German authorized booster seat ok for holiday in Canada?

BrittaGermany · Mar 20, 2010

Dear All,

We are going to Canada (Alberta and British Columbia) for holiday this June. With us will be our 5 years old son. I now would like to learn more about the Canadian regulations on car seats. We are thinking of bringing the lower part of our German booster seat with us for use in the RV. However, I have also read in a German forum that we are not allowed to use the German seat in Canada.

Could someone please confirm whether this is really the case or could provide me with a link where I can check this? :thanx!: for your assistance.

Regards. - Britta

QuassEE · Mar 20, 2010

The laws are provincial, which is probably why you've had a difficult time locating any specific Canadian law. Both provinces do allow visitors to use their foreign seats. However--if it is a real RV, it may not have a seatbelt for your child. Some RVs have two belts, and some have three. Sometimes the third belt is lap-only.. So be sure to find out what you'll have.

-Nicole.

Unregistered · Mar 21, 2010

Dear Nicole,

Thanks for your prompt reply, this sounds much better than what I have learned in the German world about this topic.

We booked the RV under the assumption that there are three seats in the front (it is a kind of a pick up truck). So even if the middle seat has a lap belt only, one of the grown-up would sit there.

Thanks again.

Regards. - Britta

Maedze · Mar 21, 2010

Unregistered said:
Dear Nicole,

Thanks for your prompt reply, this sounds much better than what I have learned in the German world about this topic.

We booked the RV under the assumption that there are three seats in the front (it is a kind of a pick up truck). So even if the middle seat has a lap belt only, one of the grown-up would sit there.

Thanks again.

Regards. - Britta

Oh, goodness, no, please don't put an adult in a lap belt! Lap belts are extremely dangerous and should only ever be used to install a child restraint with a harness.

If you do end up with a seat with a lap belt in it, you'll need to look into purchasing a Canadian child restraint with a higher harnessed weight limit for your 5 year old, to keep everyone safe, including you.

InternationalMama · Mar 21, 2010

Maedze said:
If you do end up with a seat with a lap belt in it, you'll need to look into purchasing a Canadian child restraint with a higher harnessed weight limit for your 5 year old, to keep everyone safe, including you.

If the RV has top tethers maybe she could put the 5 year old in the lap belt with a Ride Safer Travel Vest? This might be a more viable travel option and maybe she could even have it shipped to Germany so she could use it straight away when they arrive. I have no idea if an RV would have a top tether in a lap belt only position, but it's an idea.

Oh! Or OP what you should do is look into getting the Römer Vario. It's like a shield that goes in front of the child, similar to a booster but functions more like a harness from a safety standpoint, and it can be used in a lap belt only position safely. You can buy it at baby stores that carry Römer seats in Germany for about 70 Euros and it's pretty small so you could pack it in your hand luggage to bring over. :thumbsup: Then you'll be prepared to safely restrain all three passengers assuming there are three belts available. I agree with Maedze that you want to avoid putting anyone in a lap belt only, even an adult.

ketchupqueen · Mar 21, 2010

RSTV is not available in Canada (though it could be shipped to Germany, but might be expensive), and it might be possible there's not tether anchor even though it's in Canada.

The Vario sounds great though if it can be used with lap belt only. :thumbsup: (What's the weight limit on that? My dad has 3 lap only belts in his car...

)

ETA: of course, I can't find the Vario on any website... It's discontinued, right? Do you know where the OP could locate one, since there doesn't seem to be any new stock?

InternationalMama · Mar 21, 2010

ketchupqueen said:
The Vario sounds great though if it can be used with lap belt only. :thumbsup: (What's the weight limit on that? My dad has 3 lap only belts in his car... )

It can be used up to 25 kilograms so 55 lbs. It's weird because Britax Römer doesn't list the Vario on their website anymore, but both I and another poster have seen it in stores recently and it was an updated version from the kind you find in ebay listings. We were both in different big name baby stores so I'm guessing since the OP is in Germany she wouldn't have a problem finding it.

ketchupqueen · Mar 21, 2010

Interesting! Can you help me find it on their websites if possible? Obviously I can't buy in person.

(Or even PM me the names/websites of the stores so I can e-mail with them and see if anyone will ship to the States?)

InternationalMama · Mar 21, 2010

PMing you.

QuassEE · Mar 21, 2010

Britta--the point here about lapbelts is completely valid--you cannot put a person in a lapbelt. They're good for installing a child restraint and that's about it. However, I don't think your RV will have a bench--usually they have two captains chairs, and then a third seat behind. If you're picking up in Vancouver, I can check it out beforehand so you know what to expect, and can probably get an appropriate restraint installed in there before you land if need be.

-Nicole.

German authorized booster seat ok for holiday in Canada?

BrittaGermany

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