So both my kids are in booster seats as they should be. But sometimes they still fall asleep in the car and end up totally slouched over. Either leaning way side ways so their heads are no longer supported by the head support thing. Or their head is hung way forward. Is there anything out there to fix that problem? (BTW i have no idea how they can sleep like that!)
I have a picture of both of them fast asleep in the car. They are leaning way toward each other. It's a cute picure, but man..it doesn't look very safe!
thanks~

By Trina~moderator on Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 12:13 pm:

Yikes! You're right, it's not safe. How old are your kids and what specific boosters are they in? Some provide better sleep support than others. Aftermarket products (things added to car seats that didn't come with the car seat at purchase) are not recommended.

By Bellajoe on Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 04:44 pm:

They have the Graco Turbo Booster car seat. They are 4 and
5 1/2 yrs old.
Thanks for all your car seat help on here btw. If everyone pays attention to your safety posts you may be saving some little ones lives!

By Kaye on Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 05:04 pm:

My 7 year old does the same thing. What I have finally found that works for him is one of those microbeads pillows. If i put it behind his head he will usually stay upright. He is buckled in well, so I am sure in a wreck the seatbelt would hold him, but it might hurt his neck. But I don't know if being that asleep and wrecking wouldn't hurt anyones neck (think ragdoll effect). Anyway, I kept my little guy in a tall booster for a long time (actually until about 3 months ago), for just that reason. He really is feeling way too much like a baby in it is why we switched, and on day to day trips he he fine, it is the long ones he has trouble with.

By Trina~moderator on Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 05:16 pm:

You're welcome! Happy to help!

The high back Graco Turbo booster has OK sleep support. Some kids need to be trained to lean back into the booster/headrest. Does your car have switchable retractors on the seat belts? (If you pull the seat belt all the way out, can you hear/feel it ratchet back in?) If so, doing this every time you buckle your DKs will make the seat belt more snug. However, I find this to be a PITB and don't do it with my own kids. It's not necessary for safety reasons but helps to keep kids sitting correctly in boosters. If those approaches don't work and it's still a problem (kids falling out of position while sleeping) it may be worth getting new boosters with better sleep support. My kids are both in Britax Bodyguards and have never had problems sleeping. The Britax Bodyguard and Parkway boosters have side impact protection which also offers good sleep support. The head wings are larger than other boosters. (See the pic in my profile.)

I don't know how much your kids weigh, but if they're under 40 lbs. you could consider putting them back in a harnessed car seat. That would definitely solve the sleep/slump problem! LOL! I kept my DD in a 5 pt. harness until she was 6. That's when she finally hit 40 lbs.. Not only is she a peanut, but wiggly, and I couldn't trust her to sit properly in a booster until then.

By Bellajoe on Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 09:48 pm:

LOL no they are way too big for the regular car seats. They are around 45 pounds probably and just too tall to fit in a car seat.

I will try to remember to lock the seat belt every time. That may help a bit.

They really don't fall asleep in the car often at all. It just happened the other night, that is why I thought of asking you.

Maybe i will look into a microbead pillow like Kaye suggested. I really don't want to have to buy a new booster seat. Like I said, they very rarely fall asleep in the car.
Thank you for your suggestions.

By Amecmom on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 08:28 am:

I bought a cute little pillow in the shape of a dog. It has a velcro. It provides some support while he's sleeping. It does not interfere with the action of the seatbelt at all.

Ame