Car seat vs. Booster seat?

britax.jpg

This is really freaking me out. I was just about to get Mike & Robbie booster seats, but then I saw this disturbing video.

I’m not going to be switching the kids out of their Marathons any time soon.

I’ve always thought it was just safety-crazy me when I looked at booster seats and wondered how they could be as safe as a car seat. I (STUPIDLY) figured that since they were all safety-tested they must be fine.

Just glad I heard about this before I invested in new gear. What do you think about the video? Did it change your mind like it did mine?


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31 responses to “Car seat vs. Booster seat?”

  1. Domestic Goddess Avatar

    Wow, that is a powerful video. My kids are teenagers now but I have many friends that I will share this with.

  2. Plain Jane Mom Avatar

    Yeah, I didn’t even have the audio turned on and it made an impact on me!

  3. MRH Avatar
    MRH

    The video was sad. I think you have to make that decision based on your individual child. In my state the law states that children must be in a booster or car seat till the age of 8. There is no pound limit. My son, who is 8, happens to weigh below average. However, he is too tall for a car seat with a 5 point harness. So, even tho some car seats say for up to 80 pounds, the child may not fit into the height requirements. I can only do the next best thing which is to use a booster with the seat belt.

  4. Plain Jane Mom Avatar

    MRH — you are absolutely right. It is so tricky trying to figure out what is best for our kids.

  5. Oh, The Joys Avatar

    A friend sent me this video yesterday and I cried all the way through it.

  6. Kristi Avatar

    I saw that just yesterday. But you know what, it could happen to a five point harness seat too. The seat buckle from the car came undone, just as it could come undone on your car seat, sending the whole thing out the window.. Sure, your child will still be buckled into the seat itself with the harness system, but it is still scary. If you don’t have a car with the tethers then you are even more screwed. No car seat is guaranteed to save a life. But of course, it is better to be safe than sorry. And that is where I stand.

  7. Plain Jane Mom Avatar

    Jessica — It affected me a lot too. I am so amazed that this family was able to channel their grief into this project.

    Kristi — yep, you’re never going to be able to keep your kids safe from everything.

  8. Mombat Avatar

    Horrifying. I just don’t know what impact this has on me. On the one hand, I feel the need to rush out and buy the 5-point harness seats for my kids again. On the other hand, it just sounds like a freak accident (so sorry for their loss). I can almost see another video now showing that a booster would be safer for children who can unbuckle on their own in an accident involving fire or submersion because it would let them exit on their own quickly. But, it was definitely thought provoking and I intend to investigate further. Thanks for that!

  9. Much More Than A Mom Avatar

    I watched that yesterday too and cried like a baby.

    Do you (or anyone else who’s reading) know if you can get Britax seats in Canada? (Our standards are different so the American ones are actually made differently and are illegal for use here). If anyone knows, I’d love an email! (muchmorethanamom at gmail dot com)

  10. crunchy carpets Avatar

    Much More than a mom…

    I am in canada and have Britax for both my kids…

    The Marathon for Caity who is 2.5 and it is a 5 pointer and the Tall backed booster for Adam.

    We were a bit shocked that it didn’t lock in ..but I still love it.

    Most of the good baby stores carry the Britax

  11. Plain Jane Mom Avatar

    Mombat — yeah, except that car seats are both attached to the car AND to your kid. Boosters are only attached to your kid. That’s the part that has me wondering.

    CC — thanks for helping out Much More Than A Mom! When I looked around I didn’t see the Regent available in Canada, but there’s always eBay.

  12. Beth Avatar

    The video really upset me. My son who has always bee tall for his age has been in the exact same booster as the little boy since age three. I’m just thankful that we have not had to test the seat so far ourselves-knock wood.

    I’ve looked into buying the Regent. There are a couple of other options that have the five point harness and tether anchors as well for half the price. Cosco makes one. Unfortunately, I am Britax brainwashed. I will probably end up with the Regent.

    I feel so bad for that family. There is nothing worse than losing a child.

  13. A&J's Mom Avatar
    A&J’s Mom

    Now I’m really freaking out. I watched the video and swore I was going to run out and buy a 5-point harness seat…but then Mombat mentions possible accidents involving fire or submersion. For some reason accidents involving submerged vehicles are so vivid to me – ever since Susan Smith drowned her boys and I watched a reenactment on TV taken from the boys point of view.

    I am so torn! I know no one can tell me what is right, but I’m so paranoid I’ll make the wrong decision.

  14. Plain Jane Mom Avatar

    Beth — We’ll be getting Regents when the boys grow out of their Roundabouts.

    A&J’s Mom — I just think about my grandparent’s generation who didn’t like seat belts because they wanted to be “thrown clear” in an accident.

    I think the most important thing is to make a decision that YOU feel good about.

  15. Alison Avatar
    Alison

    I was also touched by this video but found it from another site.

    I immediately forwarded the video to all my friends with toddler-aged children.

    We have our oldest (4 year old) son in the Britax booster seat that uses the belt ($104). So of course I thought that I, too, should get the Britax Regent.

    Look what I read though on the fact sheet. (Note: My reasoning for getting this seat is that if seat belts fail, I want something that is attached to the car itself and my child attached inside the seat.)

    * Use vehicle seat belt (not LATCH connectors) for installations with children weighing more than 48 pounds (21 kg.). Refer to the vehicle’s owner’s manual for the maximum weight rating for their LATCH anchors. Unless specified otherwise by the vehicle manufacturer, assume a 48 pound child is the vehicle LATCH anchor limit.

    So that means that once they hit 48 pounds, you are again going to have to rely on the seat belt!?!

  16. Vicki Avatar
    Vicki

    Alison – yes, there is a weight limit for the LATCH system, so you have to switch over to the seatbelt after your kid hits that weight limit. However, you still use the tether anchor with the seat so if the seatbelt fails (which is very rare as far as I know) your child stays buckled into his five point harness AND your seat stays attached to the car.

    My son is 5, 43 pounds, in a Britax Husky which is held in with both a seatbelt and the tether anchor.

    To the person who asked about Britax seats in Canada – they only sell their booster here for older kids, not the five point harness. Britax customer service says the customer base here isn’t large enough to go through separate safety testing and marketing and such to sell the Regent here. I had to go down to the states to buy the Husky for my son when he outgrew his Roundabout a couple of years ago. I was told by a safety store employee that I could get a ticket for using a seat that doesn’t officially meet Canadian safety standards. I asked the employee which she would rather have, a ticket or a seriously injured or dead child? My son is not physically or emotionally ready for a booster.

  17. Michele Avatar
    Michele

    Vicki- The anchor strap hooks to the child seat at the top then goes around the back of the car/truck seat to hook down below.It doesn’t go full circle. The bottom of the child seat is keep in place by the seatbelt. So if the seatbelt fails the seat can still be thrown about. This one strap will not hold the car seat in place. Yes it is rare that a seatbelt fails.

    Yes the vedio is upsetting and I have thought about changing car seats. The best thing to do is read up on all types of car seats. There are more car seats than just this one seat. Find one that you like. Alot of people are going to rush right out and buy this seat with out knowing all of the pro’s and con’s. Also check on your car. See what it’s seatbelt safety rating is like. As there ever been a recall for a falty seatbelt.Ect.

    This video was made to inform you of what “COULD” happen. Not to scary you or tell you that you have the wrong child seat. So use this video as a tool if you are thinking about changing. Don’t let it be your only reason!

  18. Bob's Mom. Avatar
    Bob’s Mom.

    I didn’t see that video until recently. My son Bob is not even three months yet, but we will definitely be using a 5 point harness and not just a booster when the time comes. The Britax seats look great, but as already mentioned, the Regent (and others) are not available in Canada. I’m sure Britax makes enough money that they could indulge us CDN moms the luxury of being able to strap our youth into a safe 5 pt harness, even if it’s not the best for biz.

    Interesting information at this link about CDN weight limits (interesting and angering).

    http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=8578

    It’d would be great if CDN moms would join in calling Britax and asking them to bring the Regent (and the Boulevard, with it’s great side impact wings) to Canada. And if any US mommas would join in, all the better.

    Britax: 1-888-427-4829

  19. Ellen Avatar
    Ellen

    Once again, Canadian law doesn’t allow ANY seat over 48 lbs.

    There are several seats that now keep kids harnessed past 40 lbs. Sunshine Kids Radian, Fisher Price, Cosco/Safety 1st Apex, and soon new Evenflo seats will be up to 50 lbs.

    Harness height is another big issue – once the child’s shoulders are above the harness, the child has outgrown the seat. Ditto for the ears being over the top edge of the car seat.

    http://www.carseat.org

    &

    http://www.car-seat.org

    have good resources for choosing/using a seat for your child.

  20. Julie Neufeld Avatar
    Julie Neufeld

    Hello!

    I stumbled on your website during my many hours of research for new car seats…good news for fellow Canadian moms…Transport Canada has changed their policy and upped the weight limit for forward facing car seats to 65 lbs.

    Here is the link:

    http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/childsafety/notices/TP14563C/2007c06/menu.htm

  21. […] Astute Julie has some great news about Canadian carseats for older kids. […]

  22. Christina Avatar
    Christina

    I just watche dthe video and feel horrible for that family. MY thoughts were the same while I watched as anothers was with the fire and being submerged. It crossed my mind that different situations bring up different results.

  23. Jenn Avatar
    Jenn

    Hi… I’m a CDN mom trying to find a Britax REgent. The reviews are so good, I’m considering buying one on Ebay, but I heard that Britax will not warrantee anything purchased on Ebay. Does anyone know anything about that?

  24. ken kranz Avatar
    ken kranz

    I have to agree with one of the previous posters. If the seatbelt is the weak link (and that is what holds the booster seat down) what is the point. Ejecting my child with or without the booster seat attached is not an attractive thought.

    I’m not pro or against boosters. I am researching if my 30 lb twins should go seatbelt or 5 point at this time. That said, here is a thought:

    You belt your car seat down and forget about the buckle – you never look at it again. I noticed (now this might be a twin/multiple child thing) at one point that one of the buckles was undone. You could easily miss it because there is a car seat on either side of the buckle. I assume that someone or something hit the latch or it was never sufficiently buckled to start with. My older daughter admitted that she “might” have hit it. Due to the way the belt navigates the back of the booster, friction prevented it from retracting (and making the problem more visible). Had I had an accident, that seat would have offered no protection. Had I been using the 3 point belt (and latching it every time) I would have eliminated this extra layer in the safety chain.

    This is why (now that they are 30lb each) I am trying to figure out if they are large and heavy enough for a regular belt. I’m thinking they are not, but will do the research and find out.

  25. michelle Avatar
    michelle

    ken, i hope you mean 30 kgs and not 30lbs!! the damage done to one so small by a standard seatbelt is incredible….

    as julie pointed out transport canada increased the upper weight limit to 65 pounds and i am sure that here in british columbia it will be ratified next summer to 80 pounds (for a booster)….

    the other thought is that if you car seat is LATCH equipped (UAS) and the kids are below 48 pounds, you can use that and the seatbelt together (for added reliability)…plus the tether….

    i hope you go the way of a 5 point….it is still the safest….

    as for stage 2 and 3 seats…does anyone have an update if britax will be offering the REGENT here in canada? does anyone have any to offer about the RADIAN, especially their new one (deluxe version)…i am just not satisifed with the ‘mass market’ graco, et al, offerings….

  26. james jennings Avatar
    james jennings

    on January 6, 2008 michelle wrote:

    “the other thought is that if you car seat is LATCH equipped (UAS) and the kids are below 48 pounds, you can use that and the seatbelt together (for added reliability)…plus the tether….”

    Please take note that Britax specifically warns NOT to use the seatbelt and latch system at the same time. You must use one or the other, but not both. I just recently installed 2 Britax car seats, and after reading this warning, did some searches on the internet, and this is universal. The latch system is designed to work without the seatbelt and vice versa. The Tether can of course be used with latch or seatbelts as dictated by your car, carseat. James in San Antonio, TX.

  27. james jennings Avatar
    james jennings

    Correction to my post above – At least one internet source indicates that certain carseat models allow the use of both Latch and seatbelt at the same time:

    “There are certain model car seats that allow you to “double up” and use BOTH the lap/shoulder belt restraint and a LATCH system to secure the car seat. While not necessary, the option is available.”

    However, it appears this may be the exception and not the rule. Importantly, you should follow the instructions for your specific seat. Two different Britax models that I have installed caution against using both latch and seatbelt at the same time.

  28. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    Well, I was going to take my granddaughter (3 years old) out of her car seat thinking she was getting big enough and it is time consuming to put her in and take her out especially for short trips. But after seeing this video I think I will leave her right where she is. She is about the same size as Kyle and it really hit home to watch this video. Thank you for sharing and I am glad I am a grandma who wants as much information as she can get to keep her grandchildren safe.

  29. Idaho Mom Avatar
    Idaho Mom

    I am trying to decide what type of seat to move my three year old (30+lbs and very tall for his age)too as his younger brother is ready for his current forward facing Britax car seat. I have a friend with a three year old the same size as my older son who has gone to a Full Booster seat using only the shoulder/lap belt. The booster seat to me while way, way, way easier to get the child in and out of, seems flimsy and no where near as safe as a five point harness seat. After reading all these posts, I chose not to watch the video as I can only imagine what it portrays….the comments were enough for me. I’m going to search for something suitable with a five point harness that allows for the seat to be attached to the car as well. Is money or convenience really an option here??

  30. Don't Know What to do Mom Avatar
    Don’t Know What to do Mom

    My son is 3.5 years old and very small for his age (under 30 pounds) but also very smart for his age. He is still in a 5 point harness car seat but knows how to open it up and does so every chance he gets. How can I protect him. Anybody have any clues. I was thinking of getting him a booster so he’ll feel like he is big and like to be in a regular seatbelt like Mommy and Daddy. Is this a bad idea.

  31. Emma Avatar
    Emma

    Just imagine my state of mind……….. 5 point harnesses in Europe only exist up to 15 kilos. My 3 year old son is now 17 kilos. Way too young for a booster seat with a car’s 3 point seatbelt but as far as safety goes,he’s too heavy for the 5 point harness!! I have to move him into a booster seat, I have no choice.
    Surely it’s no rocket science for Europe to make 5 point harness available from 15 kilos onwards, but it seems so at the moment..

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