how would you respond to this?

a_js

New member
I received an email from an acquaintance asking if we still had our convertible Wizard seat for DS. She wanted to buy it if we did (we don't) as her ds has outgrown his seat. I forget what it is, but it's an Evenflo that only goes to 40 pounds. He just turned 3. Anyway long story short I told her (briefly!) about our Nautilus and how harnessing is safer. She wrote back and said she isn't worried about it because they have a brand new car with side airbags and all these safety features, and she doesn't get why people are so hung up on which carseat they use (I guess her pediatrician's office gave her a lecture), because if you don't drive a safe car you're screwed anyway. So she's putting him in a booster. They're cheaper. :thumbsdown:

While I see the point that it would be nice if we could all have brand new cars with the latest safety features, buying one isn't in most people's budget, but a good carseat, by comparison, is. Am I wrong here? I also confess to now feeling slightly guilty that we don't have side airbags :(
 
ADS

Qarin

New member
A "safe car" means nothing, absolutely nothing, if a person in it is not restrained. The safety features of a car are designd to work with, not instead of, proper restraint. So that just-turned-3 year old in the ill-fitting, ill-used booster is not safe- the front windshield is still made out of glass.
 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob
Staff member
Also, many of those safety features-- not the ones designed to prevent a crash, but the ones designed to mitigate its damage-- do nothing or little more than nothing for a child restraint-aged and sized child. For instance, side airbags? Really do nothing much for a child in a child restraint, and may injure a child not in a child restraint. Dynamic head restraint? Great for adults. Means nothing for a small child whose head won't be at that height. Something else to mention.

As I mentioned, some features (electronic stability control, for example) are designed to help prevent a crash. But the designers work on mitigating damage and optimizing protection for ADULT PASSENGERS. One need only read the vehicle manual to find that all manufacturers advocate using proper child restraints as long as needed-- because they know their cars aren't designed to do much for those passengers too small for adult restraints.
 

mylittlet

Senior Community Member
Also, if you don't have the safest car, we don't and never will, I want my kids in some of the most protected seats. What about sending the booster vs 5-point video? Bella's story video?
 

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