Why should my 6 yr old be in a high backbooster?

Unregistered · Jan 9, 2010

My DD's marathon is due to expire in a month & we're looking at boosters. Every single one of her friends is in a backless booster & when I tell other moms I'm looking at high backed boosters, I get the you're weird look. I'm having trouble articulating why a highbacked booster is what she needs. She's 41 lbs & 42". Now I'm beginning to 2nd guess why I should have her in a highback. Should I or not?

Maedze · Jan 9, 2010

Unregistered said:
My DD's marathon is due to expire in a month & we're looking at boosters. Every single one of her friends is in a backless booster & when I tell other moms I'm looking at high backed boosters, I get the you're weird look. I'm having trouble articulating why a highbacked booster is what she needs. She's 41 lbs & 42". Now I'm beginning to 2nd guess why I should have her in a highback. Should I or not?

Yes, you should. Backless boosters do absolutely nothing to provide any kind of side impact protection. A good high back reduces the risk of head and neck injury in a side impact, as well as helping the child remember to sit correctly, which means the belt is more likely to be in the correct position on the body during an impact.

Furthermore, a backless is unlikely to fit your child correctly unless you also use a shoulder belt adjuster, which can be more of a pain than a high back booster.

carseatcoach · Jan 9, 2010

Another, less compelling but still valid, reason is that most backless boosters are rated at 40#. If she loses weight due to an illness or some other reason, she won't be legal in her backless.

wendytthomas · Jan 9, 2010

She never mentioned she has a turbo....

No back booster:
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_...1/seitencrash/Baby_Sunny_touring_P3_vorne.mpg

Turbobooster like booster:
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seiten/kisitest_2002/videos/test2002/seitencrash/htsbesafe.mpg

Britax Parkway SG/Recaro Vivo/Sunshine Kids Monterey type booster:
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_...ideos/test2002/seitencrash/concordliftpro.mpg

That's why a high back is good.

Plus a six year old is not immune from sleeping in the car. A high back offers someplace comfortable to sleep without a child slumping over (see my siggy pic). A slumped child is unsafe.

Now, for the occasional ride, I could see a six year old in a backless. Like for a ride with friends or a field trip. But for daily riding we don't recommend a backless until a high back has been outgrown. Every change, from rear to forward facing, harness to booster, high back to low back, and then finally to seatbelt alone, is a step down in safety. Nothing to rush into or be happy about.

Wendy

Kat_Momof3 · Jan 10, 2010

and really, for such a small 6yr old, I wouldn't even use a backless as a spare... and if he's just now outgrowing the Marathon or especially if he still has grow room into it, unless asking for a booster AND mature enough to use one properly, I'd be tempted to get a seat to continue harnessing him, like the Graco Nautilus or Britax Frontier.

joolsplus3 · Jan 10, 2010

Why? To protect her from head injuries in a side impact crash. You never know when someone will run a red light, T-bone you, and your head will slam in the direction of the oncoming bumper (to put it bluntly

). Here's a study that's helpful http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-09/chop-htb090905.php

Why should my 6 yr old be in a high backbooster?

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