Cnidaria
New member
I know that the current party line is NOT to switch the retractor and lock the seatbelt for a booster rider. And my understanding is that it increases the risk of submarining.
My son's pediatrician asked about boosters at our recent well-child visit. He said that he recommends locking the belt so that kids don't move around too much. I (hopefully diplomatically) educated him that locking the belt for a booster is not currently recommended, that you want the torso to be able to move forward some before the emergency locking retractor engages. And that if a kid can't sit still in a booster, that they really need to be in a harnessed carseat. He was surprised to hear this and thanked me for the update.
He wonders, though, whether having a locked belt might be the lesser of two evils vs. having a child leaning down to the floor to pick something up. He feels like there are many patients in his practice where he struggles to have kids use a booster after age 8, or use a bike helmet, and that there's no way that he could convince a lot of parents to buy a harnessed seat for a big kid.
I found this, as "official" confirmation of the recommendation not to switch the retractor, and I'll share it with him. http://cpsboard.org/cps/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/TechUpdateSUMMER2014_FINAL.pdf
Thoughts?
My son's pediatrician asked about boosters at our recent well-child visit. He said that he recommends locking the belt so that kids don't move around too much. I (hopefully diplomatically) educated him that locking the belt for a booster is not currently recommended, that you want the torso to be able to move forward some before the emergency locking retractor engages. And that if a kid can't sit still in a booster, that they really need to be in a harnessed carseat. He was surprised to hear this and thanked me for the update.
He wonders, though, whether having a locked belt might be the lesser of two evils vs. having a child leaning down to the floor to pick something up. He feels like there are many patients in his practice where he struggles to have kids use a booster after age 8, or use a bike helmet, and that there's no way that he could convince a lot of parents to buy a harnessed seat for a big kid.
I found this, as "official" confirmation of the recommendation not to switch the retractor, and I'll share it with him. http://cpsboard.org/cps/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/TechUpdateSUMMER2014_FINAL.pdf
Thoughts?