Looking for a Car Seat Solution.

[elmo]

I have a 3 and 5 year old and wondering how people get there kids around now. The 3 year old is still not a problem,(can just use the lap belt in the back for her current car seat) but the 5 year old old grew the car seat that I could just use the lap belt...in the newer cars he sits in a booster seat that uses the lap and shoulder harness.

I know when I was a kid we never used seat belts that I can remember, but would the lap belt be safe enough or have people come up with other options other than putting in seats with intergrated shoulder harness? Or is there a child seat that would work with just the lap belt for bigger kids?

I know dumb question and leave them at home, but I plan to use it as a daily driver once the salt is off the roads and I get a soft top!

Thanks in advance!
Elmer

[bagged74]

I have used the lap belt with a booster seat in my blazer before. I know its probably not the "ideal" set up, but it works. I never found a better setup that was feesible.

[fun in dirt]

Hey - I have a 3yr old that loves to ride too. Recently got a 72 I'm working on. I think I'm eventually gonna go with one of the 38" poly baja seats for the back with jr dragster belts!

[bouncytruck]

I'm just about at the same point as you. There is no reason for booster seat if you don't have shoulder harnesses. In fact, from what I have read it is actually worse than just belting them directly to the seat. But, I'm sure the Police would pull you over every chance they got.

My wife found some "harnesses" online that are designed as a retro fit for cars that were not equiped with shoulder harnesses. The link is on my laptop at home, so I'll post it later if I can't find it today.

[fun in dirt]

Wesco Performance has a great selection of all types of belts & colors.

[elmo]

I did a search first about this and came up with nothing other than changing to the Yukon seats...I figured I couldn't be the only one!

bouncytruck that sounds like that maybe the ticket I am looking for.

[vtblazer]

If your vehicle came factory with only lap belts (and it did) then lap belts are legal to use.

Bouncy is correct, boosters are not needed or a good idea with lap belts.

Do not use integrated shoulder belt harness seats unless your prepared to build the appropriate seat mounting structure to with stand the stresses that those type of seats produce in an accident.

[bouncytruck]

Here are some retro-fit alternatives for child safety.

http://www.ezonpro.com/products/fami...yHarness.shtml

http://cgi.ebay.com/Kid-Y-Safety-Har...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/86-Y-Universal-S...QQcmdZViewItem

[elmo]

Thanks bouncytruck. I think that maybe the solution I was looking for.

[jojotonka]

You also can check the laws for your state. Like in Mi. they recommend that you keep them in a booster seat until they are 49 in tall, but the legally they only have to be in one until thay are 4yrs of age. I would look into it before spending cash on special harness. Just a thought.

[bouncytruck]

Yes, you legally are to keep them in a booster, but boosters are designed to compensate for 3 point seat belts designed around average adult sizes. Putting a child in a booster with only a lap belt is more dangerous than putting them in just the lap belt. I have been researching this subject because my daughter is just about to the point of moving out of her toddler seat and into a booster.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/inju...rs2_Guide.html note the third bullet point on this site

http://www.saferidenews.com/html/Safetynews.html

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

http://parents.berkeley.edu/recommen...oster_lap.html

[msgross]

They make a five point child seat for larger kids (80lbs), saw a youtube video on it since a ladies 3yr old was killed in an accident. Sad video but I am looking at getting one form my four year old. I don't like the shoulder belt in our Tahoe...

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

Britax Regent..
http://www.macroluggage.com/IBS/Simp.../26110087.html

[bouncytruck]

Dang, that's one expensive car seat.

I actually saw http://www.britaxusa.net/ as one of the alternatives http://www.saferidenews.com/html/Safetynews.html but I didn't really read to see what it was designed for. Might be a good option.

[msgross]

I just bought one, $250 free ship vs. mypeace of mind and safety of my 5 year old. We will get use out of it since I have a 3 & 1 yr old too.... small price when you look at it that way. My wife and I really hate the tall booster that uses the seat belt since it moves around a lot. 5 pt harness works for racing so why not kids.... this thing goes to 80 lbs (in harness vs 40 lbs like her current) so she can use it for awhile....

[ecameron87]

I am in the same boat. I have booster seats for my kids in the other cars, but when I try to put them in the back seat of the blazer with original lap belt: A) they don't hold the seat down well (they tip from side to side) B) the lab belt buckle is positioned right in the center, so on some car/booster seats the buckle is right in the kids back.

Now that I have a "family" roll cage I am looking at other options. I think it would be neat to see some kid sized 5-point harnesses back there.