Confused about boosters

ExcitedMama

New member
My oldest just turned 8 and has been in his Britax Frontier 85 SICT seat for years with the included restraints. It has the option to be a booster with the regular seatbelt. Is it time we switch him? He does sit upright and hasn’t slouched or fallen asleep on road trips in years. At this point is there any big safety advantage to keeping him in the included restraints?

What about taking him out of the high back seat? Is there a big difference in safety in our seat compared to a backless? I’m very confused if there’s still a reason to keep things as is or if it’s time for a change. Thank you!
 
ADS

wendytthomas

Admin - CPST Instructor
Staff member
Hi there.

He's probably quite booster ready. :) Most kids are about six. There's no harm that we know of in leaving him in a properly fitting harness with a tether beyond that, but we also don't know of any benefit.

There are no studies showing a benefit to a high back booster in terms of safety, but there are a few practical benefits. First, he's going from a harnessed seat to just the seatbelt, so he'll need to learn to sit in that, and support his body going around turns and when asleep. Second, the shoulder belt is not going to automatically fit like his harness does, so the belt guide adjusts that for him. Third, just in case he DOES sleep, there is someplace for him to do it comfortably. Or even just rest. I'd leave him in the high back for a couple of years as an adjustment time, then move to a backless for the last couple of years.

Wendy
 

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