Calling All Trinas!

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Hello! What can you tell me about T-shield carseats? I just realized a friend is using one and I'm concerned. Thanks!

By Kate on Tuesday, August 9, 2005 - 11:09 pm:

For T-shields, there is a concern that the throat of a small child may be injured from contact with the top of the shield during a crash. In the same series of crash tests, neck forces were 40% higher for T-shields than for 5-point harnesses, and the crotch load with T-shields was 2.7 times higher than with 5-points.

I got that from the articles you have links to. Can you decipher that for me, though? I really have no idea what they are saying, just that it must be bad.

Also, how would the throat touch the T-shield? This an almost two year old child. Thanks!

By Crystal915 on Tuesday, August 9, 2005 - 11:48 pm:

I am not Trina, but I was under the impression that the danger of the T shield was crushing injury to the chest. If you get into a crash it's like an adult's chest hitting the steering wheel, can cause major damage. I know Trina will have the right answer for us, but I know they are a no-no!

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 08:42 am:

For T-shields, there is a concern that the throat of a small child may be injured from contact with the top of the shield during a crash. In the same series of crash tests, neck forces were 40% higher for T-shields than for 5-point harnesses, and the crotch load with T-shields was 2.7 times higher than with 5-points.

That pretty much says it right there. T-shields are made of hard plastic and during a crash they have a much higher risk of injury than a 5 pt. harnessed car seat. They only have 3 points of restraint. My parents bought DS a t-shield car seat when DS was a baby (1996) and I hated it.

My other concerns - I don't believe t-shield car seats have been made for several years, which means this particular car seat is older and quite possibly expired. Also, if it is a Fisher Price t-shield there is a high chance it has been recalled.

Fisher Price Car Seat recalls

By Kate on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 08:56 am:

But what do they mean by 'neck forces were 40% higher' and what is 'crotch load' and what does it mean that crotch load is 2.7 times higher? I want to be able to clearly explain this to my friend.

I don't know if it's a Fisher Price but I can tell it's an older style based on the 'paperclip' harness it has across the chest.

By Kaye on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 09:09 am:

I think that crotch load means that when you are in a wreck that the baby is pushed forward and they get more force between their legs.

Same for the neck, if the baby is small and the sheild comes at all close to the neck (4-6 inches) then the baby will get pushed into that, it has a lot more give.

I had one when my two youngest were babies, I loved this seat. It was so easy and convient than all those straps. i didn't know they weren't as safe. Mine was a century. But I know my last one i bought in 1996 and I don't think I have seen them around. You really shouldn't use car seats past 5 years, as the plastic breaks down and in a wreck are likely to fail, that might be the easiest to explain to your friend.

By Kate on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 09:20 am:

That's a good way, Kaye. Trina, what about what Crystal said? Is a T-shield similar to an adult hitting the steering wheel?

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 09:35 am:

Kaye explained crotch load well. Basically, it's how hard the child makes contact with the crotch buckle during a crash. I don't know if I'd go so far to say it's similar to an adult hitting a steering wheel, but bottom line, t-shields are not manufactured any longer due to safety issues. Isn't that enough?! LOL! Not to mention the fact the seat is most likely expired and quite possibly recalled.

Not new? Is this seat safe?

Do you think you could encourage her to attend a Car Seat Clinic or visit an inspection station?
SeatCheck.org

USA.SafeKids.org

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 09:44 am:

Just did some research. Apparently Century made t-shields up to 2002. So, it *is* possible that the seat isn't expired. People don't often respond well to unsolicited advice. If you're able to tactfully give her information about t-shields, that's all you can do. It's her parental decision at that point. Good luck!
Pictorial of t-shield car seats. PDF format

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 03:34 pm:

I'm glad my kids aren't in car seats anymore. We went through several car seats and they all had the t-shield! (late 80's to early 90's)

Yikes! How quickly things changed. I loved my fisher price car seat, because it was so easy to get the kid in and out of it!

By Kate on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 10:17 am:

Thanks everyone! She's buying a new seat ASAP she said.

That makes up for yesterday when I had a first time playdate with someone and field trips and carseats came up and she said her husband thinks all the new booster seat laws are just a ploy to make money by the seat manufacturers and the law enforcement agencies. Sigh....I didn't comment directly on that, but I did say that I felt the laws didn't go far enough and that it really bothers me to drive around an improperly restrained child in my car because either the throat will get crushed, or if the belt is behind the back then that child's head becomes a dangerous weapon in my car as it gets tossed about, putting MY child who may be next to her, in grave danger. I also said the head will go as far as it can before being stopped by an object or by its own spinal cord, resulting in likely paralysis or death. I said this very nicely, putting the whole emphasis on how scary it can be to drive for field trips because of the major discrepancies over how to retrain children. Maybe she gleaned something out of it.

By Trina~moderator on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 01:42 pm:

Good work! Let's hope she gets a 5 pt. harness and not a shield seat.

I hate the "the new booster seat laws are just a ploy to make money" attitude. Argh! No, they are to prevent injuries and save the lives of children!

By Kate on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 02:55 pm:

Oh, no, she won't get a shield! I told her all about T-shields and regular shields and she's getting a five point harness. I recommended top of the line Britax Marathon, or the reasonable Graco Comfort Sport. Who can resist spending a mere $60 when it dramatically improves your child's safety??