Help me understand backless booster safety...

diaperjoys

New member
Years ago when I was on this board it was often said that each "step up" in car seats (rf to ff, harness to hbb, hbb to lbb) was a substantial "step down" in safety. That stuck with me, and now, as we're getting ready for a month long trip, I have the creeps about letting my boys use backless boosters - but logistically, I don't see how to get the backs of three high back boosters into our luggage.

Anyway, please do educate me - are backless boosters still considered substantially less safe than a high back? The easiest thing would be to outfit the boys with LiteRiders, but I'm not sure that is a wise/safe decision.

Our boys will be newly 9yo, almost 8yo, and 6.5yo at the time of our trip, and they all use high back boosters here at home. We're flying across the states, then hanging out at the grandparents for nearly a month. The vehicle we'll be using there is an '01 Odyssey, if that makes any difference - no high tech side air bags.

Thanks!
 
ADS

carseatcoach

Carseat Crankypants
There are conflicting studies out of CHOP (I think): the newer study shows that there is no safety difference between backless and high back boosters. I have concerns about that study design in that they didn't differentiate between dedicated boosters and the many questionable combination seats used as boosters. I can certainly believe that a Harmony Literider is "safer" than an Alpha Omega in booster mode, but have a harder time wrapping my mind around the idea that a Vivo (for instance) does not provide any advantage over that Literider.

Blabbering aside, I would have absolutely no qualms about physically and developmentally typical 8/9yos in backless boosters, and would probably be fine with a well-behaved 6yo in one as well.
 

Lemonade

New member
My tech class, which was a month ago, was taught by some CHOP staff. They did tell us that HBBs provided more protection. When looking at the crash videos I was stunned at how much the booster, LBB or HBB, did. For an average sized 8/9 year old I would definitely think a LBB would be fine. And probably the 6 yr old too. I have a very small 6 yr old so my point of reference is just off for that age group. Another packable option in a ride safer travel vest - not sure if that would be something to consider. Packs even smaller than a LBB.
 

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