Maturity required for RSTV to be safe?

T

T.O. Twins

New member

• Jul 15, 2010

• #1

Last week we went on a vacation and my just-turned-4 year old twins used the Ride Safer Travel Vests for the first time. We found that 95% of the time the girls were leaning way to the side (to be closer together) or slouching way down (as in, almost lying on the seat). We told them over and over again to sit up straight, but they just wouldn't stay that way. For part of the time (when we were in our own rental car) we used the tethers in addition to the shoulder and lap belt, and that may have helped a bit with the slouching, but they would still lean to the side even when tethered.

Are my kids just not mature enough to wear the vests since they refuse to sit up straight?

Would locking the seat belt be a safe way to fix these problems?

We're about to take another plane-travel trip with a lot of driving involved (3 hrs. between the airport and our hotel and then several hour long rides once we're there). It would be SO much easier to take the vests than our Radians (we'll have to schlep them through the airports, on two planes each way, make them fit in a rental car, and then re-install them when we get back to our car at the airport), however, I'm worried about how safe the vests actually are for my girls given how they act in them.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts or suggestions.

 

M

Maedze

New member

• Jul 15, 2010

• #2

You should use the top-tethers when they are available. They reduce head excursion and cause the seat to act more like a five point harness.

You can also lock the belt to remind them to sit correctly.

The vest is not like a booster. It divides the forces of a crash over the entire upper torso. If they lean slightly to the right or the left the seat will still be safe for them. But do use the tethers

 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob

Staff member

• Jul 15, 2010

• #3

I do NOT recommend locking the belt on the RSTV. Makes it VERY hard to get the kid out.

The shoulder belt should be locked off anyway by proper use of the vest. If they could lean and slouch, it sounds like either the belt was not tight enough before being locked into position, or the vests are too big for them. When I put a child in the RSTV they scootch all the way back on the seat, get buckled, get tightened, and once that belt is locked into place in the shoulder guide, cannot move, because the belts are holding them so firmly in place, they are VERY contained.

The tether reduces head excursion more but it does not cause the vest to act more like a 5 point harness. The vest always functions pretty much the same, as long as it's used properly.

 

Genevieve

CPST Instructor

• Jul 15, 2010

• #4

ketchupqueen said:

The shoulder belt should be locked off anyway by proper use of the vest. If they could lean and slouch, it sounds like either the belt was not tight enough before being locked into position, or the vests are too big for them. When I put a child in the RSTV they scootch all the way back on the seat, get buckled, get tightened, and once that belt is locked into place in the shoulder guide, cannot move, because the belts are holding them so firmly in place, they are VERY contained.

Click to expand...

Do you have an old or new style? I have the new one and the guides are wide enough to allow the belt to slide freely through.

 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob

Staff member

• Jul 15, 2010

• #5

I have an old style. From pictures I've seen though, the guide at the top functions much the same way, does it not? If not, I'll no longer be recommending it for 3 year olds.

Looking over the new-style instructions again, it seems like it should still be possible to get it secure with the new-style guide. You still need to pinch the belt to get it in.

 

T

T.O. Twins

New member

• Jul 15, 2010

• #6

We have the new style one, too. The belt does seem to slide freely through the shoulder guide. The girls were always buckled in sitting properly all scooched back in their seats and then they slid down. There was so much play in the belt that I was imagining they would be knocked pretty far sideways if the event of a side impact collision.

 

M

Maedze

New member

• Jul 15, 2010

• #7

No, the new style allows the belt to move pretty freely.

I do not think it's that big of a deal to lock the belt. We do it and it really isn't that annoying. Yes, you have to rethread it after, but I do that anyway.

 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob

Staff member

• Jul 15, 2010

• #8

Okay, no longer recommending this for children who are 3 then! Every time I've read the manual, I can't see that the belt is supposed to slide freely. If it is, then this is not an appropriate choice for kids who won't sit still in it, I guess. What if you're in a car with locking latch plates instead?

 

M

Maedze

New member

• Jul 15, 2010

• #9

The top tether really restricts movement too.

 

A

Athena

Well-known member

• Jul 15, 2010

• #10

We are planning to use this with our DD next month and I am feeling really nervous now. She will be barely 4 yo. Any thoughts or advice?

 

D

DahliaRW

New member

• Jul 16, 2010

• #11

Really, with the top tether properly tightened they cannot move (slouch wise) in it much at all. ANd leaning to the side a bit doesn't bother me because the vest is such the belt stays properly positioned. So as long as you keep them from slouching, I wouldn't sweat it.

 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob

Staff member

• Jul 16, 2010

• #12

Maedze said:

The top tether really restricts movement too.

Click to expand...

That's true. I'd be more comfortable with a younger child in a new-style IF the top tether was in use AND properly tightened.

 

scoutingbear

New member

• Jul 16, 2010

• #13

Hmmm...reading this makes me think that A will get to pick the color for the new RSTV and C will be getting handed down the old one!

 

M

Maedze

New member

• Jul 16, 2010

• #14

Athena said:

We are planning to use this with our DD next month and I am feeling really nervous now. She will be barely 4 yo. Any thoughts or advice?

Click to expand...

I truly don't think you will have a problem as long as you remember to use the top tether :twocents:

 

A

Athena

Well-known member

• Jul 16, 2010

• #15

Thank you for your responses! I was planning to use the tether.