Brachial Plexus Car Seat Options for After Surgery
The Brachial Plexus Center team at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center offers guidelines to assist in child car seat selection for children with brachial plexus injuries.
Car Seat Options | Travel Recommendations | More Information
Car Seat Options
Airway
- Car Seat Specialty
- Harness 20 - 50 lbs / belt positioning booster 33 - 80 lbs
- No tether required
- Sold online. Pull up your favorite search engine and search by "airway or "airway car seat."
- Limited side wings on car seat may accommodate cast / braces
Belt Positioning Boosters
- Various manufacturers, available at various store locations
- Prices vary depending on models and features
- Width of booster vary by models / manufacturers
- High back and no back models (high back preferred unless limited area for width of cast / brace)
- MUST USE both lap and shoulder belt
- NO BACK BOOSTERS minimum weight 40 lbs (varies by manufacturers)
- HIGH BACK BOOSTERS minimum weight 30+ lbs (varies by manufacturers)
Britax Husky (Replaced by newer version: Regent)
- www.britaxusa.com
- Harness 22 - 80 lbs (forward facing only)
- Tether REQUIRED after 50 lbs
- This car seat has a large inside width (similar to the Traveller Plus) to possibly accommodate the cast / brace; however adjusting the harness strap for a snug fit may make this seat unusable since both shoulder harnesses are adjusted together. Refer to Traveller Plus for suggested harness use).
E-Z-ON" 86Y Universal Harness
- E-Z-ON" Products: 1-800-323-6598, www.ezonpro.com
- 66 -168 lbs.
- Must use with lap and tether (vehicle factory installed tether up to 80 lbs, after that must have E-Z-ON Tether anchor installed)
- Can be used with Ride Ryte Booster for better lap belt positioning
- Shoulder harness straps can be positioned directly over the shoulder and under the cast support bar
- Shoulder harness straps adjust independently of each other
E-Z-ON" Kid Y-Harness must be used with Ride Ryte Booster (High back booster: 30-80 lbs or No back booster: 40-80 lbs)
- Safety Angel: 1-888-RIDE-RYTE, www.safetyangel.com
- MUST Use lap belt AND top tether or lap and shoulder belt with a locking clip and top tether
- Shoulder harness straps adjust independently
- Shoulder straps can be removed to position directly over the shoulder and under cast support bar
E-Z-ON" Vest (Up Right)
- E-Z-ON" Products: 1-800-323-6598, www.ezonpro.com
- Use of lap seat belt and tether required
- Multiple sizes plus can custom make a size (measure waist)
- 20 -168 lbs, 2 years to adult
- Use of the Ride Ryte Booster seat recommended for under 40 lbs or use a vest with a crotch strap to help keep lap belt positioned low on hips
- Adjustable shoulder straps could possibly be positioned directly over the shoulder and under the cast support bar. Each side of the harness independently adjusts
- May not have enough room in arm hole area for cast with support bar
E-Z-ON" Modified Vest (Lying Down)
- E-Z-ON" Products: 1-800-323-6598, www.ezonpro.com
- Multiple sizes plus can custom make a size (measure waist)
- Minimum age / weight: 20 lbs and 2 years of age
- Adjustable shoulder straps could possibly be positioned directly over the shoulder and under the cast support bar. Each side of the harness independently adjusts
- May not have enough room in arm hole area for cast with support bar
- Size of child limited to length of vehicle back seat
Evenflo" Triumph
- 5 - 30 lbs rear facing
- 20 - 40 lbs forward facing
- This seat has a wider inside upper body width that may accommodate a cast or brace
IMMI SafeGuard" Go
- www.safeguardgo.com, 1-800-586-7839
- When used with harness: 30 to 60 lbs and over 1 year of age
- When using harness you must use the tether strap
- This seat can be used as a belt-positioning booster between 40 to 100 lbs and over 3 years of age.
- Lap and shoulder belt MUST BE USED in booster mode.
- This harnessed seat has side head supports but has open sides along the body which may accommodate a cast / brace. Each shoulder strap can be independently adjusted to tighten. However the harness straps can not be easily removed to go under the cast support bar and be reattached.
Safeguard" Go
- Harnessed seat: 30-60 lbs, 34"-52", minimum 1 year of age -- top tether use required
- Booster seat: 40-100 lbs, 43"-57", minimum 3 years of age
- LATCH equipped, light weight, portable (folds)
- Side head protection and support but with open sides above arm rests that may allow space for cast
- www.safeguardseat.com
Snug Seat" Car Bed
- Birth – 20 lbs
- Child is secured in a "sleeping bag" with no harness straps
- Infant can be supine, prone or side positioned
- A "discontinued seat" but Caring Services of Southwest Ohio has "loaners" (513-821-9890, Cincinnati, Ohio)
Traveller Plus
- www.snugseat.com
- www.britaxusa.com
- 22 - 105 lbs
- Forward facing only
- Recline bar optional
- Tether required for use ("double tether" used for over 80 lbs)
- This seat has a large inside width (similar to the Husky / Regent) to possibly accommodate the casted / braced arm, however adjusting the harness strap for a snug fit may make this seat unusable since both shoulders harness straps adjust together
- Suggested harness use (not a simple task!): Shoulder harness can be removed from the rear "splitter plate" and threaded through to the front of the car seat so that the harness strap can be placed directly over the shoulder and under the cast support bar. Once placed over the shoulder, it is rethreaded through to the back of the car seat and reattached to the "splitter bar." This method works well when using a vehicle seat that is a "captain's chair" that can be reclined while the car seat is installed. To access the rear of the car seat, you can recline the vehicle seat to reach the rear of the car seat without having to undo the seat belt. The vehicle seat must be returned to the upright position after securing the child in the car seat or the car seat must be reinstalled onto the vehicle seat.
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Travel Recommendations
- Keep travel to a minimum
- Snug harness straps -- no more than 1 finger between collarbone and harness, or cannot pinch excess webbing lengthwise at collarbone
- Shoulder harness straps should go over the shoulder and under the cast support bar if the cast support bar is above the shoulder or extends out in front of the body
- Follow car seat manufacturers instructions for securing the harness and installation of the car seat
- For assistance in installation of the car seat, contact a Cincinnati Children's Fitting Station for an appointment, or call Trauma Services at Cincinnati Children's, 513-636-7865
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More Information
For more information on transporting children with brachial plexus injuries, contact Linda White, Injury Prevention Coordinator, Trauma Services, 513-636-7865
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DISCLAIMER: This list is only to provide guidelines and may not include all car seats, manufacturers and resources. Depending on the size of the child and the positioning of the cast / brace these seats may not be applicable. Always follow the car seat manufacturer's instructions for proper use as well as the vehicle's instructions for proper installation.
Written 5/06
