A booster seat with important features (the new model!)
Written: Nov 14 '00 (Updated Nov 14 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to use, fits a wide range of sizes, relatively inexpensive
Cons: Tips over in storage unless propped up, not as comfy as some seats
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| iowamommy's Full Review: Fisher Price Safe Embrace Booster |
The Fisher Price Safe Embrace booster seat is a belt-positioning booster seat. This simply means that it boosts your child up higher to make the adult seat belts line up correctly on their bodies. Since seat belts were designed for adults, they don’t hit the child in the right spot.
You might be surprised to find out that it is now recommended that children be placed in booster seats until they are approximately 4’9” and 80 lbs. That is the approximate size of a child who will start to fit correctly in adult belts. Many kids hit this at around 9-10 years of age. Kids smaller than this riding in adult belts risk internal injuries from the lap portion of the belt putting force on their stomachs during a crash instead of the hip bones taking the force, They also risk neck and spinal cord injuries if they put the shoulder belt behind their head to get it out of the way. Using it in this manner takes away all upper body protection. The solution? Using a booster makes the belts fit properly and they avoid these occurrences.
Is my child the right size for this booster seat?
This seat is for children who weigh between 30-80 pounds and are 37-55 inches tall.
Note: This is the newer version of this seat. The previous model only was certified to 60 pounds, so look for the newer version if you are purchasing this seat. The older model also was shorter.
A child who is under 40 lbs. is still safer using a 5-point harness, since that will provide more protection. This seat is for older children who have outgrown their current car seat (by weight or height) and who are mature enough to sit still to keep the adult belts on. (If your child is beyond the 40 lb. weight limit of harnessed seats but is not yet old enough to meet this guideline, there is one seat on the market now that lets you keep your child harnessed until 60 lbs. This is the Fisher Price Futura. It is helpful for kids who reach the weight limit early but are still too young for a belt-positioner booster alone.)
What is this seat like?
Now that you know whether your child is the appropriate size for this seat, I’d like to describe it. The seat is a high backed booster seat that looks like a bucket seat.
The seat offers some nice features. There are height guidelines right on the cover of the seat. These show the minimum and maximum shoulder heights that can be accommodated safely be this seat. It is easy to see if your child is too short or too tall to use the seat. The general rule on height is that once the ears hit the top of the seat, the child is too tall, but this guide offers an extra check for parents.
There are adjustable shoulder belt guides on each side. This is a plastic piece that looks like a handle, and this is to slip the shoulder belt through so it guides it to line up correctly on your child’s shoulder. You don’t want it too high so the belt hits the child in the face, or so low that it slides off the shoulder and the protection is lost. You simply press a button and slide the guide to adjust the fit. It is very easy to use. There is a handle on each side, so you can use the seat on the right or left side of your car.
An important feature which sets this seat apart from some others is the lap belt positioner. The belt should go across the hips instead of the tummy to avoid internal injuries in an accident from the seat belt hitting them in the wrong spot. This seat has deep grooves cut out down by the hips and the belt uses that as its path. The belt has no choice but to be positioned in the right spot on the child, across the hip bones. Some other seats (the kind that convert from a harnessed seat to a booster later) have a weak point on this issue. They don’t have the deep grooves here, or the sides are so curved that the belts don’t fit as precisely.
Our experience
The seat is simple to use and maintain. The seat comes without the fabric pad on it, so all you have to do for assembly is to place the cover on it. The cover took awhile to put on, as you have to get it in place and then do a series of stretchy “crossover” straps that secure it in place. The cover is navy blue to help hide stains.
Since it makes use of the adult seat belt system, it isn’t one that you strap into the car. You simply place it on the seat and your child climbs in, and then you fasten the adult belts over it. It is very simple to use.
It is very portable. It is fairly lightweight, even for its tall size. The back of the seat has an indentation in the plastic that serves as a place to grip while carrying the seat.
The seat will fit a wide range of sizes. My almost 8 year old son has a few inches left before his shoulders hit the maximum mark. My 3-1/2 year old daughter is at the minimum mark of shoulder height. If you have kids in this range, the seat would be versatile.
Other safety points
This seat, as with all belt positioning booster seats, is not to be with a lap belt only. This would leave the child without upper body protection. It is meant only for use with a shoulder/lap belt, and this is indicated on the seat pad as a warning message.
Since the back of this seat is tall, it is ideal for those who place a child in a spot without a vehicle headrest. Children who are in low-backed boosters are fine if they have a headrest in that location, but if not, they are better off with this high-backed seat as long as they fit the guidelines.
When this seat is not occupied, it is best to strap it in place, anyway. This is to prevent it from becoming a flying object during an accident and possibly hitting somebody and causing injury.
Any drawbacks?
As with almost any product, there is something I can complain about. The seat doesn’t stand up on its own! It must be top heavy from being so tall. If you take it out of your car and set it down in the garage, it tips right over backwards unless you prop it up on something. I have done this countless times, even though I know better. It isn’t a big deal; just a bit awkward.
Also, keep in mind that this isn’t “plush” like infant car seats usually are. This serves just to elevate your child for maximum safety as far as seat belt fit and provides your child more visibility (most kids like being able to see so much more out the window) and comfort by avoiding having the seat belt in his face. The seat is very upright. If your child naps in the car, his head will probably flop around. Some other boosters have more curve to the sides, but then the shoulder belt is sometimes held away from the body more, as well, which isn’t as safe. You need to keep your own child in mind when selecting a seat. If the comfort issue is a big concern and you have an extra $100+, check out the Britax StarRiser Comfy, which helps support a sleeping head and has a removable backrest.)
Is it expensive?
The average price I see this seat for is about $60. I found mine at babystyle.com and they had a discount special going on at the time, which they often offer. I see now it is listed at $50 at the site. They did have some sort of “surcharge” that was almost $10, but at the time of purchase, there was also a $10 rebate form included in my box, so they cancelled each other out. It was still cheaper than I could find it in a store, and I don’t live near a store that carries it, so this was a good deal for me. After I get this sent in, my total will be around $38.00. You can find good deals on this seat if you watch closely; just make sure you get the newer version.
Recommendation
If you are looking for a no-frills, average-priced, belt-positioning booster for a child who has outgrown a harnessed seat, give this some consideration. Given the wide range of sizes this seat fits, it is a nice one to have on hand to send when your child rides with a friend or with grandparents. It is easy to use, which is great when your child is with somebody who isn’t as familiar with car seats.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 38.00 after coupons and rebates
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iowamommy
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