What to do? no lap/shoulder belts in old car.

no lap/shoulder belts in old car.*new question on apex*

Okay, I'm trying to help someone with her car seat issue. She has an old, 1986 chevy caprice, i believe she said, car, with 2 lap shoulder belts in the front seat, and 3 lap only belts in the back seat, no headrests. (obviously no LATCH, lol!) Getting shoulder belts retrofitted is not in any way an option, it would cost more than the car is worth and this mom has no money anyway.
Right now, she is riding with her 7 yr old in a booster seat in the front passenger seat, and her 5 year old twins in the back in their harnessed seats that go to 40 pounds (although both kids are OVER 40 pounds now!)
She didn't know what to do, she has very little money to work with, and I want to make sure i give her the best advice possible.

I know she can not put the 5 yr olds in boosters in lap belts. But she also doesn't really have the money to buy HWH seats. So, the only option left is to just put them in the lap belts alone, right? I mean, it sucks, but that is the only legal option, right? (Our state does require booster use to age 8, but there is a clause for when there are no lap/shoulder belts available) What about one of those vests? Would any work in her situation? We barely touched on them in tech training, and I've never seen or used one IRL, so I'm not very knowledgable about them.

I do no have weights or heights for her kids, just ages and the fact that the 5 yr olds weigh more than 40 pounds.
I'll try to get more info from her, but I'm trying to figure out eralistically what the options are. New vehicle is, unfortunately, not an option.
what are the lowest-cost options here? anything other than just put the kids in the lap belts?

How much is very little to work with? IMO, lapbelts are never an acceptable option.

She can get two Safety 1st Biltmores (Apex65 clone) for $160 shipped.

crunchierthanthou said:

How much is very little to work with? IMO, lapbelts are never an acceptable option.

She can get two Safety 1st Biltmores (Apex65 clone) for $160 shipped.

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I sugeested that then felt like an idiot for getting her hopes up...like i said, no headrests, just a low, shelf style backseat, their heads would have nothing behind them. The next cheapest seat that would possibly fit would be a radian, right? $160 was like...a dim possibility, but $400 just isn't. It's so frustrating not being able to give her any better, realistic options......

Is her Caprice the wagon or the sedan version? If it's the sedan, it should be realtively easy to install EZ On's heavy duty tether anchors in the filler panel (aka package shelf). In a wagon, it still may be possible, but it won't be as easy. And if there's a place to install a tether anchor, the 86Y and a booster would work. Someone posted a while back about ordering a 86Y for a little over $50. Would two of those and two on-sale Big Kids or Turbos be affordable? Then they'd be set for at least as long as they'll fit in the boosters. Ideally, she could get a 3rd 86Y & booster so she can keep the 7yo out of the front seat, but if 2 would be a stretch, 3 is probably out of the question, huh?

Another option might be to find a Britax Laptop from a trustworthy source. I know a lot of Safe Kids groups snapped them up when they were discontinued and some still have a few left. It might bw worth calling around to local SK coaltions to see if they can help.

nisi said:

Another option might be to find a Britax Laptop from a trustworthy source. I know a lot of Safe Kids groups snapped them up when they were discontinued and some still have a few left. It might bw worth calling around to local SK coaltions to see if they can help.

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Aren't they all going to be close to expiring? Still, if she could get a year of use out of them, maybe her situation would change for the better in that time.

-Sarah

bobandjess99 said:

I sugeested that then felt like an idiot for getting her hopes up...like i said, no headrests, just a low, shelf style backseat, their heads would have nothing behind them. The next cheapest seat that would possibly fit would be a radian, right? $160 was like...a dim possibility, but $400 just isn't. It's so frustrating not being able to give her any better, realistic options......

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low backseat, too? that's a bummer. I was thinking those big older cars had higher seat backs and they would work for a little while longer with 5 yos.

Can you put her in touch with the Kyle David Miller Foundation? They might be able to help her get 2 Radians or Regents for the 5yr olds.

As for the Apex as long as the physical seat back is tall enough the Apex could still be a good option. I know back in the late '80 they didn't do a lot of headrest but built the seatbacks high enough to protect the back of the head.

Wow. I'm no help, just wanted to say :thumbsup: for trying to help. I never pictured being a tech like this. Mom is informed on best practice and can't afford it. That just makes me feel terrible. At least this scenario is rare, right? I feel bad for the mother and you as a tech must feel awful watching them drive away.

Wait! Wouldn't she be a perfect candidate for the Kyle David Miller foundation? I hope so!
(Hee, hee I was reading your mind jenny!)

Unforunately these are not good options as there is no head rest. I have a similar issue with one of my cars and am going to 86Y harness and a booster. It really sounds like she could use two Regents. What about that organization tha thelps people get specialized seats that harness to a higher weight? Lap only, no head support and no tether is the pits. I really wished there were more options available. Anna

crunchierthanthou said:

How much is very little to work with? IMO, lapbelts are never an acceptable option.

She can get two Safety 1st Biltmores (Apex65 clone) for $160 shipped.

Click to expand...

ok thanks. I looked and looked, and couldn't find the vest for under $107?? I couldn't find it for $50ish anywhere.... I'll actually go in with a measure, if she'll let me, and see exactly how much room would be left height-wise to see is an Apex would be totally useless or not.
Can someone please remind me , is it the midpoint of the back of the head, or the top of the ears, or the entire head, or what that has to has car seat behind it?
Thanks!