I worked a check event yesterday. A family came in with 3 kids: < 1, 2.5 and 7. They have a 4 dr sedan and it was complicated - 3 across, lap belt only, etc. etc. The car had been in a crash so the seat for 2.5 needed to be replaced. Our only choices were: Scenera or Chase. Boy was 35 lbs, so decided to go for Chase so they could switch to booster mode.
Anyway, 7 yr old was on the smallish side and DEFINITELY needs to be in a booster and he was NOT happy about that concept. Pout, pout. "NO! They're for babies. They'll make fun of me." Did not buy the, "it's safer for you," discussion.
Enter me: "I think I saw an orange one - want to go check it out? "What do you think?" [Burnt orange Turbo] Cool. "Want to help put it together?" Definitely. Then he discovers the cup holders. . . He's starting to do a happy dance.
Now the hard part - buckling a booster next to a rear facing IO. He is successful with a bit of help, but states, "I want it up here." (indicating he wants the lap belt to fit higher - on the abdomen)
Oh, no you don't!! This is what a booster is for - so the seat belt ISN'T there. Know why? I'll show you. Boy climbs out and I have him buckle up w/o booster. I remind him of the prior discourse on the seat belt "hurting your insides." I give the shoulder belt a short/quick jerk. "OWWWW!" He looks up with a startled expression. Yeah! You're right, it does hurt and that's with me doing only a gentle tug - moving the seatbelt "this much" (indicating an inch or so of belt). In a crash, the seatbelt will pull MUCH harder (indicating several inches) because you'll fly forward in a crash (like the crash dummies).
