Britax shows the shocking reality of using simple booster cushions, and the lifesaving benefits of high back boosters.
For those of you who are not so familiar with Britax – they are a global manufacturer of childcare products including car seats and strollers, they launched a ‘Bin the Booster’ awareness campaign this summer to highlight the real danger of booster cushions.
I found the video so shocking to watch, having two nieces who are always using their booster cushions any time they go anywhere with me! I shared the video with my brother and he ordered high back boosters the same day!
The campaign was presented alongside an alarming crash test footage, which demonstrates the safety performance of a booster cushion vs. a high back booster seat in the event of an accident.
The clip captures the child sized dummy in the booster instantaneously thrown forward and freed from the upper seatbelt the impact of the collision presented in a number of different angles. The child sized dummy in the high chair booster is kept in place on the high back booster and well supported with head and upper body containment. You will notice this when you watch the video for yourself.
There are current laws in place which require children to travel in a car seat until they are 135 cm tall or 12 years of age (whichever comes first). There is constant discussions surrounding whether the booster cushions recommended for children over the age of 4 is adequate safety.
From the times I’ve taken my nieces in the car with me, I feel booster cushions do not give guidance to ensure the seatbelt is correctly positioned and fitted, so changing to high back booster seats offer a full support with padding around the entire seat, with an adjustable head rest and a perfectly shaped backrest which can be adjusted as a child develops.
The idea behind the video is to make parents think twice when choosing which car seat they should buy, the clip is extremely haunting and would make parents using booster cushions to convert to a high back booster option.
So if you’re not sure what to consider when buying a booster seat, here’s some advice from Britax:
- Check the car seat adheres to the strict European safety standards (ece r44/04 approval). You can also check out the seats ratings on websites such as Which, Warentest and ADAC.
- Check that the seat is compatible with your car- http://www.britax.co.uk/fit-finder/
- Ensure you check which type of harnessing the seat offers: 5 point harness, 3-point harness or a vehicle seat belt.
- Make sure the seat offers a good quality head and neck protection, this is essential to protect a growing child’s vulnerable head and developing neck muscles.
- Check if the seat offers an advanced side impact protection, this is in case of a common form or collision from the side.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this, and whether you use high back or regular boosters with your own children.
