Kangaroo booster car seat

[family5oregon]

I am looking to purchase 2 Kangaroo booster car seats. The lady says they DO NOT expire. I've tried to find information on the web and go directly to Downunder, Inc., no luck.:dizzy: PLEASE help me with this. I know Recaro car seats do not expire and Fisher Price seats have a 7 year life span. (info from a car seat tech friend. She's not available for me to ask at this time)

 

[wendytthomas]

Most Recaro seats expire at six years. I think there's one or two that don't (I think their steel enforced boosters don't, but I'm not positive).

Old Fisher Price seats (made until 2001) had an eight year lifespan. So there are still some that are good until next year. New Fisher Price seats have a six year lifespan.

Kangaroo seats, I don't know about those. I've only heard them mentioned once or twice.

Evenflo Right Fit is a booster that doesn't have an expiration date on it at all.

How big and old are the kids who will be sitting in the boosters?

Wendy

 

[family5oregon]

He's 43# and 44" His torso allows him to fit in the Graco CarGo, Century's.

To be completely honest, I LOVE to try different car seats (when budget allows) We have a Husky for road trips, Graco Booster for spare (used as a backup), Parkway used in our 93 Escort. I've had him in a Marathon, loved that seat except he wanted to put himself in the seat and the Marathon was too high in the van and the car he hit his head on the car roof. (Gave it up when we picked up the Husky)

On a different note, can I put BK in a backless booster in our van (no headrest) and our truck (no headrest, but back seat had the window right behind the seat. Could that count as a headrest?)

Thanks, Marilyn

 

[jen_nah]

If I remember correctly the Kangaroo does have an experation date as the foam does start to break down over time. Also the Kangaroo booster really isn't all that great of booster as it has no comfort belt guides. Most children esp ones with shorter torsos the shoulder part of the belt ends up rubbing them across there neck due to the no belt guides.

Also you never want to buy a 2nd hand seat. You don't know the history of the seat. Sure this seller could tell you it's never been in a wreck but you are trusting a stranger with your children's life. Not sure what you are paying for these booster but there are other budget friendly alternitives out there.

If you can give us some more information on your children (age/weight/height) we might be able to give you some ideas.

 

[Cedarmom]

I have also heard that the seat 'does not expire'. We had one come into one of my very first checks last summer and the techs couldn't ask for the seat b/c it had no expiration. It does appear to have been under recall or 'consumer advisory' (depending on the year), though.

HOWEVER, I would not put my child in one. They did not actually position the belt correctly on the child. They boosted the kid up and if the shoulder belt happened to hit the child correctly, great. If not, you are out of luck.

I have done a bit of searching and I can't find anything about any of the seats being made after 1998. I know there is no plastic involved (why they don't 'expire') but they are made of foam. Foam tends to break down over time.

Does the person you are looking to buy them from know when they were manufactured? The company appears to have gone out of business.

Honestly? I would put my child in a new backless booster before I put him in a kangaroo. :thumbsdown: I think they were probably a great product in 1997 when very few people put children in booster seats but there are much, much better products out there now. :twocents:

 

[wendytthomas]

He's 43# and 44" His torso allows him to fit in the Graco CarGo, Century's.

To be completely honest, I LOVE to try different car seats (when budget allows) We have a Husky for road trips, Graco Booster for spare (used as a backup), Parkway used in our 93 Escort. I've had him in a Marathon, loved that seat except he wanted to put himself in the seat and the Marathon was too high in the van and the car he hit his head on the car roof. (Gave it up when we picked up the Husky)

On a different note, can I put BK in a backless booster in our van (no headrest) and our truck (no headrest, but back seat had the window right behind the seat. Could that count as a headrest?)

Thanks, Marilyn

How old is he?

Without headrests you need a high back booster. Otherwise there's a risk of whiplash. Same with any seating position, actually. Any person in your car needs support behind their heads to the tips of their ears.

As for the glass.... it will probably prevent whiplash.... *I* wouldn't use it. His head is likely to go through the glass, or get a concussion hitting it. If you wouldn't slam his head back against it with a hard shove then you definitely don't want him hitting it in a collision. So no, he needs support behind him in that position.

Wendy

 

[family5oregon]

Bk is 43# and 44" and 4 yr 9mo.

He sleeps a lot in our vehicles, so a fullback car seat is a must. I agree on using headrest is the safest to prevent sever wiplash. I was just asking about backless in our vehicle to cover that base.

I do have a Evenflo 'Right Fit' booster I just picked up for our little car, just incase we have to put 5 in the car that has built in head support. (unexpected passanger when in town) I also picked up a head support for kids that are over 30#'s. It's by Basic Comport called Ride 'n Snooze. It attaches to the headrest and will help keep the childs head from tiping over and kinking. I haven't used it yet, have our Husky in the car right now.

Ok, I need to stop rambling. My husband loves that I do sooooo much research on different seat, but sometimes he gets tired of me talking to him about it. I tell him, I want to make sure he will be safe.

 

[wendytthomas]

He sleeps a lot in our vehicles, so a fullback car seat is a must. I agree on using headrest is the safest to prevent sever wiplash. I was just asking about backless in our vehicle to cover that base.

I do have a Evenflo 'Right Fit' booster I just picked up for our little car, just incase we have to put 5 in the car that has built in head support. (unexpected passanger when in town) I also picked up a head support for kids that are over 30#'s. It's by Basic Comport called Ride 'n Snooze. It attaches to the headrest and will help keep the childs head from tiping over and kinking. I haven't used it yet, have our Husky in the car right now.

Ok, I need to stop rambling. My husband loves that I do sooooo much research on different seat, but sometimes he gets tired of me talking to him about it. I tell him, I want to make sure he will be safe.

He uses the Husky normally? If he sleeps a lot, given his young age, I'd keep him in the Husky for daily stuff and the boosters as needed. He's still quite on the young side for a booster.

Your husband and my husband could roll their eyes together. Course for me it's other people's carseats. Poor guy doesn't even get to hear about something he'll ever see or people he'll ever meet.

Wendy

 

[joolsplus3]

I thought Kangaroos were all recalled for some belt guide issue? Regardless of expiration or not, I would NOT use one. There are simply way more way safer boosters available now. The Ride N Snooze is also a fairly poor product, it really pulls the belt away from a small child's shoulder. And the Right Fit's great, but highback boosters are much safer. (Wow, these are very old products, I remember shopping around for them in 2001...crazy they are all around at all ). I'd look for a good deal on a Graco Turbo Booster/Step 3... really a cheap and safe and versatile seat.

 

[solmama]

You ds is only a bit bigger than my dd (she's 41lbs, 42"). If you'd like to keep him harnessed in a secondary seat, the Cosco Apex 65 (requires a headrest) or the new Graco Nautilus would be good options. Both seats become boosters after the harnesses are outgrown. I hope this doesn't add to your confusion.

 

[family5oregon]

I thought Kangaroos were all recalled for some belt guide issue? Regardless of expiration or not, I would NOT use one. There are simply way more way safer boosters available now. The Ride N Snooze is also a fairly poor product, it really pulls the belt away from a small child's shoulder. And the Right Fit's great, but highback boosters are much safer. (Wow, these are very old products, I remember shopping around for them in 2001...crazy they are all around at all ). I'd look for a good deal on a Graco Turbo Booster/Step 3... really a cheap and safe and versatile seat.

My husband and I decided against the kangaroos (they were a steel at $10 for both) :thumbsdown: I did do some research and found the seatbelt adjuster straps was poorly places it didn't cause a recall. On #3 models you could call the Co. and they would send you a fix. (Can't do that if they are out of business):thumbsdown:

The Ride 'n Snooze was given to me free and the Right Fit I purchased (for almost free) to go with the R 'n S. We have a 93 Escort that doesn't allow 2 adults and a HB car seat.

We are on a VERY fix income so buying new is out of the question. I would LOVE the new GN, but it would take months for us to save up for it.:crying:

I will briefly explain our situation: Live w/ inlaw (need our daily help, they make too much $ for us to be paid to assist them, plus they don't charge us rent) Sold house 2 yrs ago (money went to bills) Closed business a year this March (kids required too much time away from work and FAMILY is more important, we could always start a new business)16 yr autistic, 15 yr bi-polar, adhd, asburges, angure issues, 4.5 yr no. We recieve SSI, CS, OHP & food benefitsfor the 2 older boys and a penny more we loose all medical coverage. We have tried selling things that we do not need, but that usually goes to non-food or clothes etc.

Please do not take what I stated as a boohoo, but our where I live I have no one to talk to and my husband, well he keeps himself busy to not notice things.

:soapbox:

OKAY, I need to stop. My point is unless we come into $ we have to stay with older used car seats.

Everyone thx for the input.

 

[scatterbunny]

Hello there, from one Oregonian to another.

I'm glad you decided against the Kangaroo boosters, I would not put my child in one. They also aren't terribly narrow (to fit three-across).

About your 93 Escort: it only has a lapbelt in the middle, correct? If so, the only thing safe there is a harnessed seat. A lapbelt only prevents ejection from a vehicle, it does not restrain the upper body at all, which can cause serious injuries in a crash. A booster should never be used in a lapbelt-only spot. All boosters require a shoulderbelt to restrain the child's upper body. It's actually more dangerous to put a child in a booster with a lapbelt than to put the child in the lapbelt alone.

Since you qualify for food stamp benefits you should be able to get free/low cost new seats from someplace like a county health department. Most carseat inspection stations also have free/low-cost seats available for those who meet income guidelines.

The Kyle David Miller Foundation might also be a place to apply for a free seat. Income restrictions apply, and the wait list can be long sometimes, but it might be worth it to at least look into that option. I'm helping a local KDMF recipient family in the very near future.

Since you have a lapbelt-only position to deal with, I'd really, really try to get a (new, not used, unless you trust the owner of the seat with your child's life) harnessed seat for the 4.5yo. Otherwise, you have to make some tough decisions and choose to place one passenger in a lapbelt-only spot with little crash protection.

BTW, we were also on food stamps and living on $8 an hour when we got our first higher weight limit harnessed seat to deal with a lapbelt-only spot, so I know how tough it can be. ((hugs))

 

[SusanMae]

I'm with Jenny on the lap belt warning---A 4 yr old little girl in a lapbelt only was killed when a drunk driver hit her mothers van recently in my neck of the woods.

Susan

 

[family5oregon]

Hello stranger, :cool!:

I was wondering if you might see this, I've read other threads that youv'r replied to. (just joined last night, done a lot of ready)

I still have the Husky, which is our primary seat (love it!)

The Evenflo would be used on the outboard possition only for a short ride.

 

[scatterbunny]

Well, hello there! I wondered if it was you! Glad to hear the Right Fit is used outboard. And also glad the Husky is being put to good use (in the Windstar, right?). H still loves her Bodyguards. My mom likes it, too. She used one for H while I was on my cross-country trip.

 

[Judi]

I think I just found a kangaroo booster in my old house today. I will see if I can talk DH into going down there to grab it.

 

[Judi]

Ok, still waiting. I bought this for my son, when he was little. They are all styrofoam, with a cover.

 

[Judi]

Ok, it doesn't look good. It just came up from the mud room of our old house. We keep hay in there now, but you get the idea.

 

[scatterbunny]

:ROTFLMAO: Wow, I think you win the "nastiest old seat found in house" award!

 

[Judi]

Well, I could have washed it, but then I wouldn't be able to post until tommorrow! I really wanted in on tonight. Anyway, it wasn't in my house, it was in the mud room of my old house that I use as a barn, the mud room, that is. The rest of the house is basically gone. I went down there today, for the first time in about six years. I started to cry. Seeing the car seat kinda made in worth while.