Trina, you're so helpful that I hope you won't run away screaming when I say I have more questions! *grin*

1. I drive and chaperone for field trips all the time. All the time kids put the shoulder belt behind them. Does that mean that in a crash, the heads and torsos of these kids are going to fling themselves into the other passengers sitting next to them? (as well as the windows) Obviously I don't want the other kids getting injured by a flailing passenger, nor do I want to be SUED over the incident by the child's parents. I know you carry extra boosters, but that's not really an option here. Right now the kids are third grade and under. Should I insist they keep the shoulder belt on? Should I make sure they sit outboard only, and leave the middle empty hoping they won't smash into each other? The middle seat is lap belt only, so in general should I not let anyone sit there anyway? Even if a child can fit into the shoulder belt, sometimes I have five kids in my car and someone is stuck in that center lap belt seat. What should I do? Best scenario under the circumstances, please.

2. I'm confused on head excursion. Are tethers necessary on carseats because the carseat is its own big, heavy thing that is placed on the vehicle seat and crash forces try and pry it away? Because otherwise, aren't we ALL at risk for head excursion in our vehicle seats? If we're not, is that because the vehicle seat is factory installed and bolted to the floor? Okay, if THAT is the case, what about untethered high back belt positioning boosters? They aren't tethered, they are a foreign object merely placed on the seat. I see no difference in the ability of the lap/shoulder belt to keep the booster held back securely under crash forces, than the lap/shoulder belt being able to keep a carseat held back securely without a tether. Do you know what I'm saying? And can you help me understand it?

3. Now that we're getting my daughter squared away with a proper, tethered carseat, I'm wondering what to do about my husband's car. I was planning on putting my belt positioning high back booster rated for 30 pounds into his car, but he has an itty bitty Honda Civic and she'd have to ride outboard so he could still see out the back window. Being only thirty pounds and in such a small car, that doesn't sound too safe. Would she be better off in that seat, or would she be better off in her other seat that I'm about to stop using which doesn't have a tether? In other words, is she better off in the booster riding outboard in a tiny car, or is she better off in a real carseat sitting in the middle seat, but without a tether?

Thank you soooo much!! I really, truly appreciate all your help these past several days.

By Kate on Saturday, October 9, 2004 - 08:15 am:

AAARRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! It's doing it again!! It won't let me change the subject line, even tho I DO change it when I make the post, it always reverts back to the most recent one. Sigh. I'm sorry. I hope you see this, Trina.

By Trina~moderator on Saturday, October 9, 2004 - 08:45 am:

LOL, I saw it! I don't have a lot of time so this will be quick.

Honestly, I'm surprised the school allows parents to drive students. HUGE liability issue. Lap belt only positions are not safe for anyone, especially children. Do NOT put a child there. Same reasoning concerning kids putting the shoulder belt behind their back. NOT SAFE!! They should be in boosters WITH the lap and shoulder belt. I have backless boosters I use for when I have extra kids with me. They only cost about $15 each. Since safety and liability are big issues *I* would be sure all kids are properly restrained. Do these kids ride in boosters in their own cars? Tell the teacher to have the kids bring their boosters to school for the field trip. Unfortunately, I'm sure many of them don't ride in boosters , which is why I always have spares!

Lap Belt Dangers

Examples of low cost booster seats:

Cosco Ambassador

Uno Polo

Tethers make a car seat installation safER. Head excursion isn't as much an issue with booster age kids and adults because they're bigger and heavier. The purpose of a booster is to raise the child up so the vehicle seat belt fits properly.

In your DH's car - As long as she hasn't outgrown the seat, she'd be safest in the middle in her car seat without a tether.

By Trina~moderator on Saturday, October 9, 2004 - 08:50 am:

Oh, I forgot to mention... In my CPS class I actually saw photos of kids who were in a crash while in a lap belt only. NOT PRETTY! One child didn't survive the injuries and the other will be in a wheelchair for the remainder of his life.