Need good info on putting kids in boosters too early

[Swirvin]

While talking to a relative of mine (one who always has to get in the last word and who is also never wrong), he mentioned that he had my 3 yo niece in a booster. I told him that was way too early and that the minimum is 4 years and 40lbs. He very bluntly told me that those were the rules in the US and that me living in Europe had no clue about American guidelines. I tried to tell him about the info I have read on this site and he rudely interrupted me and said (practically shouted at me) IN THE US IT IS 30 LBS!

Since we were at a family event at the time, I didn't want to get into an argument with him but I do want to send him a link to good valid US information.

Can someone send me a link to a good, well-researched, accredited source, article on this subject.

TIA

[Joolsplus2]

I'll have to dig for it, but the best I can do is a Volvo study from 1989 that found kids in boosters below age 5 did have substantially higher risk of head injury (I posted it here... it's been awhile, I can't search now). That might be the most accredited I can do, and it may not be enough to counteract all the big booster boxes with their glaring *30 pounds* limits emblazoned all over them that he is seeing in every store that sells them :(

[cimberdog]

Refer your relative to the Kyle David Miller Foundation and make sure they watch the YouTube videos.

http://www.kyledavidmiller.org/

Also, an excellent resource for car seat safety is www.car-seat.org

HTH!

[801kelle]

I recently have been trying to come up with some great facts because I have some friends that have their kids in backless boosters and these kids are still young and way to small, in my opinion to be in a booster.. here is what I have found recently:

http://letsbehonesthere.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/carseat-safety-part-4/

The replies to these articles is what makes them good:

http://parentcenter.babycenter.com/0_booster-seat-safety-how-to-choose-and-use-a-booster-seat_65758.pc;jsessionid=4D3B07E26BA0E7451BCB7A2A6 BEB2EB4.01-03?print=true

http://parentcenter.babycenter.com/404_when-should-my-child-switch-from-a-car-seat-to-a-booster-sea_1384636.pc

THIS IS REALLY GREAT INFO:

http://www.utahsafetycouncil.org/assets/pdf/utboosterlaw.pdf

Crash test video comparing 5 pt harness and booster seat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2kO8AxKbrM


Here is a study that talks about side impact protection and booster seats and quotes from this article:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-09/chop-htb090905.php

QUOTES:

· Most of the injuries to children seated in backless booster seats were head injuries.

· Possible explanations for non-significant reduction in injury risk for backless booster seats are that parents may be less likely to use to use the shoulder belt- positioner that comes with backless booster seats and that high back boosters have a contoured back that may better contain the occupant in side-impact crashes.

· The risk reduction provided by booster seats in side-impact crashes varied by booster seat type: 4-to 8-year-olds riding in high back booster seats were at a 70 percent reduction in injury risk, while those in backless boosters did not experience a statistically significant risk reduction as compared with seat belts alone.

Booster seats protect against serious injury 3 ½ times better than seat belts. High back Booster seats protect against head injury 4 times better than seat belts.

Here are some links to some of the crash tests of different booster types.

Video of High Back Booster with deep side wings:


http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_s...ordliftpro.mpg

Video of high back booster with shallow side wings

http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_s.../htsbesafe.mpg

Video of a no back booster

http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_s...g_P3_vorne.mpg

Quote from our CPS TECHS on boosters: (actually I think these are from Julie.. not sure where I orginally cut and pasted)

Ages 10-12 is when kids actually hit 4'9" - 5 feet tall, when the adult seatbelt fits them properly low on the lap, on the shoulder, and their feet are flat on the floor. 8 year olds are virtually never tall enough to fit in adult seatbelts safely, except in tiny third row seats. Highback boosters also provide a huge amount of head protection, so the longer you use them, the better. No-back boosters don't offer any head protection in a crash... they should only be used after children have outgrown tall highback seats .

Every step 'up' in seats is a substantial step 'down' in safety, so you want to harness as long as possible, highback booster as long as possible, and booster till about puberty (when the hipbones are developed enough to keep the lapbelt low on the hips and prevent 'seatbelt syndrome').

Here is a link from the American Academy of Pediatrics on a carseat guide for families 2008: This goes over every type of child restraint system:

http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm

Here are two great links that give accurate information and pictures on booster seats.

http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/BoosterShop.aspx

http://www.carseat.org/Boosters/630.pdf

[Swirvin]

Thank you so much for all of the wonderful information. Hopefully this should be sufficient to convince him!