Backless boosters with no vehicle headrest?

Irishmama · Apr 23, 2011

I need help explaining why it isn't safe to put a child in a backless booster without a vehicle headrest/support to the tops of the ears. The vehicle in question in a 1997 Ford Escort wagon. We were talking about our 7 year old, but I'd also like to be able to explain why it isn't safe even for adults. I tried to explain about the potential neck injuries, but he didn't believe me. Sigh.

Also, is it possible to add headrests to the rear seating positions? I looked all over the internet for hours, but I couldn't find a definite answer.

I wanted to smack DH! He rolled his eyes and said if I said no way he wouldn't do it, but he thought it was stupid and would do it if I hadn't said no. He said that manufacturers only put that restriction on backless boosters to get people to buy another seat.

I won't even get into the discussion about keeping kids in boosters past age 8if they don't fit the vehicle seat belt properly without one...

wendytthomas · Apr 23, 2011

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt4POerhyrA"]YouTube - Rear crash test[/ame]

Does that help?

Wendy

agave · Apr 23, 2011

I can tell you that when I was 14 we where rear ended I got whiplash and 21 yrs later I still have some neck pain. My younger brother wasn't hurt at all because he had head support. We just had lap belts.

Irishmama · Apr 23, 2011

Thanks guys, I'll share that with him when he's in a receptive mood.

What can be done about a seat with no rear headrests? Can they be retrofitted, like TAs?

wendytthomas · Apr 23, 2011

You can call Ford. I think some can, but I don't know.

If you don't have headrests you get a Frontier at some point, use it as long as possible, then move to the front seat. The car is a two seater, plus however many Frontiers you can put in the back.

Wendy

Irishmama · Apr 23, 2011

Thanks Wendy! I'll give Ford a call and see what they say. I've been wondering about this for awhile, but it just recently came up with DH.

Currently I can fit two OS Parkways and a MA back there, so I'm good for awhile. I *think* we'll make it for awhile yet with the PW, and I think by the time they outgrow them, we'll be needing a newer car anyways. It's DH work car, so they aren't in it often, and he puts a ton of miles on it each week, so it won't be around forever. If not, I know I can get two Frontiers back there. I'll make sure our next car has rear headrests though!

I just needed to tell DH something better than "Cuz I said so!"

Victorious4 · Apr 23, 2011

Men in their 30s have gotten internal decapitation (not just FF toddlers) from not adjusting the front headrests up to eye level ... I've met some of these men. Highback boosters have nothing to do with spending more $, it's all about whether the vehicle has headrests or not. I'm sorry your husband is being difficult about accepting this fact

I have a 2006 Ford Taurus without rear headrests that my skinny 9 yr old cannot use a backless booster in. She's currently in the Clek Oobr highback on the second-to-last setting. I'll be calling Ford soon to ask about retrofitting headrests but I think I remember from another tech that it cannot be done :thumbsdown: I'm really not looking forward to choosing between the front seat or no head support in the back when we commute 2 hrs back-n-forth to our hometown or on the thruway to visit family or even the regular daily trips on the highway just to get to the area homeschool activities, sigh....

Sent from my iPhone using Car-Seat.Org ~ please disregard typos!

Irishmama · Apr 23, 2011

papooses said:
Men in their 30s have gotten internal decapitation (not just FF toddlers) from not adjusting the front headrests up to eye level ... I've met some of these men. Highback boosters have nothing to do with spending more $, it's all about whether the vehicle has headrests or not. I'm sorry your husband is being difficult about accepting this fact

I have a 2006 Ford Taurus without rear headrests that my skinny 9 yr old cannot use a backless booster in. She's currently in the Clek Oobr highback on the second-to-last setting. I'll be calling Ford soon to ask about retrofitting headrests but I think I remember from another tech that it cannot be done :thumbsdown: I'm really not looking forward to choosing between the front seat or no head support in the back when we commute 2 hrs back-n-forth to our hometown or on the thruway to visit family or even the regular daily trips on the highway just to get to the area homeschool activities, sigh....

Sent from my iPhone using Car-Seat.Org ~ please disregard typos!

Thanks, I think that will help also. He is usually good about car safety stuff, he was just having one of his moments.

If there's good sound evidence for something, he has no problem with it. And the fact that we came inches from being rear-ended by a semi today may have helped a little.

I am hoping I won't have to make any decisions about what to do when they outgrow the boosters. The older two are average height but short torsoed so I think the car will needing to be replaced by the time that happens. I'm keeping my fingers crossed anyways.

I'll call Ford and check when I get a chance. With my dad in the hospital, it's kinda on the back burner. But I can update this when I do talk to them and see what they say.

Backless boosters with no vehicle headrest?

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