Kids should stay harnessed as long as possible. Preferably till age six, if not longer and then go to a high back booster as they provide far more side support and kept the child and belt in a proper position. Many kids squirm, get out of position, fall asleep, etc and cannot keep proper form.

Anonymous wrote:it looks like she was in the wong seat entirely, not just "wearing the seat belt improperly."

Yes, she was in the wrong seat but the warning stands for any child (and adult) who pushes the shoulder belt behind them. Don't put your kids in a booster seat if they're not mature enough to sit in it properly.

Anonymous wrote:This is really tragic and before anyone clicks on the link, please know that there are pictures of this poor girl in the hospital that are truly heartbreaking. Do not click if you aren't prepared.

Keeping my 4.5 year old in his britax monster car seat a little longer now.

thanks for this.

Jesus Christ that was awful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand from reading the story what was done wrong re the booster. Was she not tall or heavy enough for a booster, or was it not set up correctly? I'm not at all trying to cast blame on anyone but trying to figure out what lesson we should take away to keep our own kids safe in boosters

My guess is that at 3.5 she was probably not the right size for a backless booster seat. I would say the lesson is to read the instructions on the booster seat and be sure your child meets the minimum weight/height.

The lesson is also that your child MUST be mature enough to handle sitting with only a seat belt and not mess with the straps or flop to one side, not just that he or she is large enough. She pushed the shoulder belt behind her, leaving basically only a lap belt to protect her.

it looks like she was in the wong seat entirely, not just "wearing the seat belt improperly."

Shoulder belts injure children and adults often.

Close relative is an er doc.

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand from reading the story what was done wrong re the booster. Was she not tall or heavy enough for a booster, or was it not set up correctly? I'm not at all trying to cast blame on anyone but trying to figure out what lesson we should take away to keep our own kids safe in boosters

My guess is that at 3.5 she was probably not the right size for a backless booster seat. I would say the lesson is to read the instructions on the booster seat and be sure your child meets the minimum weight/height.

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand from reading the story what was done wrong re the booster. Was she not tall or heavy enough for a booster, or was it not set up correctly? I'm not at all trying to cast blame on anyone but trying to figure out what lesson we should take away to keep our own kids safe in boosters

Taken from the Car Seat Lady's FB:

Ever seen a kid put the shoulder belt behind their back? It's a super common mistake people make because they find the shoulder belt uncomfortable when it touches their neck. The shoulder belt rubbing your neck may be uncomfortable, but it won't hurt you in a crash.


Anniston's story shows just how catastrophic it can be to wear the shoulder belt behind your back. Without the shoulder belt to hold her head and upper body back in the crash, she suffered brain and spinal cord injuries that led to her death.

Yes, Anniston would have been best protected in a 5 point harness until she was AT LEAST 4y AND 40 pounds AND mature enough to sit properly in a booster. But a backless booster, like she was riding in, while not optimal protection for a 3 year old, would have almost certainly prevented the brain and spinal cord injuries she suffered IF she had worn the shoulder belt properly across her chest.

I don't understand from reading the story what was done wrong re the booster. Was she not tall or heavy enough for a booster, or was it not set up correctly? I'm not at all trying to cast blame on anyone but trying to figure out what lesson we should take away to keep our own kids safe in boosters

This is really tragic and before anyone clicks on the link, please know that there are pictures of this poor girl in the hospital that are truly heartbreaking. Do not click if you aren't prepared.

Keeping my 4.5 year old in his britax monster car seat a little longer now.

Oh the tears.
My 6 yo is still in a five point harness.

So sad.

That's tragic.

Just a warning about the dangers of not wearing the seat belt properly when using a booster.

https://mikkis09ms.wordpress.com/2015/01/22/a-year-later/