Ugh... lesser of three evils.

Which is the lesser of three evils?

  • Backless with no head support

    Votes: 2 9.1%
  • HBB that requires head support with none

    Votes: 19 86.4%
  • Seatbelt that rides a little too high on stomach

    Votes: 1 4.5%

  • Total voters
    22

cmm7

New member
One of the parents of a boy I sit for just e-mailed me since they had a car seat question. They said he is going to start riding to a friends' house once a week in a car that does not have headrests. He is eight years old and in a backless booster in his dad's car and a Cosco Pronto (which is a HBB but requires head support) in his mom's car. He is right about 4'9" but does not pass the 5-step test in his friend's car. His mom said he is so close to it, but the lap belt is a tad high. Shoulder belt is fine.

They are pretty good about CPS, but are definitely the "It is only a five mile ride," type. That is the situation here. Regardless of what I say he will be riding these five miles once a week in one of these situations. They will not buy a new seat. So, we have these options:

Backless booster with no headrest
HBB that requires headrest with no headrest
No booster, head support, but lap belt a tad high

What do you think is the best out of these? I know none are ideal and you personally would never do it, but I am 250 miles away and helping them with what they have.

On an unrelated note I tried C in the GN as a booster yesterday to see how he would do. By the time I buckled it and closed his door he had put the shoulder belt under his arm. I now worry even more about him riding in a backless in his mom's car. :(
 
ADS

amyd

New member
How does he get head support without a booster if the seat has no head restraints? Is he going to be short enough to have support just from the back seat if he's not in a booster?
 

carseatcoach

Carseat Crankypants
HBB that requires head support without it -- that may end up being the same as a backless w/o head support, or it may surprise us and hold up during a relatively minor crash. I personally think the risks of a poorly-fitting lap belt are higher than the risks of inadequate head support at that age.
 

cmm7

New member
Yes, I am assuming so since she told me it was, "The same problem your car has." Only in my car I had a TB he still barely fit in. But that is in VT with me and about to expire so no help to them.
 

Pixels

New member
A high back (even if it requires head support) is going to provide at least some head support, whereas a backless obviously provides none. Some, even if it's a teeny bit, is better than none.
 

a_js

New member
HBB that requires head support without it -- that may end up being the same as a backless w/o head support, or it may surprise us and hold up during a relatively minor crash. I personally think the risks of a poorly-fitting lap belt are higher than the risks of inadequate head support at that age.

That :thumbsup:
 

cmm7

New member
Great, thanks everyone. I will pass that on to them. I was picturing some horrible scenario where the headrest snapped and impaled his spinal cord or something... good to hear you don't think that would happen!

Maedze- the Pronto goes REALLY tall. I can fit in it. I would say it is 21-22" to the belt guides. If only it didn't require the stupid head support it would be such a cheap, tall HBB.
 

Kat_Momof3

New member
I voted backless because I hadn't read the whole thing... I thought since they were basically the same and I didn't want to find out what would happen with the booster in terms of breakage or whatever if they crashed, I'd vote backless, as the kid is 8yrs old

Now I see what he did when put in a highback booster, I changed my mind... clearly he needs the physical reminder of the back of the booster and the belt guide to help him keep the belt in place.

I would use the hbb with no support...
 

cmm7

New member
I voted backless because I hadn't read the whole thing... I thought since they were basically the same and I didn't want to find out what would happen with the booster in terms of breakage or whatever if they crashed, I'd vote backless, as the kid is 8yrs old

Now I see what he did when put in a highback booster, I changed my mind... clearly he needs the physical reminder of the back of the booster and the belt guide to help him keep the belt in place.

I would use the hbb with no support...


I think you are referring here to the end of my post where I sort of changed topics to a quick vent about C, an almost 5 yr old boy. The 8 year old sits fine in a booster. Sorry for the confusion!
 

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