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My almost 2 year old is getting a wheelchair soon, with a full harness system. My mom has a wheelchair accesible vehicle, and feels that we could use her van and just leave him in his chair during transportation. While I know his seat passes all standards, I am not sure how safe this truly is.
My view is We have a car seat and the ability to transport all kids in proper seats in her van, albiet very tight and the oldest would have to sit in a lap only middle belt (the younger 2 car seats do not puzzle next to each other). however because the van in a wheelchair accessible van, my oldest does not pass the 5 step (heck I don't in the back seat, because the floor is lowered) but we can't fit a booster and there are no headrests so boostering him would put him WAY too high... plus no shoulder belt. BUT I don't know if its safe or legal to tranport the youngest in a wheelchair due to his age. He has excellent torso control, thats not the issue. We know at times moving him is painful for him as well, but I want him safe regardless.
My moms view is she has a accesible van, and by transporting the youngest in the chair, my oldest could ride outboard in a shoulder belt seat. He would still not be able to be boostered due to no headrest (and no high back boosters tall enough that we've found). She has been trained in properly securing a wheelchair in a vehicle, and has extensive experience with this. But the question of safety and legality still remains.
We are in California.
I just don't know, I really didn't want to face this and have avoided facing it. But now that it looks like he's getting a chair, I have to at least face it and find out if its even an option and if so what would be best for him.
My view is We have a car seat and the ability to transport all kids in proper seats in her van, albiet very tight and the oldest would have to sit in a lap only middle belt (the younger 2 car seats do not puzzle next to each other). however because the van in a wheelchair accessible van, my oldest does not pass the 5 step (heck I don't in the back seat, because the floor is lowered) but we can't fit a booster and there are no headrests so boostering him would put him WAY too high... plus no shoulder belt. BUT I don't know if its safe or legal to tranport the youngest in a wheelchair due to his age. He has excellent torso control, thats not the issue. We know at times moving him is painful for him as well, but I want him safe regardless.
My moms view is she has a accesible van, and by transporting the youngest in the chair, my oldest could ride outboard in a shoulder belt seat. He would still not be able to be boostered due to no headrest (and no high back boosters tall enough that we've found). She has been trained in properly securing a wheelchair in a vehicle, and has extensive experience with this. But the question of safety and legality still remains.
We are in California.
I just don't know, I really didn't want to face this and have avoided facing it. But now that it looks like he's getting a chair, I have to at least face it and find out if its even an option and if so what would be best for him.