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Backless Booster Seat recommendations
- Thread starter raychie33
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ThreeBeans
New member
For children that age, a backless booster isn't appropriate. They need a full back booster. (Ideally, the four year old would still be in a harness, actually.)
The Graco Turbobooster starts at 40 dollars.
The Graco Turbobooster starts at 40 dollars.
scatterbunny
New member
Previous poster is right: while backless boosters are marketed for children 4+ years old and 40+ pounds, it is safest to keep kids in a harness, or at least a highback booster, as long as possible.
How tall and heavy are the kids?
What vehicle (year, make and model) do you drive?
A backless booster only positions seatbelts so that seatbelt syndrome injuries do not occur. Sometimes a backless doesn't even do a good job of that, if the shoulderbelt is still too high on the child's neck. A highback booster will position belts properly AND provide additional side impact protection that a backless booster won't. A harnessed seat will provide more protection than any booster in dangerous rollover crashes. Also, if the child does not have the maturity to sit properly at all times, a harness is necessary.
Basically, every step up in child restraints is a step down in safety. We don't want to rush it.
Move up to a booster only when harnessed seats don't fit anymore, and keep them in highbacks as long as they fit in a highback. Only move to a backless when you absolutely have to.
How tall and heavy are the kids?
What vehicle (year, make and model) do you drive?
A backless booster only positions seatbelts so that seatbelt syndrome injuries do not occur. Sometimes a backless doesn't even do a good job of that, if the shoulderbelt is still too high on the child's neck. A highback booster will position belts properly AND provide additional side impact protection that a backless booster won't. A harnessed seat will provide more protection than any booster in dangerous rollover crashes. Also, if the child does not have the maturity to sit properly at all times, a harness is necessary.
Basically, every step up in child restraints is a step down in safety. We don't want to rush it.
Move up to a booster only when harnessed seats don't fit anymore, and keep them in highbacks as long as they fit in a highback. Only move to a backless when you absolutely have to.
AdventureMom
Senior Community Member
:yeahthat:
If you decide to go with a harnessed seat, there are a few that will probably still fit your kids and then convert to a booster - Apex 65 ($120) and the new Graco Nautilus ($149). Also, some new ones are slated to arrive on the market such as the Britax Frontier (hopefully later this year sometime).
My 5-yr-old son is still harnessed in his Britax Marathon which he is soon to outgrow. We'll then get one of the other high-weight harness seats after that.
If your kids are self-conscious about being harnessed, then go for the Graco Nautilus. It looks like a booster in its shape, etc, rather than like a "baby" seat.
If you don't go with a harness, at least go for the high-back booster. There are some good ones out there and cool patterns on some. Try the Compass 510 (that's the camouflage one in Jenny's signature above this post), Graco Air Booster, Graco Turbo Booster, Britax Monarch, Britax Parkway, just to name a few...
If you decide to go with a harnessed seat, there are a few that will probably still fit your kids and then convert to a booster - Apex 65 ($120) and the new Graco Nautilus ($149). Also, some new ones are slated to arrive on the market such as the Britax Frontier (hopefully later this year sometime).
My 5-yr-old son is still harnessed in his Britax Marathon which he is soon to outgrow. We'll then get one of the other high-weight harness seats after that.
If your kids are self-conscious about being harnessed, then go for the Graco Nautilus. It looks like a booster in its shape, etc, rather than like a "baby" seat.
If you don't go with a harness, at least go for the high-back booster. There are some good ones out there and cool patterns on some. Try the Compass 510 (that's the camouflage one in Jenny's signature above this post), Graco Air Booster, Graco Turbo Booster, Britax Monarch, Britax Parkway, just to name a few...
The 6 year old is 46" and 46 lb. She is in a costco protech and complain that her head hurts and its not comfortable by her neck.
The almost 5 year old (next month) is 44" and 52 pounds. She is in a graco highback-not sure which one. The car is an 07 honda odyssey. I don't want to spend too much but want it to be safe and comfortable.
The almost 5 year old (next month) is 44" and 52 pounds. She is in a graco highback-not sure which one. The car is an 07 honda odyssey. I don't want to spend too much but want it to be safe and comfortable.
Zaiyne
New member
I agree that the Apex 65 ($120) and the new Graco Nautilus ($149) would be great. They both 5pt harness up to 65lb and then become boosters up to 100lbs. The apex must have support behind it. I am not familiar with your car so I don't know what kinda of headrest it has and if it would work in your car. The Nautilus should not be an issue.
The Ody has headrests behind every seat, so not a problem. Her current Protek has that need as well (all Dorel seats do).
Some videos for your enjoyment:
Forward facing harness (on the far side of the car) versus a properly used high back booster.
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seiten/kisitest_2002/videos/test2002/frontcrash/recarostart.mpg
A lateral test (the third view in) of a harnessed seat:
http://www.oeamtc.at/videobox/index...ersitze_bis_18_kg_oder_4_Jahre&movie_kind=swf
A deep winged high back booster like a Parkway:
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_...ideos/test2002/seitencrash/concordliftpro.mpg
A shallow winged high back booster like the Turbobooster:
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seiten/kisitest_2002/videos/test2002/seitencrash/htsbesafe.mpg
And a no back booster:
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_...1/seitencrash/Baby_Sunny_touring_P3_vorne.mpg
I definitely agree that the five year old should be in a harness. The Nautilus is back online on Walmart's site, you can have it shipped site to store. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8112222) The Apex is on sale at Albeebaby.com for $80 (http://www.albeebaby.com/sa1stsibiboc.html). Both of those have 65 pound harness limits and 100 pound booster limits. The Apex will require head support behind it, which you can provide. The Apex has 17.5" top slots and turns into a high back booster. The Nautilus has 19" top slots and turns into both a high back and then a low back booster. Both have six year lifespans, so your five year old probably won't need anything after either of those.
Wendy
Some videos for your enjoyment:
Forward facing harness (on the far side of the car) versus a properly used high back booster.
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seiten/kisitest_2002/videos/test2002/frontcrash/recarostart.mpg
A lateral test (the third view in) of a harnessed seat:
http://www.oeamtc.at/videobox/index...ersitze_bis_18_kg_oder_4_Jahre&movie_kind=swf
A deep winged high back booster like a Parkway:
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_...ideos/test2002/seitencrash/concordliftpro.mpg
A shallow winged high back booster like the Turbobooster:
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seiten/kisitest_2002/videos/test2002/seitencrash/htsbesafe.mpg
And a no back booster:
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_...1/seitencrash/Baby_Sunny_touring_P3_vorne.mpg
I definitely agree that the five year old should be in a harness. The Nautilus is back online on Walmart's site, you can have it shipped site to store. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8112222) The Apex is on sale at Albeebaby.com for $80 (http://www.albeebaby.com/sa1stsibiboc.html). Both of those have 65 pound harness limits and 100 pound booster limits. The Apex will require head support behind it, which you can provide. The Apex has 17.5" top slots and turns into a high back booster. The Nautilus has 19" top slots and turns into both a high back and then a low back booster. Both have six year lifespans, so your five year old probably won't need anything after either of those.
Wendy
For both would be awesome.
Personally I'd go with the Nautilus. It feels sturdier, the top slots are higher, and you get more versatility out of it since it has three modes of use rather than just two.
And it has a GREAT cupholder. LOL
Wendy
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