Booster seat requirements

[feenie]

We will be bringing our friends 8 year old son with us to Disney this fall. We are planning on renting a car. Does anyone know the booster seat requirements for Florida?
In New Hampshire he still legally is required to use one. Thanks!

 

[JennsBabySky]

Well, the laws of physics are not going to be changing from NH to FL! I don't believe that he is legally required to be in a booster at age 8 in FL, but here are the recommended guidelines (regardless of state) for determining if a child is ready for a belt only.

Children are not ready to be in a regular lap/shoulder seatbelt until:

They are tall enough so that their legs bend at the knees at the edge of the seat; and
They are mature enough to remain seated with their backs flat against the back of the seat and not slouch; and
The lap belt sits high on the thighs or low on the hips (NOT on their tummy!); and
The shoulder belt crosses the shoulder and chest (NOT on their arms or neck!)

I would plan on bringing at least a low back booster to FL. A child could very well not need a booster in one car and need a booster in another (since the belts will fit the child differently), so there is no real way of knowing whether or not the child will need the booster in the rental. Low back boosters are relatively small and easy to use and a rental car should be equipped with shoulder belts and head rests. In my opinion, it is just not worth the risk!

 

[beattyfamily]

Over age 4 only requires a seat belt, not that I'm suggesting that.

ALL CHILDREN 5 YEARS OLD OR YOUNGER MUST USE A RESTRAINT DEVICE WHEN RIDING IN A MOTOR VEHICLE.

The law requires every driver to secure children five years of age or younger in child restraint devices riding in a passenger car, van, or pick-up truck, regardless of whether the vehicle is registered in this state. Infant carriers or children's car seats must be used for children three years old and younger. Children's car seats or safety belts may be used for four- and five-year-olds.

 

[gw_lit]

Check out the website of the National Safe Kids Campaign http://www.safekids.org/ . On the right hand side, there's a drop down to select the state you're interested in (or pick ALL STATES), and then on the next page, pick "Car" from the drop down. This will show the car seat laws for any state you select.

I always find it odd that my 6 year old doesn't need a booster in Arkansas, but if we drive 2 hours to Memphis, Tennessee, he needs one. I really wish every state would be consistent with this! (The National Safe Kids Campaign recommends that children use a booster until age 8, when adult lap/shoulder belts should fit them correctly.)

 

[G00fyDad]

Children ages 7 and under in all seating positions must be properly restrained in an appropriate child safety seat, provided that the driver holds an Indiana driver's license.

Are they kidding me??!! My DD was wayyyyy to tall for a booster seat at 7 years old. If DS is as tall when he hits 7 then he is going to look stupid in a booster seat. They are doing this because some idiot in our state government thought, "hey, lets see who I can mess with today.". There is no reason for this "age" limit on these. The height and weight restrictions were just fine. Now, the child can be far to big for even the biggest car seat and just because they are 7 yo or younger they HAVE to be in one. Geez!! This is just one more reason for me to move closer to the Mouse.