Booster vs. 5 pt untethered

melniemi

New member
Is it safer to have a 7 year old 50# kid in a booster or a 5 point harness untethered? I am wondering if a seatbelt would have less head excursion than the 5 point by how it lays across the body?? I don't know - maybe I don't make any sense!
Thanks.
 
ADS

thepeach80

Senior Community Member
I would say harness, but untethered. They will both have the same amount of head excursion probably, the booster may actually have more, but w/ the harness it will help spread the forces out across more of the body instead of localizing it in 3 spots.
 

melniemi

New member
Radian is a no-go in my vehicle. He is currently in a highback booster and not so thrilled about any harnessed seats. But what mom says goes! I lock the seatbelt on many occasions but not every time. He usually sits well and when he doesn't, the reminder of 'buckles' works quite well! I just don't want him to be out of position 'at that one moment' when he needs to be sitting right - like when a deer jumps out in front of the car!
Thanks!
 

joolsplus3

Admin - CPS Technician
Then just splurge on a fancy new booster...like the Monterey when it comes out in February? :love:
 

melniemi

New member
Tempting....very tempting! And I might just do that:D Although I don't have latch where he sits to use that feature. It would last about forever tho considering it becomes backless when he finally grows!
 

mommyto4

New member
Just a quick question. Can the Monterey be used without LATCH or does it have to use LATCH? I'm wondering because we have one car with lower anchors and on without. Can the Monterey be used in both cars? TIA.
 

thepeach80

Senior Community Member
I'm voting boostered. Or Radian, if said kiddo still fits in it. There's no evidence that I can see that the 6 yo dummy has lower head excursion in harnessed seats here than boosters http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/comply/fmvss213/213_2006.PDF

Now that I'm thinking more, it would come down to (I'm guessing) what seats we're comparing. An untethered Regent is probably going to have higher head excursion b/c of the sheer weight of it pushing on the child. I wasn't paying attention to the age when I replied, so this would probably be one of the only seats out there the child could fit in. It does have higher #s than the Parkway for instance. I'll have to keep this link, as this is something we may encounter later down the way.
 

snowbird25ca

Moderator - CPST Instructor
Just a quick question. Can the Monterey be used without LATCH or does it have to use LATCH? I'm wondering because we have one car with lower anchors and on without. Can the Monterey be used in both cars? TIA.

I know the Clek (a backless booster that can be LATCHed in,) can be used in vehicles without LATCH, so I'm guessing the monterey will also be able to be used with just the seatbelt. Otherwise they're really limiting their market since not everybody has newer vehicles and LATCH has only been around for 5 going on 6yrs now.
 

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