Booster seat until age 8 only or older? A little long...

[Bibbidi]

My dd7 just turned 7 a month ago. She is a bitty thing and is still in a booster seat. This is budget related because today I ordered her a new Compass Booster seat. I guess I'm looking for support for my expense.

Couple points:
Current booster: Disney Princess Graco seat, but after a million washings, the seat cushions/arm rests just look dingy and honestly I don't know how comfortable the seat cushion is after 4 years of use.

Age/weight recommendation for booster: I read that kids should be 8 and 80 pounds--she probably weighs 48 tops by now.

Since she'll have to be in a booster for at least another year, I felt that it might be appropriate to get a fabric that was less kiddish and more grown up, which is why I chose the Compass booster in a daisy print than another character seat. She definitely doesn't meet the requirements to be out of one yet, and probably won't anytime soon, but I just feel guilty spending money on a new seat--yet because she needs to be in one for a while, I wanted to get her a new style/fabric before she gets too embarrassed sitting in a character design--and then gives me trouble about not wanting a booster, when she really needs one--kwim?

 

[wowsmom]

It makes sense to me.

My boys only needed boosters until they were about 8½, but my younger son has a friend (10½) who still rides in a booster since he is not that heavy (very skinny kid!).

 

[Pamlur]

Tennessee passed a law a few years ago that required a booster until age 9 or five feet tall. My grandson, who was eight at the time, and had been out of a booster, had to go back into one. He wasn't happy, but he wasn't given a choice by his parents.

 

[PoohHappens]

My son will be 7 in November and righ now he weighs a whopping 42lbs. I am afraid we may be in a booster for a while, I cant imagine him trying to buckle without one. We have a compass seat and love it. I say on your purchase. Who knows her seat may be so cool and comfy that her "bigger" friends may wish they had one.

 

[Minniemouse07]

I replaced dd's car seat after my car was totaled back in December w/ another harnessed seat and she's turning 7yo on MONDAY! At 6.5yo she could have easily sat in a booster seat (she does in dh's car) but she still fits in the 5pt harness in the Graco Nautilus so I went with that (it converts to a booster once she outgrows her harness) instead of just a booster.

I would definitely keep your dd in the booster seat until she passes the 5 Step Test, which sounds like it won't be anytime soon.

 

[eyor44]

You did good to keep a seat that long. I probably would have bought a new one at three years.

 

[carmie3377]

DD turned 9 in March and she still uses a booster seat. We actually had her out of one from about 6-8 because she is so tall and always has been for her age. However, DH began pediatric residency last year and they watched a video regarding kids involved in accidents and what can happen if the belt doesn't fit properly. Needless to say, he immediately went out and bought her a booster that she still uses today. I think the recommendations are until they are 4'9" but I'm not for certain. She's 4'8" and doesn't like using it around her friends, but we told her to get over, that's the way she's safest.

 

[cntrygal]

my daughter is 7 and weighs 52 pounds. An i got her a backless one as she was too tall for the one with the back. I paid 20 bucks. at target, even has a cup holder

 

[tripletrouble]

My boys are 8 years old and all 3 of them are still in booster seats. I think that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids be 4'9" to be taken out of the booster seat. Having said that, mostly all of my kids' friends are not in booster seats and are not 4'9".

 

[tikilyn]

Tennessee passed a law a few years ago that required a booster until age 9 or five feet tall. My grandson, who was eight at the time, and had been out of a booster, had to go back into one. He wasn't happy, but he wasn't given a choice by his parents.

I think I better tell mom not to for get her booster seat if she's ever in Tennessee sense she's only 4'10!!

All joking aside. OP I think you need to go with your gut feeling on this one. If it makes you feel better and your daughter then buy it.

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

My dd sounds just like yours OP and she will be 8 next month of course we have two backless graco turbo boosters and right now she is has informed me she doesn't like the princesses anymore well we have an ariel which we primarily use and the print is under her so I don't think she minds it as much and the blue and pink princess one that we use for when she goes off w/ family. She doesn't really go off with her friends and I know if she did she would not want to go in her seat b/c all of her friends have passed the requirements for any type of carseat. I could totally justify the purchase infact the other day we took a day trip to gulfshores and on the way home I caught her w/out her seat belt on and I threatened her that I would buy a carseat that she had to harness into if I ever caught her w/out her seat belt on for any reason.

 

[mamalle]

went to a trauma coarse a few months back and they are seeing a increase in esophageal injuries with kids in car accidents. I believe they recommend now 8 or 80 lbs. in the booster..

 

[ERMama]

my 7.5 yo just got a new booster (with a back). we didnt like how the belt thread thru one of his old ones. hes about 45 inches and 42 lbs. he will be a booster for a long time.

 

[Bibbidi]

Oh good--you've all confirmed my decision to buy a new one. We're big on safety in our house--it surprises me how many people I've run into who get their kids out of car seats and never even use boosters. At least now she should have one that will be comfortable, along with a fabric that won't be childish. Thanks for the support--glad to hear from one poster who is happy with the Compass brand. Now I just have to hope that dd5 doesn't complain about wanting a new one.

 

[LadyBears]

Here in MA they just passed a new law:

From the mass.gov website:

Its says that “no child under the age of eight and measuring less than
fifty-seven inches (4ft 9 in) shall ride as a passenger in a motor vehicle on any way unless such child is properly fastened and secured, according to
the manufacturers’ instructions, by a child passenger restraint”.​

​

The previous law only required children under 5 years of age and
under 40 pounds to ride in a child safety seat.

I couldn't find anything about a new weight limit.​

 

[KirstenB]

Our dd is 10, she is 54 inches tall and weighs right around 54 lbs. I've let her know she's staying in her booster until the shoulder strap hits her more across her chest. It's still around her neck. I''m really wiggy about safety and she knows it. No offense, but I don't care what her friends do or don't do when it's safety-related.

 

[Coll0610]

DS will be 13 next month. He's 4'11" and 79 pounds. We took him out of the booster a couple years ago. Now he wants to ride in the front seat, but we're holding off for now.

 

[sardanem]

My DD16 is barely 5 ft and a little over 90 lbs. Do you think she should bring a car seat to drivers ed with her? We actually thought for the longest time she would need a booster seat to go to the prom. I am all for safety, but there are small and short people out there. I have many friends who barely make the 4'9 height requirement, so I do think that age has to come into play at some point. A lot has to do with the child. My son was very big for his age and this was when car and booster seats only went up to 40 lbs. Well, he was 40 lbs at 2 years old--he has thinned out a lot now at 13, so he was out of a booster seat at 2. He learned to sit in a seat belt and not take it off and has been fine. The seats now can accomodate much bigger kids obviously, but back then, I had no choice.


Lisa

 

[beckanoah]

My dd is 7.5 and still in her CAR seat too. She can be in those buckles till 65 pounds and 52 inches I believe! she's used a booster a few times, but not many. She's 43 pounds and 47 inches tall. I support your decision 100% OP! She'll probably be in a booster until at LEAST 10 years old, as she's supposed to be 57 inches to be out of one!

Better safe than sorry!

 

[Crystal0608]

My ds is 6.5, weighs 46 lbs and is 43" tall. He will be in a booster for a while. DD, almost 8, weighs 92 lbs and is 54", so she has been out of a booster for about a year. In NC its 8 years or 80 lbs. Both kids have had a few boosters, when we find a better one (bigger seat, etc), the old one goes to a grandparent. Now they all have one in their cars.