Child seats for lap belt only

[Zamzoo]

Hi there,

Some of the older vans we’re looking at have a 4th belt that is a only lap belt.

Anyone use child seats with these? I know of some out there, just wondering how others have found them. Are they fairly secure feeling once in?

 

[Mikeco]

Don’t know if such a thing is available but the seat will be no good to use later on when you don’t use a child seat.

 

[pappajohn]

I wouldn't use a lap belt to restrain a dog let alone a small child

 

[Mikeco]

My great granddaughter is 3 and she sits in a child seat but the 3 point seat belt is fixed over her.

 

[Zamzoo]

They do exist for lap belts only but that is a valid point about the usage after they grow out of the child seat!

Guess this limits the vehicle search pool more

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[Captain Yoghurtpot]

We have both front facing 3 point seat belts and rear facing lap belts in the passenger part of our van as well as driver and passenger 3 point belts in the cab.
My grandchildren are ALWAYS in the 3 point forward facing rear passenger belts and only any additional adult is allowed to use the rear facing lap belts.
I would never use a lap belt for a child and never for either an adult or a child if side facing.

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Hi there,

Some of the older vans we’re looking at have a 4th belt that is a only lap belt.

Anyone use child seats with these? I know of some out there, just wondering how others have found them. Are they fairly secure feeling once in?

What vans are you looking at.
Bit odd that 3 belts are fixed 3 point and fourth is a lap belt?
Is the lap belt by any chance on a side bench seat?

 

[Nanniemate]

There is a reason that lap belts are no longer fitted, there are 2 (one each side ) in the rear of mine but I would not use them for precious cargo please wait for the right van to come along with the correct number of 3 point belts.

 

[Zamzoo]

Lap belts are fine for children *when* used with an appropriate 5 point harness child seat.

Child seats are still made currently for lap belt use only, they are safe.

As pointed out above the problem that probably makes this kind of arrangement a non starter is when they grow out of the child seat, the lap belt alone becomes quite unsuitable for children.

This issue has been raised as a couple of Niesmann + Bischoff Arto vans have come up for sale, the pre 2005 ones only have 1 3 point belt and 1 lap belt in the L shaped front lounge.

Either way, best to wait it seems.

 

[cmcardle75]

There is a reason that lap belts are no longer fitted, there are 2 (one each side ) in the rear of mine but I would not use them for precious cargo please wait for the right van to come along with the correct number of 3 point belts.

A rear facing lap belt might actually be safer than a front facing 3 point belt. Any side facing seat is a disaster.

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[Clivefog]

Securon supply belts and anchor points plus diagrams. Used them to install 3 point belts in several Japanese imports. Remember any fitted belts are an MoT item.

 

[Zamzoo]

Securon supply belts and anchor points plus diagrams. Used them to install 3 point belts in several Japanese imports. Remember any fitted belts are an MoT item.

Interesting. I had a look at their site, I’m not sure how it would help if the anchor point isn’t there for the shoulder loop though.

the positioning of it would mean I would be attempting to put an anchor point in on the wall of the bathroom..

not sure what they changed in the 2005 model, maybe there is a way but it sounds convoluted.

 

[cmcardle75]

Interesting. I had a look at their site, I’m not sure how it would help if the anchor point isn’t there for the shoulder loop though.

Yes, Securon are a respected supplier of belts, but they don't supply the anchorages!

 

[GAVLAD]

In answer to your question, yes, you can use a lap belt with a child seat, on condition that the child seat is designed to accept a lap belt.

We used to have a classic VW campervan which had no rear seat belts.
I fitted some seat belts, two of which were 3 point and one being a lap belt. VW had already put in the anchor points/holes and I bought the fitting kits with the seat belts.
We purchased a baby seat/child seat which accepted both 3 point and lap belts.
For the lap belt, it was a faff threading it through the seat and from memory, it had a clamp which secured the seat to the belt. It was a Brittax seat.
Child seats are now sold in classes/categories of child age/weight/height.
The one that we had was at the small/youngest stage of the scale.
I wouldn’t have used it on an older / taller child as I could see potentially the seat tipping forward if the child tried rocking forward due to being heavier.
However, we never had any issues using ours.

Given the choice, you’d be better securing the seat with 3 point seat belt.
Some child seats have a rear tether which is secured behind the seat.
Ideally, isofix are the best but not many Motorhome manufacturers use them and those that do have only recently fit them.

I’ve wrote to MMM magazine about the lack of features within their mag aimed at families - this area being one part of that. I felt that their reply was very defensive.

 

[Jim]

Lap belts used to be quite common in motorhomes, less so these days in Euro vans but still plenty in RV's We used baby seats and lap belts. They still make them, presumably handy for lap belt air travel too.