Boosters and LATCH/ISOFIX Anchors

Boosters and LATCH/ISOFIX Anchors

We are just moving our daughter to a belt-positioning, high-back booster. She is almost 5, is 41.5" tall and weighs 37 pounds. I have never liked the booster seats because they seem so unstable with the booster not actually attached car's seat (the seat belt just holds her against the booster and she holds the booster against the car seat. Climbing into the seat usually knocks it to the side. We do use the top anchor). However, Century is now making a LATCH/ISOFIX anchor retrofit kit. It is just a belt that runs through the seatbelt tunnel in the back of a convertable booster with the clips on the end that can hook onto existing LATCH/ISOFIX anchors. We are using this in one car and it is great. The booster is very securely attached and doesn't move at all - just like a normal carseat installation with a seatbelt.

But, our 96 Saturn doesn't have the LATCH/ISOFIX anchors and can't have them installed (numerous emails back and forth to Saturn). So, here are my questions:

- Any other solution for actually having the booster tightly installed? Do you actually want the booster tightly installed? Is the movement of the booster desired (abosrb forces -??)
- Do others worry about this?
- Any thought on the saftey of running the LATCH/ISOFIX thru the booster's tunnel around the back of the car seat (split fold-down seat)and latching the ends together?

Thanks for any help.

LATCH and boosters

1) Boosters are designed to work without being attached. Using the LATCH and tether with a booster probably does not affect the safety much, but only serves to hold the seat in place while getting in/out or in turns. This issue is the subject of much debate. Though Century allows LATCH use with their EZ LATCH kit and combination seats when used as a booster, other manufacturers may not.</P>

2) While it may be a nuisance, I wouldn't worry about it. The seatbelt is the primary safety device for a booster seat, the booster only serves to position the seatbelt before a crash.</P>

3) I would not recommend using the LATCH anchors like this unless Century approved it. While it may or may not affect crash safety, it is probably not tested in this manner and could have unforseen consequences in a crash.</p>


If you don't care for boosters, you may prefer some alternatives for children reaching the 40 pound limit of typical forward facing carseats. The Britax Laptop is a restraint that goes to 65 pounds. The Britax Super Elite is a forward facing seat with a 5-point harness that goes to 80 pounds, but it may be hard to find for a while. The Fisher Price Futura comes in a 5-point harness good to 60 pounds, though it has been recently discontinued and is also scarce. Finally, Simpson Racing will soon release a carseat that goes to 60 pounds in a harness, then to 80 as a booster. It also has LATCH, but it may be a couple weeks (or months) until it ships.