latched HBB - side-impact protection

wagonlover

New member
I recently bought a clek oobr for my Volvo XC70 because I wanted some side-impact protection that the integrated boosters don't provide. It seems to fit in the car adequately, and is very stable with the rigid LATCH. I'm wondering, however, whether latching the HBB somewhat defeats the purpose of side-impact protection. I had DD lean forward in the belt, and she came far forward but obviously the seat and headwings didn't move at all. Thus the side-impact benefit would seem to be in a pure side-impact crash, and less in a crash with a frontal component. It would seem that a non-latched HBB would be free to move forward somewhat in a frontal crash. Part of the practical issue is that she really wants to go back to the integrated booster. The benefit of the integrated booster (or I suppose a NBB) is that she sits against the vehicle seat back rather than being pushed forward by the HBB. In some things I've read, that can be the difference in forward head excursion. I know these issues are debated periodically on this site, and was just wondering about current thoughts. Thank you in advance!
 
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Nedra

Car-Seat.org Ambassador
Just wanted to bump this -- I am curious too!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob
Staff member
Some crash testing has shown additional side impact benefit in a crash of booster with rigid LATCH. Basically the seat being structurally attached transfers more impact force back to the vehicle, and also prevents the child's body moving too far out of the protective cage of the vehicle.

One study showed slightly higher abdominal loads in frontal crashes, but other data shows that heavy boosters load on the child if not LATCH ed causing additional loading on the body and excursion, while heavy boosters with LATCH in use prevent this.

Personally, overall, I'm a fan of rigid LATCH in boosters. But there are a lot of factors to consider.
 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob
Staff member
As far as high back vs backless, the deciding factor for me is sleep support. My kids do not usually do well sleeping in a backless until about 10.
 

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