Switchable retractors and BPB - Car Seat.Org - Carseat, Vehicle & Child Passenger Safety Forums

snowbird25ca · 06-15-2007, 06:26 PM

I'm not sure if this is the right forum or not, so I apologize if it's in the wrong place.

At our tech training this week we were told to not engage the ALR for kids in a BPB because it would affect how the seatbelt/booster worked in a collision. I know some of the techs here use the ALR with their kids in boosters, so I'm just wondering what the general consensus is.

cookie123 · 06-15-2007, 07:28 PM

I'm pretty sure they told us it was okay to do that in my tech class this week.
I'll have to double check.

CDNTech · 06-15-2007, 07:31 PM

I remember her saying it's not necessary to engage the ALR, but I don't remember her saying that it would affect the way the booster would perform in a collision. Maybe you had a conversation about this when I was in a different place?

To be honest, I'm having a hard time seeing how it would affect the performance at all in a collision.

If the ALR is engaged, the child can not be leaning forward out of position when a collision is about to happen and therefore will not have any extra slack to contend with in the event of a collision.

becca011906 · 06-15-2007, 08:01 PM

I use ARL when abby rides in a booster in the truck and dh's cruiser b/c she just doens't sit will yet...

papooses · 06-15-2007, 09:32 PM

My state coordinator + all vehicle & carseat manufacturer CS reps I've asked said that it's not necessary, but also not a safety issue if it is engaged -- it can be helpful for wiggly kids, but some kids may find it quite uncomfortable ... bonus incentive to use a booster correctly.

snowbird25ca · 06-16-2007, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aidensmom02

I remember her saying it's not necessary to engage the ALR, but I don't remember her saying that it would affect the way the booster would perform in a collision. Maybe you had a conversation about this when I was in a different place?

To be honest, I'm having a hard time seeing how it would affect the performance at all in a collision.

If the ALR is engaged, the child can not be leaning forward out of position when a collision is about to happen and therefore will not have any extra slack to contend with in the event of a collision.

I think I must've just misunderstood her. I was thinking about the mechanics too and the more I thought about it the more I figured it didn't make sense that engaging the ALR could cause problems.

And hey, that's why I asked. I wouldn't want to give someone the wrong info.

murphydog77 · 06-16-2007, 02:29 AM

Yeah, it won't affect how either the seat belt or the booster works in a collision if the retractor is locked pre-crash. In the old NHTSA curriculum (I don't know about the new curriculum--I haven't read that far yet), it was even recommended for wiggly children.

lovinwaves · 06-20-2007, 11:43 AM

The new Curriculum manual does not say anything about engaging the Switchable Retractor, but my instructor told us that that would be a good idea for a child having a hard time sitting still.

IIRC, my Honda Owner's Manual recommend engaging the ALR for a child in a booster seat. I will have to double check that though.

Gypsy · 06-20-2007, 12:41 PM

My dd locks her own seatbelt, she doesn't feel safe unless she is locked in tightly.

crunchierthanthou · 06-21-2007, 11:43 PM

The new curriculum doesn't say anything either way regarding an ALR and BPB. Today at the check we had a family with three kids in boosters and the senior checker/instructor made sure the ALRs had been engaged.

I can't imagine it causing a problem if the booster is being used correctly in all other regards.

CRS · 06-22-2007, 12:43 AM

Yup my instructor(s) said it wasn't necessary but they never said it would affect performance of the seat/child and honestly I can't picture how it would any way!

06-15-2007, 06:26 PM	#1
snowbird25ca Moderator - CPST Instructor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada Posts: 8,877 Blog Entries: 2	Switchable retractors and BPB I'm not sure if this is the right forum or not, so I apologize if it's in the wrong place. At our tech training this week we were told to not engage the ALR for kids in a BPB because it would affect how the seatbelt/booster worked in a collision. I know some of the techs here use the ALR with their kids in boosters, so I'm just wondering what the general consensus is. __________________ Trudy - Canadian CRST-I and mommy to: Jillian - 5, 44lbs and 44.5" ff'ing in a Nautilus and EFTA Jonas - 3yrs, 30lbs and 38" - rf'ing in a True Fit and Complete Air. Both safely riding in either a 2007 Outlook or a 2009 Astra depending on the day.

06-15-2007, 07:28 PM	#2
cookie123 CPS Technician Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mpls MN Posts: 795	Re: Switchable retractors and BPB I'm pretty sure they told us it was okay to do that in my tech class this week. I'll have to double check.

06-15-2007, 07:31 PM	#3
CDNTech CPS Technician Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alberta Posts: 4,576	Re: Switchable retractors and BPB I remember her saying it's not necessary to engage the ALR, but I don't remember her saying that it would affect the way the booster would perform in a collision. Maybe you had a conversation about this when I was in a different place? To be honest, I'm having a hard time seeing how it would affect the performance at all in a collision. If the ALR is engaged, the child can not be leaning forward out of position when a collision is about to happen and therefore will not have any extra slack to contend with in the event of a collision. __________________ Jen, CDN Certified CRS Tech A 03/28/02, Parkway/Oto M 05/05/05, Radian Car-seat.org Benefactor

06-15-2007, 08:01 PM	#4
becca011906 CPS Technician Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,335	Re: Switchable retractors and BPB I use ARL when abby rides in a booster in the truck and dh's cruiser b/c she just doens't sit will yet... __________________ Becky CPS Tech, driver of '05 Quest, and Mama to DS 8y 6m (51.5" 61# torso 20") Backless Turbo and parkway DD 6y 4m (47" 42.5# torso 16") Parkway and Radian F/F DD 4y 1m (42" 35# torso 15") Marathon F/F

06-15-2007, 09:32 PM	#5
papooses CPS Technician Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 10,582 Blog Entries: 4	Re: Switchable retractors and BPB My state coordinator + all vehicle & carseat manufacturer CS reps I've asked said that it's not necessary, but also not a safety issue if it is engaged -- it can be helpful for wiggly kids, but some kids may find it quite uncomfortable ... bonus incentive to use a booster correctly. __________________ Britax Husky \| Ride Safer Travel Vest \| Sunshine Kids Monterey

06-16-2007, 02:29 AM	#7
murphydog77 Admin - CPST Instructor Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Where the wind blows . . . Posts: 2,316	Re: Switchable retractors and BPB Yeah, it won't affect how either the seat belt or the booster works in a collision if the retractor is locked pre-crash. In the old NHTSA curriculum (I don't know about the new curriculum--I haven't read that far yet), it was even recommended for wiggly children. __________________ Heather, CPS Tech/Instr. Your ultimate source of car seat news, reviews, and giveaways Car seat search, use and installation help for parents, and resources for technicians

06-20-2007, 11:43 AM	#8
lovinwaves Moderator - CPS Technician Emeritus Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kansas City, Missouri USA Posts: 7,054 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Switchable retractors and BPB The new Curriculum manual does not say anything about engaging the Switchable Retractor, but my instructor told us that that would be a good idea for a child having a hard time sitting still. IIRC, my Honda Owner's Manual recommend engaging the ALR for a child in a booster seat. I will have to double check that though. __________________ My review of the new Safety 1st Complete Air Convertible Looking for a Technician near you? Common Forum Abbreviations and Lingo Finding a good rear-facing tethering point in a Honda Odyssey 2005-newer

06-20-2007, 12:41 PM	#9
Gypsy CPS Technician Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 2,586	Re: Switchable retractors and BPB My dd locks her own seatbelt, she doesn't feel safe unless she is locked in tightly. __________________ ~~~Lisa, CPST ~~~ Alexia, 8 years, 68 pounds, 54 inches in a Pink Sky Frontier/Pink Monterey/Bubblegum Oto Evan, 4 years, 38 pounds, 43 inches in a Red Rock Frontier/Hampton Radian XT (rear facing for 2 more pounds!)/Red SafeGuard GO

06-21-2007, 11:43 PM	#10
crunchierthanthou Moderator - CPS Technician Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: nak Posts: 6,495	Re: Switchable retractors and BPB The new curriculum doesn't say anything either way regarding an ALR and BPB. Today at the check we had a family with three kids in boosters and the senior checker/instructor made sure the ALRs had been engaged. I can't imagine it causing a problem if the booster is being used correctly in all other regards.

06-22-2007, 12:43 AM	#11
CRS CPS Technician Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,560	Re: Switchable retractors and BPB Yup my instructor(s) said it wasn't necessary but they never said it would affect performance of the seat/child and honestly I can't picture how it would any way! __________________ Bonnie, Mum to a (37lb) 28 month old rear-facing in a Brio Zento (Black) and a (40lb) 4 year old rear-facing in a Brio Zento (also black!) www.childrestraintsafety.com

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