Are backless boosters okay?

[stacim]

We have used them in the past and were traded newer ones at a carseat safety check. I am sure they are not the best option, but when it is appropriate to use them? My middle ds still uses one once a month when he rides in my dad's truck. It has very upright seats in the back and nothing else seems to fit very well.

~Staci

 

[LuvBug]

depends on the child's age and size... and also the vehicle it is being used it.

What are the stats?

 

[Gypsy]

Two VERY important things to note.

Children have side impact protection in high back boosters, and none in backless boosters.

Children NEED additional head support in a backless booster -- is there a head rest behind his head in your dad's truck, or just glass?

 

[scatterbunny]

LuvBug and Gypsy asked good questions, and I touched on some of that in your other thread.

IMO child's maturity plays a big factor; a highback booster provides a certain level of confinement similar to a harnessed seat that a backless booster does not. A highback usually positions belts better than a backless for smaller kids. A highback provides side impact protection, so in a vehicle with side airbags and/or good side impact crash scores, a backless might be seen as an acceptable solution. The vehicle must provide head support at least up to the tips of the child's ears for a backless to be an option, however.

 

[stacim]

Thanks for the responses!

DS is 8, 53" and 55#. Dad's truck is a full-size GMC Sierra ext-cab. There are headrests outboard, which is where my boys typically sit. I doubt the truck has side impact protection, so I would need a booster that can fit VERY upright seats to work in his truck.

scatterbunny - Thanks for responding to both posts. I will respond there.

Thanks!
Staci

 

[joolsplus3]

70% decreased head injury with highback boosters... use them as long as you possibly can (pretty big truck though, I wouldn't be totally stressed out..if it were a small 6 year old in a tiny little car, I'd be more adamant, personally).

 

[stacim]

70% decreased head injury with highback boosters... use them as long as you possibly can (pretty big truck though, I wouldn't be totally stressed out..if it were a small 6 year old in a tiny little car, I'd be more adamant, personally).

Does that 70% figure only apply if there are wings for head support?

I do still need to figure out what will fit for dd. He almost never has her in the truck, but does occasionally. I usually just put her seat from our van in, but now that she is in a Parkway, I don't know if that will work. I really think I would like to find a reasonably priced 5-point that could be used in the center position, which only has a lap belt and no headrest. Suggestions?

~Staci

 

[joolsplus3]

Does that 70% figure only apply if there are wings for head support?

I do still need to figure out what will fit for dd. He almost never has her in the truck, but does occasionally. I usually just put her seat from our van in, but now that she is in a Parkway, I don't know if that will work. I really think I would like to find a reasonably priced 5-point that could be used in the center position, which only has a lap belt and no headrest. Suggestions?

~Staci

The 70% is any highback booster...I imagine the number would be higher if it were all SIP boosters (Compass B510/Recaro/Britax/Jane'/Maxi Cosi are all tested for SIP, and the crash tests I've seen where they really contain the head in a side crash can be impressive).
The Radian might work in that position...?

 

[MomToEliEm]

Here is a link to some of the crash tests of different booster types.

Video of High Back Booster with deap side wings:
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_...ideos/test2002/seitencrash/concordliftpro.mpg

Video of high back booster with shallow side wings
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seiten/kisitest_2002/videos/test2002/seitencrash/htsbesafe.mpg

Video of a no back booster
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_...1/seitencrash/Baby_Sunny_touring_P3_vorne.mpg

 

[stacim]

The 70% is any highback booster...I imagine the number would be higher if it were all SIP boosters (Compass B510/Recaro/Britax/Jane'/Maxi Cosi are all tested for SIP, and the crash tests I've seen where they really contain the head in a side crash can be impressive).
The Radian might work in that position...?

Thanks! I think I may need to do a carseat shuffle. Maybe I can move on of our Parkways to mom's car (if it fits well) and get dd a Radian. I would rather she be in a 5-point in our van anyway. Oh, the choices are making my head spin. :dizzy:

 

[stacim]

Here is a link to some of the crash tests of different booster types.

Video of High Back Booster with deap side wings:
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_...ideos/test2002/seitencrash/concordliftpro.mpg

Video of high back booster with shallow side wings
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seiten/kisitest_2002/videos/test2002/seitencrash/htsbesafe.mpg

Video of a no back booster
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_...1/seitencrash/Baby_Sunny_touring_P3_vorne.mpg

Thanks for the links! I just looked at those last night in someone else's thread. I am totally not opposed to a high back, but I have to find one that will work in the awkward/uncomfortable back seat.

~Staci

 

[joolsplus3]

LOL, I know! We all come here thinking we are doing everything at least pretty well, and realize we need half a dozen seats to really cover every possible scenario in the safest way

 

[scatterbunny]

Hayley rides in a 94 Ford F150 single cab with her dad, in a Compass B510. I think it fits those upright seats very well.

 

[stacim]

Hayley rides in a 94 Ford F150 single cab with her dad, in a Compass B510. I think it fits those upright seats very well.

Thanks, I'll take a look at those as well. :thumbsup: