends or acquaintances who are doing really quite well with their kids.

Yes, yes, yes!!!

If someone is *asking for advice*, then yes, it's true that a highbacked booster is almost always safeR than a backless one.

When approaching friends or strangers, we need to pick our battles in order to maintain approachability and credibility. While not the BEST choice, an 8yo in a backless (if he meets the minimums, and some do start at 30#) is simply not a battle I'd pick.

[joolsplus3]

http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/BoosterAlbum.aspx I didn't send the stats to be added, but Karsten was 9.5 there :love:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-09/chop-htb090905.php

My SUV has curtain airbags and good head restraints, so I'll allow my kids to go backless...my van doesn't, so I still have my now-11 and 9 year olds ride in a highback in there, they don't mind, they know it's safest and think it's comfy.

But I actually think it's amazing your friend has used a highback as long as she did, most people are WAY less conscientious :(

[ginny4]

my almost 10yo. pic was about a year ago
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/lundtv/monterey%20vs%20turbo/CarSeat043.jpg

[emandbri]

Here is the study that says that that no back boosters provided no benifit in a side impact crash over a seat belt.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-09/chop-htb090905.php

"The risk reduction provided by booster seats in side-impact crashes varied by booster seat type: 4-to 8-year-olds riding in high back booster seats were at a 70 percent reduction in injury risk, while those in backless boosters did not experience a statistically significant risk reduction as compared with seat belts alone."

[Maedze]

That's not the response I got here when I asked about letting my 54 pound 9 year old go backless???



I'm not sure if I responded to your original thread.. but I can tell you I would be perfectly comfortable with a 9 year old in a good backless booster, presuming good head support.

Am I thrilled about the idea of a 38 pound 8 year old in a backless booster? absolutely not. I'm concerned that such a tiny child has some severe underlying issues and would be best protected in a high back booster. I do think you are doing the right thing encouraging her to use a high back, but at the same time, I'm just really glad he's in a booster at all.

The Combi Dakota has a 33 lb minimum for backless use and is a pretty nice backless booster.

[joolsplus3]

I was pretty sure I posted on that thread, so I went to find it. There were no fanatical posts, I even said that if you came through a seat check with her in a backless I'd be thrilled. http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=76581&highlight=backless

Looks like everyone gave the same basic advice :thumbsup:

[LuvMyGirls]

[QUOTE=christineka;788255]That's not the response I got here when I asked about letting my 54 pound 9 year old go backless???

Sorry, but I personally would not be okay with that for my child. My 72lb 10y9m old is still in a highback. I think I would be thrilled to see a stranger with a 9 year old in anything, but I would not be happy to see it with someone who knows so much more about CPS.

The 38lb 8 year old in a backless scares me. I have a friend with a 38 lb 8 1/2 year old and 36 lb 5 1/5 year old in highbacks. The mother put them in highbacks at 7 yrs 36 lbs and 3 1/2 yrs 33 lbs. She said her neighbor used to work with SafeKids so she had her to check them, and the neighbor said it was fine.

[skaterbabscpst]

OP: if you still want pics of older kids in high back boosters, I can arrange to get one of my 12 1/2 yo in a Frontier.

[heyruthie]

Hi, all! This thread sparked more controversy than I meant it to, but I'm finding it fascinating! Plus, at least I feel a little bit better that many of you here are not screaming hysterically at the notion of a super-skinny 8 year old in a backless booster.

He is ULTRA skinny, and has very, very thin bone structure. When walking next to my (very thin himself) 6 year old, this 8 year old's legs look like toothpicks. Neither of his parents are built like that, so i don't know where it comes from. But his pediatrician is not concerned. His rate growth is stable, and he's still growing--hence he "outgrew" the belt positioner of his booster.

i do really still wish she would keep him in a high-back, since he seems so delicate. but i will totally let it go, if most people out there think the stats are OK for a kid of his age. However, I do still want to send her links with older kids in HBB, so any more pics are appreciated!!!!

[Kat_Momof3]

here's the thing... we'll fight harder when we can actually interact with the parent in question, but still, a lot boils down to age, maturity, and the child.

would we prefer every child under 40lbs harnessed? Oh HECK yes... Do we want them in highbacks as long as possible? Oh HECK yes.... but will we pick our battles... EVERY TIME.

without knowing from her or you the exact place emotionally the child is at, since you said she mentioned self-esteem issues from her size, I'd say that the key here is finding a booster that fits her and that positions the seatbelt properly.

Now, if a backless isn't going to position that belt correctly, then she HAS to be in a highback to be safe.

But if the backless will do that, I'd rather see her in a backless booster and emotionally healthy than in a highback and feeling like she's still this little kid.

At the same time, I'd of course try to reach out to her friends and their families for support and understanding in the fact she still NEEDS a booster of some kind, to try to boost that self-esteem, and get the safety info through to her, but I would definitely pick my battles.

Jeffrey rides in the Monterey and is much bigger than she is, but younger, so not sure if he qualifies... if you would like pics, let me know... I'll get some fresh ones for you... and even hold up a sign or I'll shoot a short video of him telling what he likes about his booster (hmm... should do that anyway, once the weather is warm... booster safety promotion would not be a bad idea to have him help with).

[heyruthie]

OK! One more question! I now have a link to the 5-step test (to determine if the kid can forego a booster altogether--which I'm sure he cannot.)

But is there a checklist to determine IF a booster is fitting properly? (I'm thinking, "belt positioned on shoulder, lap belt low on hips, seatback at or above ears" etc.) Can I give her something for her to use to check whether the LBB is working for him?

BTW: she doesn't live locally to me anymore, so I can't go check :)

TIA!

[Stretchy Glue]

Here's an older picture of H. She's 7 now, and considerably bigger than the child in question.


http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/JLMcSpadden/car%20seat/100_1783-1.jpg

I'll have to take more pictures. She is the LAST kid in her 1st grade class in a hbb, and the tallest.

[Kat_Momof3]

OK! One more question! I now have a link to the 5-step test (to determine if the kid can forego a booster altogether--which I'm sure he cannot.)

But is there a checklist to determine IF a booster is fitting properly? (I'm thinking, "belt positioned on shoulder, lap belt low on hips, seatback at or above ears" etc.) Can I give her something for her to use to check whether the LBB is working for him?

BTW: she doesn't live locally to me anymore, so I can't go check :)

TIA!

basically, use the 5-step test, but instead of the vehicle seat alone, use the booster as the seat bottom and the vehicle seatback or booster seat back as the back.

[heyruthie]

thank you to all! this has been very helpful.