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Keep kids harnessed as long as possible
Although we do not yet have comprehensive enough data to confirm how much safer it is to keep kids harnessed, it just makes sense. Afterall, it has been a standard safety measure for grown adults in the racing industry, for pilots, astronauts, etc. People can and have been killed or severely injured in crashes at just 12 MPH. If a child still fits a harness seat according to the manufacturer's recommendations, then that child should not yet switch to a booster. A booster is only safer than a harness if the harness cannot be used correctly and then only if the booster will be used correctly. (If a child no longer fits a combination seat's harness limits, then he/she must use it as a booster at least until you have a more appropriate harness)
Crash test comparisons ... frontal impact: harnessed vs. booster | side impact: harnessed vs. booster
Remember that every "graduation" in seat type is actually a demotion in safety. If a child in a booster still finds that the shoulder belt crosses the neck/face rather than lying flat on the collar bone, then this child needs a high weight harness seat. If a child cannot or will not use a booster correctly for the entire length of every ride, then that child needs a high weight harness seat.
- Advantages to Extended Harnessing:
- Limits head excursion (forward movement) during a crash
- Spreads crash forces out over a broader area of the body at all of its strongest points
- Keeps kids properly positioned much more reliably
- Helps prevent backseat bickering between siblings (thus reducing driver distraction)
Videos
- IS YOUR CHILD READY FOR A BOOSTER
- Does your child meet the weight, height and age requirements?
- Can your child remain properly positioned for the entire length of every ride, never leaning out of the shoulder belt?
- Will your child leave the seatbelt properly positioned flat across the collar bone and hips/thighs?
- If you're not sure about your child's maturity abilities and/or your child still fits a harness, then keep him or her in the harness.
- If your child has outgrown his or her current forward-facing harness, but is not mature enough to use a booster properly, there are various alternatives listed in the following websites....
Don't you want to keep your young child harnessed at least until their skeletal structure is developed? Remember: bones do not finish developing until puberty! Brain scan imagery reveals that kids do not begin to develop the synapses associated with the attention span necessary for correct booster use until about 5 years old.... It's just not worth the risk to diminish your young child's chance of survivial by switching to a booster prematurely when there are options out there that will reduce the risk of injury by staying harnessed until kiddo meets both physical & maturity requirements for a booster.
- CPSafety: Options for kids over 40 pounds
- Extended Harnessing Photo Album
- Extended Harnessing Brochure: Page 1 + Page 2
- Families In Need
WITHOUT ADEQUATE HEAD PROTECTION
WITH OPTIMAL HEAD PROTECTION
Although these are German crash tests with German booster seats, the laws of physics do not change -- if the booster does not contain the child's head the child will suffer severe/fatal injuries.
(more support for highback booster seats)
See if her lawyer will help her get a court order...
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