Video of the Day: Importance of the 5-Point Harness Carseat

by Nadine Silverthorne (Subscribe to Nadine Silverthorne's posts) Nov 10th 2006 1:33PM

Categories: Newborns, Babies, Toddlers, Preschoolers, Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Safety, Baby Essentials, That's Entertainment

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Video online is increasing at an alarming rate. You probably heard that YouTube was sold for 1.65 billion USD to Google. (Unless you've been living under a Diaper Genie.) I think that video -- like photos, blogs and other social media -- is an important tool for documenting how we live now. These forms of self-expression and communication also serve as effective media for getting across the message. Or as my fellow Canadian Marshall McLuhan would say, "The medium is the message."

Each day, I'll be posting a video on Blogging Baby, much like JD does with the Image of the Day. The videos will range from cute portraits of family life, to safety info, to the fun and quirky. I appreciate your tips, so feel free to email me with any suggestions.

We're starting with a sad one today, because the topic is safety. Sarah of The Delicious Life tipped us to this important video that every parent with kids under the age of 9 should watch. The Miller family lost their three-year-old son Kyle in a car accident when his seatbelt did not work. He was in a booster seat, without a 5-point-harness. Please take a moment to watch the video and pass it along to everyone you know. It could save a life.

Our thoughts go out to the Miller family. Thank you for sharing your tragedy in hopes that you spare others your grief. I know one little guy that will be buckled in extra tight since seeing your story.

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Comments (20)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Diana Keller 11-10-2006 @ 2:25PM

How heartbreaking.

Leslie 11-10-2006 @ 2:26PM

Thank you. Our son is only 23 months old, we will be adding a tether to the car instead of relying on just the seat belt for his safety.

Spring 11-10-2006 @ 2:38PM

I bawled watching that video last week.

You might also want to mention though that there is some controvery on the net about whether or not this ad is guerilla marketing for Britax. If anyone has proof whether it is or isn't marketing, I'd be interested.

Also sad that even if it's not, not everyone can afford a carseat that costs over 250$.

Nate Thelen 11-10-2006 @ 3:15PM

This is great to know and I will definitly keep my child in a car seet for much later in life. But what about the rest of us (and the kids once they get to big for the big carseat)?

Rachel 11-10-2006 @ 3:16PM

I agree with Spring it's unfair that the only 5-point harness seat (that I know of) available for children over 40 pounds is so expensive. It's really not right that people who can't afford that (like me) don't have a more affordable similar option.

Lulu 11-10-2006 @ 3:22PM

What do they mean by tethered to the car? Can someone explain that to me??

Nicola 11-10-2006 @ 3:46PM

Like Lulu, I'd love a bit more explanation. My guy is still in his carseat/booster combo, but we removed the harness and changed into seatbelt mode when he had grown to the point that buckling it was next to impossible. Especially with the cold weather, there was no way to get it on him over a heavy sweatshirt, let alone his full winter gear. The seat itself is secured to the car via the carseat lock system, however, my son is strapped in only by a seatbelt.

Also, is this simply a matter of seatbelt failure? In which case, couldn't this happen to anybody at any time? My son will still be my baby at 12, but I obviously can't latch him into the car via a five point harness. Are we actually talking an issue of seatbelt safety rather than a problem specific to boosters? Now that we're all panicked!

lisa bonney Leung 11-10-2006 @ 5:48PM

Wow. Thanks Nadine.
That is scary stuff.

Tina 11-10-2006 @ 6:12PM

The video you mention got a lot of discussion lately on the http://www.car-seat.org message boards.

LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) is an alternate way (not neccessarily safer, usually easier though) of installing your child's carseat in the car. All vehicles since 2000 or 2001 have these anchors- two for the seat to attach to the car and one usually behind the seat to attach the tether (optional on some seats)

Kyle's SEATBELT failed and he was ejected from the car- he was in a booster seat using the seatbelt. Seatbelt failure happens on occasion, as theoretically could any mechanical part of a car. Even LATCH can fail, although I'm not sure if any data exists regarding numbers.

The point of the video was, that if Kyle had been in a higher weight harnessing seat (ie Britax Regent), he would have been safer because his seat would have been attached with LATCH ncluding the tether. The tether is used as another anchor point and to reduce FF movement of the head in a frontal collision (head excursion) All US seats that have a tether must pass standard testing WITHOUT the tether, though.

LATCH is not a panacea, though, a point to consider is that LATCH is only allowed by carseat manufacturers and most vehicle manufacturers to be used up to 48 lbs- max child weight.Then you MUST switch to seatbelt installation- EVEN with a 5 pt.harnessed seat like the Regent.

Experts recommend that 4 yrs and 40 lbs is the bare minimum to switch a child to a booster (using seatbelt only, not 5 pt harness) The child should be mature enough to sit upright, not wiggle around, be able to stay positioned- not reach for toys,etc for the whole trip- every time. Most Child safety advocates agree that 4 yrs is too young for that to be possible- maturity wise.

One final thing- Britax does make 4 seats that harness past 40 lbs- 3 go up to 65lbs and the Regent goes up to 80lbs. Cosco (Apex 65)makes one that costs about $100- harnesses to 65lbs and the Sunshine Kids Radian goes to 65 lbs also ($179-$199) More are on the way because there is a need to harness past 40 lbs for most all kids.

Bottomline is most 2 and 3 yr old shouldn't be in boosters- and there are affordable options.

Jacqui 11-10-2006 @ 6:28PM

I am horrified at what I just saw and my heart goes out to the family, especially to the big sister.

But like Spring's and Rachel's concern, the Britax is just too expensive for my family especially with two boys who needs it (our youngest is only 9 years old and is still in his infant car seat). Is there an alternative to it? (Can another reader who have a little extra time in their hands today do research on this and share it here? I'll be able to do it but not until later tonight when the kiddos and the hubby are settled down for the night.)

My 4-year old is already in a booster seat with only the seatbelt to anchor him while the second one sits on an Evenflo convertible, I know he is safe enough there. I am more concerned for my older one who would often put the top teether behind his head.

Another factor to consider is the car/brand model itself. I saw previous posts here where the bloggers wrote about reliable models when it comes to safety. The video did not mention what kind of van the family had. Will a seatbelt get unlatched even if the car is a Volvo, or one of those highly-rated models?

About the talk that the video is a campaign for Britax, I have a similar concern since I remember seeing a similar but older video on car seat safety and endorsing Britax as well. That video even featured not only one family but several.

Nonetheless, it never pays to be take extra precautions when it comes to ferrying the kids in the Batmobile.

I am looking forward to seeing comments about Nadine's posts that offer alternatives to the Britax. Thank you in advance. And thanks Nadine and to Sarah, too.

Jacqui 11-10-2006 @ 6:29PM

Ooops, I was too preoccupied with writing my own comments that I failed to see Tina's post on the affordable alternatives. Thank you, Tina. Your research saved me a lot of computer time tonight.

Stacy B 11-10-2006 @ 11:28PM

Well I agree that this was a horrible & sad incident, I think it was the "faulty seatbelt" that is to blame. Their other child was fine and in the same type of seat. And we don't know the rest of the story~ whether he may having been playing with his seat belt & undone it or if it was never "clicked" in the first place. I don't think it's at all practical for everyone to go out & buy a Britax with a tether. And even if that boy was in a 5-point harness, he still would have been thrown from the car because of the seatbelt.

Lianne Earles 11-11-2006 @ 5:24AM

My friend was involved in an accident only last week with her three children in the back (aged 10, 8 and 6)
An car smashed into the back of her, pushed her into the car in front.
Fortunately (in this case), all passengers walked away.
But she did say that she wished the younger children had been in 5-pt harnesses because it would have avoided some of the bruising which occured (as they were flung back into the headrests). Thank you, Bloggingbaby, I will forward her this article and also look out for a larger seat for my 3 yr old when the time comes.

Nadine 11-11-2006 @ 10:06AM

Thanks readers. Honestly, do I have the best readers or what? I appreciate all you concerns and will do more research into it. In the meantime, I thank those who DID do the research and provided it here. The Britax is expensive, and I'd hate to think that they would use fear and cheesy tactics to get people to buy there car seat. But as Tina pointed out, there are other lower priced models, ones that will grow with your child and cost less in the long run. Have a safe weekend.

Serena 11-13-2006 @ 12:18AM

While Kyle's situation is certainly tragic, the production of the video has made for wide spread panick amoungst the blogging and forum community. The fact is that Car seats and boosters work in the majority of cases and seat belts save lives. If you tell people that seat belts will fail then people won't bother using them. Hit people with statistics and facts and you're more likely to get things moving in a positive direction. My heart goes out to Kyles family but the video is an emotional outcry to aid in their healing. Not a well researched documentary.

If you're wanting a peek at how kyles video could have made a better impression, check out this clip done by a 17 year old high school student. It's about extended rear facing rather then extended harnessing but it' could easily be used as a public service announcement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRP7ynNI8mI

brooke 11-15-2006 @ 10:35AM

I received this video from a triplet group about a week ago. My triplets are 41/2 yrs old and are in boosters with only the seatbelt holding them in...not for long! I'm spending the money X3. I totally get why a five point harness with tether and LATCH is reinforcing saftey. Wouldn't we all like for babies to be as safe as possible? The standards need to change, there are only a few carseat manufactures who are making harness restraints for higher end weight limits. It should be affordable for all of us to have our babies as safe as possible. I so appriciate this video because I didn't know... I bought cheap booster seats because I assumed they were as safe as any other restraint for their size/age. My kids don't sit still and don't leave their seatbelts alone.

Tracey 11-20-2006 @ 8:24AM

Just an FYI- this video was made by one of the April 2006 Babycenter moms so it's not a Britax person that was paid to make it. She did it for remembrance of her son and to inform people.
http://www.kyledavidmiller.memory-of.com

Jen 11-20-2006 @ 9:47AM

Something very important to remember is that ALL carseats are safety tested. Just because one seat costs $300 and another $79 doesn't mean the $300 one is more safe. What matters is that the carseat is installed in your car correctly and fits that vehicle correctly, and that your child fits correctly into the seat. I urge you ALL to have your car seats checked by a professional. Call your local fire dept, police dept or AAA office to make an appt. Also, check with your pediatrician's office, they sometimes have a list of local checkpoints. A few minutes to have it checked could EASILY save your childs life. I can't tell you how many car seats I've seen that the parent thought they were making it more safe, when really they were making it unsafe. And in response to whether a Volvo seat belt is more safe, the answer is no. Again, they are ALL safety tested. If one fails, it is because of faulty equipment, not the amount of money you paid for it.

Mommamea 11-29-2006 @ 8:10PM

In response to post 18. Of course a $300 model isn't "safer" than a less expensive one, but it is built for a heavier and taller child and therefore can be used LONGER, which is the point that's trying to be made. Cheaper models just don't go as high, which I learned from having a 40lb 2 year old! At the time of the making of this video the Britax was the only car seat maker that made a "taller, heavier" child model... that's the only reason it's being endorsed. There are a few others, the Radian by Sunshine Kids for example.

It's doesn't matter what you spend as long as it's installed correctly, as mentioned, and that it's big enough to fit your child. But sometimes you can only get "big enough" by spending the money. In this case, when you spend more, you get more, and therefore you get "safer".

Beth Lake 12-03-2006 @ 12:23AM

For those looking for a less expensive 5 point harness booster seat safe up to 60 pounds, look at Safeguard Go Travel Booster seat (www.safeguardgo.com). It was only $179 with free shipping on www.comfortfirst.com. It does require a top tether and also works with LATCH. The harness system works for kids 30 - 60 pounds and 34 - 52 inches tall. It also coverts to a backless booster seat after 60 pounds and can be used with the LATCH system or the seatbelt. I was researching online and found numerous positive reviews and it also won the IParenting award for Best of the Best. I have ordered it for my own 4 year old. Hope this information helps.