On This Page

• Additional Information about Adaptive Restraints
• Types of Specialized Restraints
  • Car Beds
  • Jefferson Car Seat
  • Adaptive Restraints for Casts
  • Large Medical Seats
  • Adaptive Booster Seats
  • Adaptive Vests
• Car Seat Use After a Crash
  • What defines a minor crash?
• School Bus Restraints

Adaptive Restraints – Designed for Children Who:

• Are unable to use conventional harness system
• Have outgrown conventional car seat and require additional postural support
• Must lie down
• Demonstrate severe behavioral challenges, escaping/eloping

Additional Information about Adaptive Restraints

• Not readily available
• More expensive than conventional seats
• Utilize insurance for coverage
• Orders must go through local durable medical equipment (DME) providers
• Can take months to acquire

Types of Specialized Restraints

• Car Beds
• Jefferson Car Seat
• Adaptive Restraints for Casts
• Large Medical Seats
• Adaptive Booster Seats
• Adaptive Vests

Car Beds

• For infants and younger children who must lie down
• Prone or right-side positioning requires physician’s order
• All car beds installed lengthwise on vehicle bench seat with child’s head toward center of vehicle

Jefferson Car Seat

• Rear-Facing Only
• Designed for children 7.5-40 pounds, 19-37 inches
• Special yoke harness design for omphaloceles
• Padding and positioning prevents buckle/harness contact with omphalocele/abdomen

Adaptive Restraints for Casts

• Convertible car seat designed for arm and leg casts
  • Rear-facing 5-40 pounds
  • Forward-facing 22-80 pounds
• Hope Car Bed (if need to lie down)
• Lay Down EZ-ON Vest (if need to lie down)
• Spirit Spica (forward-facing only)

• Hope Car Bed (if need to lie down)
• Lay Down EZ-ON Vest (if need to lie down)
• Spirit Spica (forward-facing only)

Large Medical Seats

• Forward-facing only
• Lower weight 20-35 pounds
• Upper weight 102-130 pounds
• 5-point harness restraint

• Standard and Optional Accessories to Improve Positioning:
  • Abductors
  • Seat extenders
  • Lateral supports
  • Head supports
• Anti-escape options on some large medical seats

Adaptive Booster Seats

• Forward-facing only
• Lower weight 20-79 pounds
• Upper weight 108-175 pounds
• Require lap-and-shoulder belt over child for crash protection
• 5-point harness or vest for postural support
• Wedges and abductors for hip and pelvis positioning

Adaptive Vests

• Forward-facing only
• Lower weight 31-81 pounds
• Upper weight 168-225 pounds
• Require lap-and-shoulder belt over child for crash protection
• Vests for postural support
• Leg straps for hip and pelvis positioning

Car Seat Use After a Crash

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that car seats be replaced following a moderate or severe crash in order to ensure a continued high level of crash protection for child passengers. Car seats do not automatically need to be replaced following a minor crash.
• Refer to your specific car seat manual for information

What defines a minor crash?

• A minor crash is one in which ALL of the following apply:
  • The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site.
  • The vehicle door nearest the car seat was not damaged.
  • None of the passengers in the vehicle sustained any injuries in the crash.
  • If the vehicle has air bags, the air bags did not deploy during the crash; and
  • There is no visible damage to the car seat.
• NEVER use a car seat that has been involved in a moderate to severe crash.
• Always follow manufacturer’s instructions.

School Bus Restraints

• Restraint options:
  • Integrated bus seats
  • Conventional restraints
  • Adaptive restraints
  • School bus specific restraints
• Availability of seat belts on bus affects restraint selection
• Some restraints attach to school bus seat without seat belt