I replied to Christine Miller about the article, and all the inconsistencies that her "foundation" is spouting. I also listed ALL of the seats on the US market that harness past 40 pounds, and she told me that she would continue to only advise people to buy the Regent or Radian80. I told her about the height issue with the 65 and 80, and she said that only the 80 is good enough and it doesn't matter how tall the child is as long as they are under 80 pounds.
I'm really sad that what *could* have been an effective educational outlet has turned into a lot of misinformation and dangerous half truths. Very very sad. I'm sorry that poor little boy died, but to continue to insist that it was only because his seatbelt failed is unfair. We all know that that child was very improperly restrained, it's obvious from the video. It's also very unsafe of her to continue to insist that only lower anchors be trusted, not seatbelts, regardless of the weight of the child.
I'm glad people are waking up to car safety. Unfortunately, if they take the advice of Christine Miller, they are going from one (potentially) unsafe practice to another. I would much rather see a 60 pound child in a booster than in an anchored Radian in a Honda, with his shoulders 3 inches above the top slots, using the anchors and seatbelt.
I'd like to reply to this comment as it was myself that you conversed with on YouTube.
1) I firstly pointed out to you that it was the reporters who stated there were only two seats that have 5 point harness above 40lbs. The foundation does not say this at ALL!
2) Again, it was the reporter who said that these two seats cost $300-500.
Please do not pass judgement on us for things that a reported said. I invited you at that juncture to visit our foundation website where we have many car seat safety points posted.
We DO NOT at ANY POINT tell people to use both seat belt and LATCH. What I told you was that we had approached Britax and Sunshine Kids and requested that they test their car seats using this configuration so that we may be able to in the future recommend this practice following their successful test results.
I thanked you VERY much for the listing of car seats that harness about 40lbs and if you go to our website to 'Our recommended car seats' you will indeed see that we list all of the other seats that harness beyond 40lbs.
At no time did I say that the weight limit was the only restriction and that height did not matter - In fact, why don't I post here exactly what my comments were to you.
Here for the benefit of the people on this webite is exactly my conversation with you:
My first response to your message:
Many thanks for your message. Please do go to our foundation website and review the car seat safety information we have posted there. I think once you do that, it will address all of your concerns.
As you can see from my favourite videos, I list one which stresses the importance of keeping a child rear-facing as long as possible.
Agreed, there are other seats which harness beyond 40lbs - mainly to 65lbs. We are promoting harness use for as long as possible, which right now is to 80lbs and there are only two seats which do this. I will make mention of the other seats which harness to 65lbs, but we will continue to promote harnessing to 80lbs.
My second response to you:
Many thanks for your listing of seats that harness beyond 40lbs. I just wanted to note that the reporter incorrectly stated about only two seats beyond 40lbs and their costs - those are not our words. We are at the mercy of the media unfortunately there.
However, your point was indeed correct and we have added this information to our Recommended Car seats on the foundation website.
I understand your points about proper booster seat usage, however, you are still at the mercy of the car seat belt functioning correctly. This is what failed and why we lost our son. This failure is more common than is reported - please see the article about Inertial Release also on our website.
The fact is that a 5-point harness car seat would have saved our child's life in that accident.
Further, we have approached both Britax and SunShine Kids and have their agreement that they will be testing their seats in upcoming crash testing using BOTH seat belt and LATCH to secure the seat. We do NOT promote use of both mechanisms at this point, but look forward to being able to do so in the very near future.
Regarding the Radian80 - some information that you may not be in possession of - in this seat, the height limitation has been changed to the tops of the child's ears not being about the back of the seat and their shoulders can be above the top harness slot. This is recent information we received directly from the car seat designer that you may not be aware of. I wanted to make sure that I passed that along to you.
Your response to that:
> I am aware of the height limit on the Radian. I am friends with the engineer. I also have spoken to him about your claim that they will be testing it with belt and lower anchors and he assures me that that is not the case. Even if they DID, you would then be required to have the approval of the vehicle manufacturer to do so. Proper understanding of crash physics is vital here, it is not as simple as most people assume it to be.
>
> Also, ALL of the seats you have mentioned MUST use the seatbelt after 48 pounds (40 pounds in some vehicles). If a seatbelt truly does fail, it will fail regardless of what seat is in it.
>
> The Radian 65 and 80 both have the stipulation that you may use it to the tops of the ears at the top of the seat. This increases spinal compression and head excursion, and is something that I would be uncomfortable doing with my child, but it is allowed.
>
> I am aware that you wish to promote harnessing as long as possible. However, harnessing to 6-7 years old (average age of a 65 pound child) is adequate for the majority of children. Far be it for me to only go "adequate" for my child, but sometimes that is the only option. If someone cannot afford, does not have room for, or cannot use a Regent, then a booster for an older child is a very safe option.
>
> Also, please look into the RideSafer vests and EZ-On harnesses. They are not as user friendly as a harnessed seat, but much cheaper and more versatile and may allow you to help many more people.
And finally my response to that:
We all have the same aim here - to keep children safe!
Who is your contact a Sunshine Kids? I have their assurance that they will be doing this testing in their upcoming Spring crash testing. Perhaps your engineer friend is not aware of this agreement. I am in contact with Russ.
The additional point about securing with the seat belt is valid, however you fail to consider that a seat as big as a Regent would be unlikely to be ejected from a car. A smaller 5pt Harness car seat could be ejected, but could cocoon the child from the impact with the ground. In fact, an accident happened at the very same intersection where Kyle was killed - this child was in a 5pt harness car seat that was ejected from the car. The child escaped with minor cuts and bruises.
My daughter is 55lbs and outgrew her Britax Marathon well before that - her shoulders were squashed in that seat and she is a slim build child. Therefore, for maximum harnessing, we do think the higher weight capacity seats are the best way to go.
We certainly have looked at the EZ-on harnesses and Safe Rider vests and have recommended them to many families who have approached us asking for recommendations for their children who are 80lbs and above.
Now, please point out anywhere here in this communication between us where I stated about height meaning nothing???
It would be great if we can all support each other and so sad to read here such lies from you Splash!
