Why not rstv for main restraint?

[creideamh]

Okay, thank you. So for the record: I have lap/shoulder belts that can be locked and top tethers. Can you lock the belts for this scenario (keeping in mind Toyota says no to locking for boosters)?

 

[ketchupqueen]

Okay, thank you. So for the record: I have lap/shoulder belts that can be locked and top tethers. Can you lock the belts for this scenario (keeping in mind Toyota says no to locking for boosters)?

It's not a booster. It's a vest. I'd not hesitate to.

 

[creideamh]

It's not a booster. It's a vest. I'd not hesitate to.

Haha Thank you I feel ok about using it occasionally with my 3.5 y/o cousin now.

 

[Brigala]

You CAN use the top tether with the lap and shoulder belt with the RSTV.

What am I missing in the instructions that says you can do this????

 

[Katy]

Just wondering how are they tested in realtion to FF seats and boosters? Does Canada have them? How did they fare on the TC testing?

 

[ketchupqueen]

It's not in the instructions, at least not the old ones. They're super poorly written. However the manufacturer has clarified that you can, many times. You can contact them yourself if you want.

 

[ketchupqueen]

Just wondering how are they tested in realtion to FF seats and boosters? Does Canada have them? How did they fare on the TC testing?

They are tested under the vest criteria. They are crash tested on the sled used for car seats and boosters. Canada does not have them. TC has not done anything with them that I know of.

 

[Brigala]

It's not in the instructions, at least not the old ones. They're super poorly written. However the manufacturer has clarified that you can, many times. You can contact them yourself if you want.

I'm OK with taking your word for it. Although if I can use the top tether with a lap/shoulder belt, I think I want to contact them for the over 60 lb heavy-duty tether anyway so I may ask then. The child I got it for will be pushing 60 lbs by the time she outgrows the Radian and moves to the RSTV full time, I think.

 

[Katy]

They are tested under the vest criteria. They are crash tested on the sled used for car seats and boosters. Canada does not have them. TC has not done anything with them that I know of.

Is the vest criteria smiliar as the booster and carseat criteria when it comes to excusion and forces?

 

[ketchupqueen]

I haven't checked recently so I don't remember the details. I do know that they publish their crash test data; you can get it on their website. They are well under the criteria.

 

[gigi]

I'm happy to finally hear some of the negative aspects.of the RSTV on this board. I love mine for NECESSARY NYC cab rides, but i'm not comfortable with my son wearing it at high speeds or for any length of time. He slouches too much on the seat because he's uncomfortable.

At this point I think i'm starting to be more comfortable with him in a booster than an RSTV for friends cars and short trips bc the booster wouldn't encourage him to slouch and wriggle because of seat discomfort.

I'm always shocked to see it suggested so frequently here. It seems to me to be a VERY niche product.

 

[Phineasmama]

It seems like it would be annoying to get the kids in and out of them every single time....

 

[safeinthecar]

It's not like a booster seat in the way it works. It is more like a 5-point harness. The vest spreads the forces over the whole torso, not over 3 points like a seatbelt with or without a booster does.

The old style had a lockoff at the top that kept kids from squirming as much. That's missing on the new-style, and I'm no longer comfortable with 3 year olds in it unless the tether can be used to help keep them in place.

I was never comfortable with 3 yos in them.

I was one of the pre-production testers and my then 2.5 yo unvelcroed the crotch strap and wiggled forward until she was flat on her back on the vehicle seat. This was using lap/ shoulder belt in licked mode and a tether.

 

[StPaulMom]

I would never put a 3 year old in the RSTV, but we love it for travel for our 6 year old.
We used it last week while on a trip in no less than 5 different vehicles and it worked wonderfully and my DD was very comfortable even riding in it for over an hour a few times. We had it mostly in our rental car and were in and out of the car 5+ times per day but it was just as quick to buckle her as it was to buckle the harnessed seat for our 3 year old. For the rental car, we just left the vest "installed" and all we had to do each time was close/buckle the vest, buckle the vehicle belt and rethread the lap belt through one of the belt guides. It took less than a minute. And, after a few tries, DD was able to buckle and unbuckle herself

 

[ketchupqueen]

I was never comfortable with 3 yos in them.

I was one of the pre-production testers and my then 2.5 yo unvelcroed the crotch strap and wiggled forward until she was flat on her back on the vehicle seat. This was using lap/ shoulder belt in licked mode and a tether.

Well, I've put my 3 year olds in them. I actually got my first one when my now-7-year-old was... 4, I think? And I'm ok with it, but I don't have an escape artist.

 

[bobandjess99]

Dh has never actually used the rstv, so he has no clue how much more difficult it is that the 5 point harness.

:ROTFLMAO:
8-0:dizzy::banginghead:

 

[StPaulMom]

Dh has never actually used the rstv, so he has no clue how much more difficult it is that the 5 point harness.

Wait, what? Why/how does he love it so much he wants to do away with all other seats if he's never even used it? And why does he feel the need to get the kids to do it if he's not even the one buckling them up?

 

[Lemonade]

Reading this because I'll be using it soon on DS.
So I can tether with a locked lap/shoulder belt??? But for a 5.5 yr old who could be boostered if he were bigger, should I? Wouldn't head excursion be better if I just use the lap/shoulder locked belt? I'll be sitting with him so I can observe how he does with it. Thx.

 

[christineka]

What am I missing in the instructions that says you can do this????

Reading this because I'll be using it soon on DS.
So I can tether with a locked lap/shoulder belt??? But for a 5.5 yr old who could be boostered if he were bigger, should I? Wouldn't head excursion be better if I just use the lap/shoulder locked belt? I'll be sitting with him so I can observe how he does with it. Thx.

The instructions for the new model vest state that the tether must be used for children 60 pounds and heavier. It does not exclude lighter children, so I assumed that meant it had no weight minimum for tether use.

Wait, what? Why/how does he love it so much he wants to do away with all other seats if he's never even used it? And why does he feel the need to get the kids to do it if he's not even the one buckling them up?

I've spent a lot of time rearranging car seats, buying new ones, and rearranging them. He says to just get a bunch of vests and be done with rearranging and buying new seats. I'm not going for it, though. I love buying new car seats and rearranging even if it is very frustrating at times. I'm using the rstvs for dh's car and in others if a 3 across is needed. I used them a few times and found that we only need to unhook the belt from one guide and unbuckle the vest to get out, then reverse to get back in. It isn't much harder than a 5 point harness. I just need to spend some time practicing with my kids and the older ones should be able to do up themselves.

 

[Pixels]

Just wondering how are they tested in realtion to FF seats and boosters? Does Canada have them? How did they fare on the TC testing?

They are tested under the vest criteria. They are crash tested on the sled used for car seats and boosters. Canada does not have them. TC has not done anything with them that I know of.

There is no such thing as vest criteria. The RSTV is a child harness.

Is the vest criteria smiliar as the booster and carseat criteria when it comes to excusion and forces?

Child harnesses are tested only with the lap belt and top tether. Otherwise, all testing requirements are the same as a booster seat. It is not subject to the 720 mm "tethered" head excursion standard that most forward facing harnesses are held to.

AFAIK, NHTSA has never actually performed compliance testing on the RSTV. I am much more interested in the testing numbers from an independent third party than I am in manufacturer's self-reported numbers.