What Would You do?

[2littlejumpingbeans]

I had a friend ask me this question the other day and I am looking to see what others' opinion is on it.

She has two kids close to the boys I nanny for. One is 43lbs and one is 57lbs. She has a backless booster for the older one and a HHB for the younger one. I have already discussed the benefits of harnessing the younger one longer but she is not interested. There was an emergency the other day and she had to get to the hospital to meet someone. Unfortunately her husband had driven off with her car that day so the only seats she had was a backless booster and then a Cosco Scenera. She used both seats for the boys to get to the hospital. The youngest still fits is the Scenera by height but clearly has outgrown it by weight. She now thinks that if necessary, she will just use the Scenera for random trips/emergencies. She asked me what I thought about that. She told me that she wouldn't use it for him more than once a week and she asked whether it was safer because he was in a 5 point harness versus the booster (which I had been talking to her about). I told her that he had outgrown the seat but I am wondering if anyone has a good way of explaining it to her or to just let her use the seat? Anyway, just curious to what others thought about it.

Thanks.

 

[littleangelfire]

A harness outgrown by weight is downright dangerous, as in it might not hold him in at all. Might send him flying, b/c it wasn't tested over the weight listed, or worse, was tested higher and failed.

I wouldn't advocate putting a little kid into a booster, but if those are the only two options, I would choose the booster, b/c most likely the child fits into the weight/height range of it, if he doesn't fit the age. Many boosters start at 30lbs (not that that's a great thing - makes many a parent go, "Oh, so my 33lbs 3 year old can use this!")

 

[ketchupqueen]

Can she swing a Maestro? Can you? It's not at all safe. We don't know what the "fail point" is in any given crash beyond which weight over the limit will make the harness fail, but it's there. She is risking her child being ejected or partially ejected from seat and/or vehicle, serious injury, brain damage, death. I'd rather see a 4 year old in a booster that's used properly than an improperly used harness.

 

[lorismurph]

Honestly, if she will not harness, a cheap Harmony $13 from Walmart backless would be better than an outgrown Scenera. He's 4 (if I read right), over 40 pounds, and is used to sitting in a booster (hopefully properly).

 

[carseatcoach]

How old are the boys?

I agree that neither child cannot use the Scenera at all, not ever, no matter what.

I would recommend picking up another backless for an emergency, but honestly, I would not put a young (under 7) child in a backless booster for "random trips". If she cannot transport them safely, she should not be transporting except in an emergency.

 

[2littlejumpingbeans]

Thanks for your help. That is what I thought but I just wanted to make sure. The boys are 4 and 7 and I would prefer that I see the youngest in a harnessed seat as well. Unfortunately, even if I give her a harnessed seat she probably wouldn't use it. She just doesn't think it is necessary. I think I will just give her one of my backless boosters for an emergency. She does have a HBB in one of her cars so he would be in that most of the time. Thanks again for your help, I just wish I could convince her to harness.