kphil
Member
I've seen a lot of threads recently with people stating that after a certain age, they feel kids are as safe, or possibly even safer in a booster vs a harness. I'm assuming that's due to concerns about neck loads. I'm wondering if anyone can point me to any information or links that would show how you're coming to your decision. My 7.5 yo is still harnessed in a Nautilus, though she rides in a booster in her Dad's car. We did just get a Vivo as our second backup booster, and at some point she will go into that in my car, but I don't know when. She's only just now moving to the last harness slots on the Nautilus, so she could fit in that for a long time. I feel like I understand the theory about neck loads in a harness in theory, but I don't understand why if it's safer for a 4yo, a 7yo (who would have a stronger bone structure) wouldn't handle those loads even better. Or is the thinking that if you could just get a 4 yo to sit perfectly in a booster, that would actually be better, but you can't, so a harness is better? What about side impacts? I can't imagine how a harness wouldn't be better that a 3-pt belt in that situation.
My other question, and it's the one that brought me to posting this today, is whether the child's size matters in making the decision, once they've passed 40 lbs and 6-ish years. I have a friend with a 6.5yo who is very thin and 45 pounds and rides in a booster. She was asking me last night about harnessed seats, because she feels like he would be safer if she put him back in one, with him being so slight. I told her if he stays in position while in his booster (she says he does), than the booster is probably just fine, but I also told her which harnessed seats would be the ones that would fit him. Any thoughts on whether a small 6.5 yo who fits his seat is any less safe in a booster than a larger one would be?
My other question, and it's the one that brought me to posting this today, is whether the child's size matters in making the decision, once they've passed 40 lbs and 6-ish years. I have a friend with a 6.5yo who is very thin and 45 pounds and rides in a booster. She was asking me last night about harnessed seats, because she feels like he would be safer if she put him back in one, with him being so slight. I told her if he stays in position while in his booster (she says he does), than the booster is probably just fine, but I also told her which harnessed seats would be the ones that would fit him. Any thoughts on whether a small 6.5 yo who fits his seat is any less safe in a booster than a larger one would be?