Convincing my neighbor

First I have to say that my neighbor is always worried about what people think. She is the most anxious parent I have ever met.

When her son was 5 I convinced her to research booster seats before she just ran out and bought a no back booster. She got a an evenflo big kid or whatever was $29 at Walmart. It was a good fit for her son at the time. Now her son is 8 years old. I am not sure if the booster seat is on its highest setting, but the tops of his ears are over the headrest of the booster seat now.
We aren't really close neighbors but are friendly. I know they don't have finances to buy a new a seat of any kind. I have several no back booster seats or a monterey I would be willing to loan to her. But I have a few problems.

They drive a crown victoria that was a police car. The reason I know her son is above the headrest is that in school drop off I can see his ears above the booster seat which rises above the headrest of the car. So I am afraid a no back booster wouldn't work for that vehicle. But maybe it would be good if they had a low back one for the Ford Expedition they have. They have one of the same booster for each car.

She is really set on high back boosters being safer in side impact crashes and I am not sure how to convince her that he would be safer in a no back booster that fits him.

She is very much the kind of person that doesn't take charity at all. She can't afford a taller booster right now. But I don't know how I would convince her that she should take my monterey for her son's safety. I.E. I gave her an open box of Chai tea because I didn't care for it and didn't want it to go to waste and she wouldn't speak to me for months because she was embarrassed that she owed me. Even though I expected nothing back.

The biggest thing is I would need to see the fit of the different boosters I have and I don't know how to convince her about that either. I have a cosco high rise, a harmony literider, and a graco turbo booster I could give to her.

I just don't know how to handle this or if I should even try. If he has to have a high back because of the vehicle or the mother's belief is there a tall cheap booster out there? I can't really afford to buy something else either especially knowing she might refuse it.

What about the harmony lite rider. The 7th street walmart has them for $10 right now.

Have no idea about the rest.

I would first ask if the headrest is up all the way. The evenflo's top belt position is 18 inches, which is not unheard of for a 5 year old to outgrow, but the majority of 5 yos are not that tall. The cosco pronto goes taller, though it requires support behind it. Other than that, I think the vivo may be the next tallest, lowest cost hbb available.

the kiddo is 8 now though right?

I would have no issue putting him in a NBB. I am no tech but seems he would be safer in a properly fitted nbb vs an improperly fitting HBB

Sorry, I missed that he was 8 now. I think a backless would be better than an outgrown hbb.

If she takes the back off the Big Kid, she has a no back already.

Speaking from experience with a Crown Vic, A kid that is tall enough in a no back booster to not have adequate whiplash protection, is tall enough to 5 step in at least the center position.

Thanks I will have to find a way to convince her he is safe. He might 5 step. He is tallest of the 8 year olds in the neighborhood. If I can get her to agree I might check him out.

If that doesn't work, what about offering her a *trade* hers for yours? Then, it's not charity, you're both benefiting. You don't ever have to use it and she doesn't have to know that...You could also offer to sell it to her for a few dollars or some baby sitting, though that gets touchy....

tam