Car Seat Safety for older kids

Have a box of tissues handy when watching this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azgBhZfcqaQ

Please remember to check your car seats on a regular basis.

TFS, Erika

After I saw that I started doing some research, and something else everyone may not know is that LATCH systems (the anchors in your car) have weight limits...meaning after a certain weight they may fail so you need to use the seatbelt to strap the carseat in at that point. I never knew that, just thought I'd pass that along too.

I've seen this video many times and it never fails to bring tears to my eyes.

It has actually been quite controversial in the world of carseat techs though. The child died because his seatbelt failed. Yes, 5-pt. harnesses are MUCH safer and should be used until AT LEAST 4 years, and yes, latch should be used when possible, but there's no saying that either of these things would have saved this child's life.

The main thing is that parents need to remember to READ THE INSTRUCTIONS for their carseats. They also should research before buying carseats to see what's the best fit for their child and their vehicle (some seats do not work in some vehicles). Children should rear face as long as possible (at least until the age of 2 when the spinal cord is more developed) regardless of what pediatricans tell you and they should absolutely NOT be turned forward before the age of 1 no matter what they weigh. No child should be in a booster seat until they are both 4 years AND 40 lbs unless they are too tall (shoulders above the top shoulder slot forward facing) for any harnessed seat. Children should remain in some sort of seat (5-pt. or booster) until they are at least 8 years old.

And, carseats expire after 6 years. They should then be destroyed and thrown away.

There's a lot more to keeping children safe in the car than this video lets on.

Nonetheless, thank you for posting this. My dd is 5 and in kindergarten, but is still quite small for her age- 36" and 36 lbs. Many of her same-aged friends like to brag about being in "big girl seats" and tease her about still using a "baby seat". We're still using the Britax Roundabout, which she seems to have plenty of room left to grown into. Sometimes I've been tempted to cave and allow her to use a booster seat (which we have in our second car), although even she recognizes that she's less secure in it. This video was definitely the kick in the pants I needed to stick to my guns. Thanks again.

thanks for the post. i have a question...

Jade is 4yrs 5mos and is still using her car seat because she is not 40 pounds. she is really slim but getting taller. should i buy some kind of other car seat that's taller or special booster for her until she gets to 40lbs? she was about 35lbs last check up.

tia.

OMG this brought tears to my eyes...TFS. Hanna is 42 pounds and 42 inches tall and still in a 5 point harness seat....she has plenty of room, I have been contemplating a booster seat for a while...this has changed my mind.

My daughter gets this all the time, too. Infuriating, isn't it? She is 7, 85 pds and still in a NBB because she still can't pass the 5 step test to be without a seat. I know of NO ONE IRL who still has their child in a booster in my area at this age. They are all smaller and lighter than her so none of them are riding safely. Olivia's retort has been "Well, my mom loves me and wants me to be safe." but still I know it's hard for her. Her friends don't ride in our car without a booster, period.

omg
the price of the 5pt harness car seat mentioned is sooo worth the money if it means your child is safe.

It depends on where the harness hits her....I believe for front facing the harness slots are supposed to be slightly above their shoulders. If she's too tall for the harness slots to hit her in the proper spot, she probably needs a different seat. The ones designed for five point harness up to 80lbs (as opposed to those that convert to a booster) have much higher backs and harness slots. HTH.

I made the switch to boosters for the twins long enough ago that I don't have their 5pt seats anymore, I don't have the money right now to buy them both new seats, I've been checking out some special harnesses for kids in booster seats but haven't done enough research to recommend them as an option.

It depends on where the harness hits her....I believe for front facing the harness slots are supposed to be slightly above their shoulders. If she's too tall for the harness slots to hit her in the proper spot, she probably needs a different seat. The ones designed for five point harness up to 80lbs (as opposed to those that convert to a booster) have much higher backs and harness slots. HTH.

Right, the harness slots forward facing should be at or slightly above shoulder level.

There are several seats being made now that harness up to 65 lbs. and the Britax Regent harnesses to 80 lbs. All of these seats have high harness slots and should last at least until the age of 5/6.

Britax Regent

Safety 1st Apex -- turns into booster at 65 lbs.

Graco Nautilus
-- This one should be out soon and may be out already in some areas I just haven't seen it available here yet. It has high harness slots and works up to 65 lbs. and then turns into a booster

This thread is so good it more than deserves a

Thanks Erika!

thank you very much for the info!! i guess i will be buying her a new seat this weekend. it is below her shoulder

That is so sad; I've seen it before .

I want to repeat what was said before about keeping them rear-facing as long as possible. Some people are in such a rush to switch them around, because it's easier to tend to them. But I think the safety the rear-facing provides definitely outweighs the slight inconvenience that it causes. Abby is short, but chunky. She will be rear-facing for about another year or so (she's 1). In Eurpoe, some kids rear-face until they are 3 or older.

Question...I had no clue about the rear facing up to 2 years old, honestly I always assumed 1 year was fine. So...if they are to be rear facing, do they stay in that small infant seat or are their 5 point harness seats that rear-face?? Sorry if I sound stupid

Not a stupid question at all. It's not the norm (though infinately safer) to rear face beyond 1 in this country. Olivia rear faced until 2.5 when she outgrew by weight the rf limits of her seat. For most people, the next step up in car seats from infant seats is a convertible seat. They are called convertible seats because they both rear face and forward face. The belt paths, harness to shoulder height, and weight limits are different depending on which way your seat is facing. Because manufacturers are upping the weight limits of their seats (both in the rf and ff weight limits), many children could (and should) reap the benefits of extended rear facing. If you choose extended rear facing, though, arm yourself for a million negative comments. I couldn't believe how many people thought it was crazy, we were crazy,etc. I just used it as a means to educate people who had no idea how much safer it was to rear face beyond 1.

Not a stupid question at all. It's not the norm (though infinately safer) to rear face beyond 1 in this country. Olivia rear faced until 2.5 when she outgrew by weight the rf limits of her seat. For most people, the next step up in car seats from infant seats is a convertible seat. They are called convertible seats because they both rear face and forward face. The belt paths, harness to shoulder height, and weight limits are different depending on which way your seat is facing. Because manufacturers are upping the weight limits of their seats (both in the rf and ff weight limits), many children could (and should) reap the benefits of extended rear facing. If you choose extended rear facing, though, arm yourself for a million negative comments. I couldn't believe how many people thought it was crazy, we were crazy,etc. I just used it as a means to educate people who had no idea how much safer it was to rear face beyond 1.

Thank you, I could honestly care less what people say to me. I seriously will let people know my stance on it. My MIL and FIL are so horrible about being educated on this, they still think that Hanna shouldn't have to be in a car seat WTF she's 4?? I will never understand their way of thinking....they are really old school I guess. I fight battles with them and I always win

Not a stupid question at all. It's not the norm (though infinately safer) to rear face beyond 1 in this country. Olivia rear faced until 2.5 when she outgrew by weight the rf limits of her seat. For most people, the next step up in car seats from infant seats is a convertible seat. They are called convertible seats because they both rear face and forward face. The belt paths, harness to shoulder height, and weight limits are different depending on which way your seat is facing. Because manufacturers are upping the weight limits of their seats (both in the rf and ff weight limits), many children could (and should) reap the benefits of extended rear facing. If you choose extended rear facing, though, arm yourself for a million negative comments. I couldn't believe how many people thought it was crazy, we were crazy,etc. I just used it as a means to educate people who had no idea how much safer it was to rear face beyond 1.

Everything she said!!

Here are a few examples of the top rated and most well liked by car seat techs, convertible seats that face both forwards and backwards.

Alpha Omega Convertible

Cosco Scenera

Triumph Advance

Britax Boulevard

Britax Roundabout

Britax Marathon