Just FYI an adult belt is designed for a minimum height of 145 cm, as per the Vic Roads web site.
Printable View
Just FYI an adult belt is designed for a minimum height of 145 cm, as per the Vic Roads web site.
Totally agree Ren. My kids health is my top priority! Bella is still ok in the maxirider so I'm just researching at the moment. H will get that seat with B is out of it.
Just thought I would mention the insurance thing so people would be aware of it.
Far out I am so confused!!!:
Just FYI an adult belt is designed for a minimum height of 145 cm, as per the Vic Roads web site.
This is from the Baby love website, am looking at the Ezycombo seat
SO they are saying they can be in with a harness til they are 7 or is that wrong?? That is what I am looking for and it looks like this one and that Infa one are the only 2 on the market? WIll have to check out the Radian but I am not sure we would import but just buy one that is here that suits what we want it for.:
Forward facing
with a Lap Sash Seat belt or EzyGo Harness can be used for children until they reach the
upper shoulder height marker - most 7 year olds.
ETA: Just saw this tooThat is what we have for her in my car - how do you know when they don't fit it anymore? Is it where the shoulder straps sit?? At the moment they are still above the top of her shoulders.:
The maxirider AHR says up till 6-8 yrs or age, and when we bought it the lady told us to keep using the 5 point harness as long as she fitted in the seat.
DD is 18.1 kgs and 108cms tall. Just measured her!
I believe the reason most booster seats have the seat belt guide is because of the height restriction. Also if they have to be in the 5 point harness til 7 why are those booster cusion things legal?
My DS is in a booster but with the normal seatbelt for the same reason as Ginger and DC.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Tan DD1 has just hit 18kg and is 114cm, in my car she is still in the maxirider 5 point harness, my understanding I'd that it is tested to 22kg even though it's not advertised, she will stay in it til 20 kg probably, she is in the Hi Liner in DH 's car with adult seatbelt
Tan the straps can't be anymore than 1inch higher OR lower than shoulder height, id keep her in it Hun
Lilima I assume that's for people who puts kids straight onto the seat,
Olive- yes you need to take into account the 'boost.'
Also Vic roads web site advised that booster cushions have not been part of their safetty standards since 2010.
That's what we are using currently also.:
Does this mean with the 145cm, I need to look at what the boost of the seat is? Who was it that said H harness are dangerous? Research link please?:
We have had him in the hiliner for not very long, he was way over the 5 point weight rating for our infa-secure booster which we hadn't even realised, but also outgrown the straps. I really want to import for my DD.
I didn't realise that. Will have to check the NSW RTA site. Why do they sell them if they aren't legal :think::
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
On iPhone, but if someone could link to the Vic roads web site, you can read all the info there
I hate that they sell those booster cushions!
DC I think that info regarding H harness is on racv website
Child restraints : VicRoads
Here is the info in H harness
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/...yHarnesses.htm
Hey DC, this is a link to NSW RTA FAQ's http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety...laws_faqs.html and there are a couple of questions about the accessories child safety harness (the H harness) and using the adult seat belt. Summarising, it basically says that booster seats are designed to be used with either an in-built harness (with the weight restrictions) or the adult seat belt. "The use of an accessory child safety harness is recommended only in a position where the vehicle seat has a lap-only seatbelt. Research has shown that the likelihood of a child safety harness being used incorrectly is very high and the risk of injuries when incorrectly used is much higher compared to a lap-sash seatbelt."
The regulations are suppose to be Australia wide but there does still seem to be some variation state to state :dunno:
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thanks, that is really interesting. And yes, I am a hater that they are sold as well.
When I asked at Baby Bunting (probably more than 12m ago) she said they were allowed to sell seats not within Victorian Legislation because other states differ.
Ooohhhhhhkaaayyy so what I think I missed along the way is that even with the 5pt harness, once they hit 18kgs they should have the seat belt instead! Ka-ching the penny drops :rofl:
I would like to still possibly use the H harness so would like info on that if there is any - on the RACV site it just mentions you can use one with a booster.
ETA: Found a blog that a lady posted some studies but the links aren't working, will keep searching but here is a summary![URL="http://users.tpg.com.au/users/mpaine/safetips.html#kids"]STUDY[/URL:
The results indicate that the simple addition of a harness system to a lap belt, although reducing excursion of the head and torso, may lead to neck forces that are much higher than those seen in the lap/sash belt configuration. There are therefore grounds for concern on the performance of the lap belt/child harness configuration. The comparatively high readings for head and neck forces and accelerations indicate the need for some attention to design. Unlike the configuration in a forward-facing child seat, the shoulder straps of the child harness when used with a lap belt are anchored directly to the vehicle structure. In a child seat, the harness is attached to the seat and the seat attachments are separate. The lap/harness configuration is therefore much stiffer in its reaction to crash forces, and this may be why the dummy neck loads were higher in these tests. This suggestion is supported by outputs for chest accelerations, which were also highest in the lap/harness configuration.
From another forum.:
Avoid using separate child harness with a booster, unless there is only a 2-point seat belt available.
For children over 6 who are too large for a booster seat, a 3-point adult seat belt in a rear seat.
For children over 6, where no 3-point seat belt is available in the rear seat, a 3-point adult seat belt in a front seat [IF allowed by the new laws]. A passenger airbag will provide extra protection and is not dangerous in Australia (updated URL) - provided the child is restrained by the seat belt and does not lean forward. In any case, adjust the seat as far back as possible but ensure that the sash (upper) portion of the seat belt is against the shoulder and not the neck. Never let a child stand or sit close to the dashboard - airbag or no airbag.
:
http://www.pscwa.org.au/getdoc/c563e...--July-09.aspx
Based on pelvic restraint, head excursion and abdominal injury potential, results from this study suggest that in frontal impact at least, accessory child safety harness systems provide no better protection than lap/shoulder belt systems. When accessory child safety harness systems are misused the level of protection provided is seriously degraded. Given the high frequencies of child safety harness system misuse seen in field observation studies, and the fact that even when correctly used these system provide no improvement over a lap/shoulder belt, it seems likely that the risks of injury outweigh any perceived benefit of a child safety harness system over a lap/shoulder system.
From Kidssafe
http://www.kidsafevic.com.au/images/...restraints.pdf
Harnesses
Recent research by Bilston has demonstrated that almost 100% of harnesses are fitted incorrectly; therefore, Kidsafe only recommends use of a harness in cases where a lap only belt is the only available alternative.
CR 173: Children in Adult Seat Belts and Child Harnesses; Crash Laboratory Comparisons of Dummy Responses (1997)
The results indicate that the simple addition of a harness system to a lap belt, although reducing excursion of the head and torso, may lead to neck forces that are much higher than those seen in the lap/sash belt configuration. There are therefore grounds for concern on the performance of the lap belt/child harness configuration. The comparatively high readings for head and neck forces and accelerations indicate the need for some attention to design. Unlike the configuration in a forward-facing child seat, the shoulder straps of the child harness when used with a lap belt are anchored directly to the vehicle structure. In a child seat, the harness is attached to the seat and the seat attachments are separate. The lap/harness configuration is therefore much stiffer in its reaction to crash forces, and this may be why the dummy neck loads were higher in these tests. This suggestion is supported by outputs for chest accelerations, which were also highest in the lap/harness configuration.
Road Safety Tips Michael Paine does research on Child Restraints
Except in special circumstances, avoid child harnesses that work in conjunction with a seat belt. Even though these are Standards-approved they usually lack a method to stop the lap portion of the seat belt from riding too high on the child's abdomen. Crotch straps serve this purpose with the harness that is built into a Standards-approved child seat. Some modern designs of booster have an "anti-submarining clip" that is designed to work like a crotch strap. If necessary, these can be used in combination with a separate child harness in centre rear seats that only have a lap belt but make sure the anti-submarining clip holds the lap belt in place. All Australian cars should have a top tether anchorage in this position that can be used for attaching the harness.
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/...rs+(32+kg).htm
The harness must be correctly installed in your vehicle and adjusted properly to fit your child. If it is not, the harness may cause your child injury in a crash.
Harnesses are best used:
* In a seating position where there is a lap belt only
* In the side positions, using the buckle provided, to give extra support for the upper body on long journeys
* When travelling in taxi (harnesses are very portable)
* When transporting extra children and only a lap belt is available.
Photo of Harness where there is a lap belt only:
Tan I'm in this situation at the moment. I and E are both in maxiriders in my car but we won't get the two maxiriders plus a meridian for #3 in my car so I'm giving myself all kinds of guilty because I'm "sacrificing" I's safety by putting her into a SnS hi liner with a lap sash. The alternative which I've suggested to R but he just won't go for is that I only ever go out with two children at one time!!
I spoke to Kidsafe over here about what options we have and they confirmed what your links say - they are safer in the adult belt than in an H harness. My I's about your I's weight and height too, so hope that helps.
The problem with the Maxirider comes from wanting to keep them rearfacing. They are ony rear facing up to 36cm or something. So once their shoulders are too tall you need to turn the seat.
The reason for importing something like the Radian RXT is that you can keep them rearfacing until they are 4 if you wanted to.
DD2 is still RF now at almost 15 months, but she is too big for her seat. There are NO seats in Australia that will allow me to keep her RF now, she is too big for them.
DD1 is in a booster and adult belt. I'm happy with that TBH, as again, there are no other safer alternative for her, she is too tall.
FWIW, the standards are now being looked at and LATCH is being brought into Australia anyway, so soon these seats will be legal. For me, the evidence is clear, and the fact that there is a lag in our standards compared with what they SHOULD be just means I am happy with my choice to import a seat.
Any standard that tells me it is ok to have my child on a giant piece of foam that weighs all of 300gm and just sits on the seat and that is going to protect her in a high speed collision, but a steel framed, properly designed and fitted seat with a 5 point belt and securely attached to the vehicle is not up to standard, doesn't deserve my consideration at all anyway.
They can't void my insurance for having a car seat in it - it has nothing to do with the function of the car, it isn't an alteration to the vehicle. They can not cover replacing the SEAT if it is stolen, or in an accident, but I would seriously question their right to void my insurance altogether for having the seat in the car.
ds1 just doesn't seem to sit right in the maxi rider with the adult seat belt. it doesn't look like it cuts across his shoulder in the right place iykwim?
lime- have you imported a radian?
shanti- are you happy with the radians? I'm seriously considering getting one from nz.