Booster Seats and Child Safety

Are booster seats important to your child safety? Yes. Booster seats for children, if properly fitted, have proven to help reduce injuries of children by up to 45 percent according to a study conducted at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. However, note the key phrase "properly fitted". If the booster is not properly fitted, it can do as much harm, as not being in a booster seat at all. I will give you an idea of what to look for in choosing a booster seat and then give several examples of the "Best Bets" rating by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Currently all states and DC have child restraint laws that require child safety seats up to the age of 4. However, state laws requiring children to be placed in booster seats beyond age four are inconsistent and in some states non-existent. Here is a breakdown:

• 12 states have no laws on the books for booster seats

• 21 states require booster seats up to age six

• 17 states and the District of Columbia require booster seats up to age 8

As you can see, many children restraint laws in the United States do not cover 7 to 8 year old. Should more states require 7 and 8 year old to be covered by restraint laws. I would say yes. Why? For those states that expanded the law to include 7 and, in some cases, 8 year old, researchers found that there was a 5 percent decrease in injuries and 17% decrease in deaths and severe injuries.

You may say, "A booster seat is rather expensive. I'll just cut the cost, and use the vehicle seat belt on my child, I'm sure that will keep my child safe." Parents who think in this manner are well meaning, but a car restraint is designed for an individual who is at least 4' 9" tall. Thus, putting a regular seat restraint on a child is about as dangerous as having no restraint on at all. Let me explain.

In a collision, with a child using only the vehicle's seat restraint, the belt can slip from a child's pelvis up to the abdomen causing possible serious injury to their intestines, liver, spleen, hips, pelvis and spine. It is advised by the American Academy of Pediatrics and child safety organizations that a child should be placed in a proper restraint until they are tall enough for the vehicle belts to fit properly (usually around 4'9" tall).

A proper fitting booster seat should place the lap portion of the car seat belt flat across a child’s upper thigh and the shoulder belt portion of the seat belt should cross the child's body at mid-shoulder. Here are some things to consider when fitting a child for a booster seat.

1. Is the seat comfortable for the child? If the child is tempted or does move the belts out of position after a period of time, it's properly not a good fit.
2. Does the vehicle head or booster seat provide head support for the child?
3. Does the car seat lap portion lay flat across the hips/top of the thighs when the child is in the booster seat?
4. Does the car set shoulder belt portion position correctly across the collar bone, approximately mid-way between the neck and shoulder?

How long should the child remain in a booster seat? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends keeping the child in a booster seat until they are either eight years old or at least 4'9" tall.

There are two different styles of booster seats; 1) backless and 2) high back. Which is better? The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) Best Bets show that the highback models seen to have the best potential of giving the child a proper belt fit. (This was a study conducted on 62 different booster seats, its analysis was restricted to best fit and did not include crash testing).

In the past, parents did not have many booster seats to choose from; however, in 2011 there are thirty-one models that fit the best bet and five that fit the good bets.

To give you an idea of some of the different booster seats available on the market, I will cover some of the highback models that are considered Best Bet by the IIHS. Knowing what is available and what to look for will help you to make a better buying decision when choosing a booster seat for your child.

Britax Parkway SGL

Safety Features of the Booster Seat

1. The IOSFLEX Lower LATCH Connection System makes the seat is to secure in the backseat, as well as, stabilize it should you have an accident.

2. The SecureGuard helps to prevent the child from sliding under the car safety belt

3. True Side Impact Protection - which protects the child should the vehicle be involved in a side collusion.

The Britax has been a leader is mobile safety for over 70 years, and their name is synonymous with safety.

Pros

1. The Britax Parkway SGl is a forward facing seat that accommodates children from 40 to 120 pounds and 38 to 63 inches in height.
2. The Britax Parkway Sgl Booster seat offers a flexible lower Latch connection system that secures the booster seat to the vehicle. The connection system prevents it from becoming a projectile when not in use and stabilizes it should a crash occur.
3. Nicely padded, making it soft and well-cushioned for the child.
4. Removable cover for easy cleaning
5. Adjustable headrests
6. Converts to a backless booster seat
7. Dual cup holder

Cons

1. Slide guard – The slide guard is a heavy buckle which attaches to the lap belt in between the child's legs, basically making a 3 point harness into a 5 point harness. Its purpose is to prevent the child from sliding under his/her lap belt in a severe accident, or "Submarining" , as Britax labels it. Though it eliminates the possibility of submarining and reduces the likelihood the child is out of position during an accident, it reduces comfort.

Chicco KeyFit Strada (highback mode)

The Chicco KeyFit Strada is a versatile booster seat. It can be used as a highback as well as a backless booster (No indication that the backless booster made the Best Bet List).

Pros

1. The backrest easily adjusts to the child, having nine different positions.

2. Booster seat comes in two pieces, the backrest and the bottom.

3. You can adjust the headrest and side wings to go up and out for more space and comfort. This feature makes it ideal when children are wearing bulky clothes.

4. Ergonomically designed, sloping at an angle, instead of being in a upright position

5. Cup holder that is adjustable and removable

6. Fabric cover can be removed for easy cleaning

7. Comes in two colors, red and gray

Cons

Though there are no major drawbacks, there are several things to consider:

1. May not fit all styles of cars.
2. Depending where you get the booster seat, price is on the high end.

Clek Oobr (highback mode)

The Clek Oobr is a dual mode (backless and highback) belt-position booster seat. It easily accommodates children from 33 to 100 pounds with a height from 35" to 57". Please note: this seat received the "Best Bets" from the IIHS for the "Highback Mode".

Pros

1. 7 year life span
2. Cup holder can be position on either side of the seat.
3. Rigid Latch attachments - The Rigid LATCH attachment offer advantages in side-impact crashes. However, this added feature has also made the product heavier and more expensive.
4. Able to recline a sleeping baby safely (Note: This applies only in the highback mode and only with the lower LATCH anchors attached in your vehicle). This seat has the ability to recline properly, if you follow instructions in the manual.
5. Fabric is stain and spill resistant
6. Comfortable- Utilizes a layer of comfort form, to keep the child comfortable while traveling
7. Variety of cute and colorful fabrics to choose from

Cons

Though there are no major drawbacks with this unit, I prefer to list them so you can make an informed choice before buying.

1. This seat is heavy, even as a backless unit
2. Leg support may be lacking for older, taller children who are still using the back. Removing the back will add two inches to the depth of the seat. However, once you remove the back you lose side-collusion protection, and sleep support.
3. Fabric on the back and head-wings are not removable. The only way to clean these areas is by spot cleaning.
4. Expensive

Harmony Dreamtime

Harmony Dreamtime made the Best Bets for both backless and highback. I gives you some of the pros and cons of the unit.

Pros

1. Padded cover is of breathable mesh fabric and soft microfiber suede. The cover has snaps, making it easy to remove and reattach.
2. Has two retractable cup holders
3. Head-wings are deep enough to support a sleeping child's head.
4. 7-position back height adjustments
5. Two recline positions
6. Deep enough to provide leg supports for older children
7. Reasonably priced

Cons

1. Back portion is narrow, which could make is snug for older children or children with broad shoulders.

2. Though the depth of the seat is great, a smaller child with short legs may not have a comfortable fit.

Bottom line, choosing the right booster seat means a booster seat that fits the child and the vehicle. Both are needed to give the best protection for your child.

Consumer Reports-Tough Booster Laws

Complete List of the Best Bets for Booster Seats