What's the big deal with LATCHable boosters?

BabyKaykes

New member

• Mar 22, 2008

• #1

There's been a lot of talk lately about LATCHable boosters and the Monterey, Nautilus, Frontier seats. What's the big deal?

Seatbelts were made for your average sized man, right? Who weighs what, 180-200lb? So what's the big deal with a 60-70lb kid in a 25lb seat? If the seat was tested as a booster and passed, what's the problem with it not LATCHing in booster mode? As long as the seatbelt doesn't fail, all should work as planned, correct?

I personally have every intention of using the Nautilus as a booster when the time comes for me to even own one. And I guess I just don't see why a 5-10lb booster would be any better.

 

BookMama

Senior Community Member

• Mar 22, 2008

• #2

Hi there!

There are a couple of things we think are benefits to LATCHable boosters:

- Child does not have the weight of the booster pushing them against the seat belt. Some boosters (the Nautilus, the Monterrey I think, and the upcoming Frontier) are fairly heavy.
- You don't have to remember to buckle it when unoccupied so that it doesn't become a projectile in a crash.
- Some boosters can be tippy or wiggle, making it harder for a kid to buckle up.

I'm sure others will chime in with whatever I missed.

 

Defrost

Moderator - CPSTI Emeritus

• Mar 22, 2008

• #3

The concern is the weight of the booster against the child - that the added weight of the booster is basically "squishing" the child between the booster and the seat belt. There is no evidence that this is harmful or even that the booster adds any force to the child in a wreck, as far as I've heard. It's just a theoretical concern at this point.

The other consideration is that unused boosters are usually left unsecured. They become very dangerous projectiles in a crash. A LATCHed booster doesn't need to be buckled when empty to prevent it from becoming a projectile.

I drive without my kids every night when I go to work. It's a bit of a pain to buckle the boosters; I'd happily pay a bit more for one that would LATCH in so I didn't have to bother with it, or worry about when I forget to buckle them.

 

G

Gypsy

Senior Community Member

• Mar 22, 2008

• #4

In a 25MPH crash, a 25 pound booster weighs 625 pounds.

 

crunchierthanthou

New member

• Mar 22, 2008

• #5

My opinion on this is kind of like buying a seat with a rf tether. I'm a fan. Yes, it might be more expensive, but I feel the benefits are worth it. this is all just my personal theory based on what I've picked up about crash dynamics-

the FMVSS limits boosters to 9 lbs. I'm not sure if that's changed, or if combo seats are exempt or manufacturers are just fudging that. LATCH in booster mode with larger seats is important to me because in order for the seatbelt to fit properly, the child has to be lifted off the seat. This moves them farther from the center of gravity and increases potential for head excursion (yes, even with a properly fitting seatbelt. have you seen the 5pt vs booster crash tests?). I don't want a 20+ lb seat pushing them even farther forward. It might be fine, but I'm not comfortable with it. Maybe as we see more data about them I'll change my stance.

Dave at SSK said that not using the lower anchors doesn't affect frontal impact performance. However, he did mention that it improved side impact performance, and we know that side impact crashes are the more dangerous ones.

 

Morganthe

New member

• Mar 22, 2008

• #6

Defrost said:

The concern is the weight of the booster against the child - that the added weight of the booster is basically "squishing" the child between the booster and the seat belt. There is no evidence that this is harmful or even that the booster adds any force to the child in a wreck, as far as I've heard. It's just a theoretical concern at this point.

Click to expand...

:yeahthat:

Gypsy said:

In a 25MPH crash, a 25 pound booster weighs 625 pounds.

Click to expand...

Exactly my worry.
I'm concerned about the top area of these larger boosters making head excursions actually worse than the typical lightweight 11-12lb booster such as the Parkway. I know you can't use the Lower Anchors for the Booster section of the Nautilus, but do they authorize use of the Top Tether?

The Recaro Start is only a little more heavier the Nautilus and it is required in the US to use the Top Tether. So yep, I can't help but wonder. :shrug-shoulders:

 

BabyKaykes

New member

• Mar 22, 2008

• #7

Gypsy said:

In a 25MPH crash, a 25 pound booster weighs 625 pounds.

Click to expand...

Understood, but in that SAME crash, a 60lb child weighs 1500lbs - MUCH more than the booster. So the child and the booster together are putting 2125lb of force on the seat belt - Still less than a 180lb man...

 

Defrost

Moderator - CPSTI Emeritus

• Mar 22, 2008

• #8

BabyKaykes said:

Understood, but in that SAME crash, a 60lb child weighs 1500lbs - MUCH more than the booster. So the child and the booster together are putting 2125lb of force on the seat belt - Still less than a 180lb man...

Click to expand...

Again, the weight of the booster causing the seat belt to fail is NOT the concern. It's the weight of the booster being applied to the CHILD that is the concern.

We all know the seat belt will more than hold the combined weight of even the heaviest booster and booster-age child. What we don't know is whether having that 625lbs of force slamming the child against the seat belt is an injury risk.

 

crunchierthanthou

New member

• Mar 22, 2008

• #9

yes, but the weight of a 180 lb man is just that- the weight of his body. yes, the seatbelt is going to hold. That's not Gyspy's point. It's that there is extra external force acting on the child. The child is going to move forward in the crash. so is the booster. the seatbelt stops the child... what stops the booster? Like I said, it might be fine. These heavy boosters are relatively new and until we have more data, I'd prefer to see them anchored to the vehicle in some way. :twocents:

 

BabyKaykes

New member

• Mar 22, 2008

• #10

Defrost said:

We all know the seat belt will more than hold the combined weight of even the heaviest booster and booster-age child. What we don't know is whether having that 625lbs of force slamming the child against the seat belt is an injury risk.

Click to expand...

Got it now. I guess I'm just not all that worried about it. Same as the RF tether...

But thanks!

 

keri1292

Well-known member

• Mar 22, 2008

• #11

My personal issue is that my dd only weighs 43lbs at 7.5yo. I don't feel too comfortable with a 25lb booster pushing her tiny body into the seat belt.

 

joolsplus3

Admin - CPS Technician

• Mar 22, 2008

• #12

My big deal is side impacts.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-09/chop-htb090905.php

"The data suggests that development of a restraint system that limits side-to-side motion would be effective in reducing injury during side-impact crashes "

:twocents: