Question What boosters and vehicles do not allow the seat belt to be locked for the booster mode?

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ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob
Staff member
Toyota. I know there are others- Recaro??- but that comes first to mind.

There's a good CPSPList discussion on this, that led me to stop locking my own belt. Basically the torso needs to rotate forward a little to prevent submarining and even with boosters the lab doing the testing found submarining when a locked belt prevented that.

I no longer recommend it EVER unless for very short term booster training or emergency needs. Harmony recommends it to prevent strangulation but if the child can't refrain from playing with the belt my recommendation is a HWH because the child isn't ready, not locking the belt.
 

mykidsmylife

Well-known member
I teach parents often, to lock the belt with new booster riders to teach them to stay in place. Keep in mind, I give out program seats so sometimes I have to put a young 4 yr old in a booster.
I have never read or heard this before today. I know that the ProBoosters says not to lock the belt but why?
 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob
Staff member
Submarining.

In a program seat situation I'd consider it a tough choice, educate the parent, make them decide, and document it.
 

EmmaCPST

CPST Instructor
I was just reading a Vivo manual a few minutes ago and it said not to lock the belt.

Conversely, Harmony manuals always recommend TO lock the belt.
 

joolsplus3

Admin - CPS Technician
I was just reading a Vivo manual a few minutes ago and it said not to lock the belt.

Conversely, Harmony manuals always recommend TO lock the belt.

Maybe Harmony doesn't feel there's a concern when there are belt guides (armrests) to prevent submarining? Just theorizing....
 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob
Staff member
Harmony states it's to avoid the risk of entanglement strangulation. In their minds I guess that weighs heavier than whatever increased risk is there of malfunction.

In my equation, when there's a choice of seats available, a child who's an entanglement risk is unready for a booster.
 

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