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

[happycampers]

It makes me wonder, if the age of people needing car safety/booster seats is getting into the teens and even some adults don't meet some of those guidelines, shouldn't more be being done to make the cars themselves (and the seats within them) much safer for everyone?

 

[bumbershoot]

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

Does that just make you shudder now?

Makes me ill to think about me and my brother rattling around in our pinto station wagon (not the one that tended towards blowing up), especially since we were masters in the art of the silent un-buckle. (oops, I said in another thread that I was a good kid...guess I wasn't really, eep!)

Then again, the cars at that time were all metal tanks, not squishy plastic things.

It makes me wonder, if the age of people needing car safety/booster seats is getting into the teens and even some adults don't meet some of those guidelines, shouldn't more be being done to make the cars themselves (and the seats within them) much safer for everyone?

Well, when my mom and I each leased a Jetta, we did so b/c it was the only normal car we had ever seen where the seats went UP as well as forward and leaning back. Having a seat that ratcheted up got VW 2 leases, and each of us went on to lease or buy another VW each. My mom was only 5'1" and was just about to look into getting a pedal extender so she could be far enough away from the airbag, when she was diagnosed with leukemia and didn't drive anymore, and then a drug error did her in, so that didn't happen. I'm just 2 inches taller, but in MOST cars I don't feel the need for a pedal extender, but in cars in my past I should have gotten one.

Let's face it; those of us under the normal height for females (and I include those who are male and under normal height for females) really are NOT safe in vehicles! Our car has a 100 lb sensor for the airbag in the passenger seat. Now I'm in no danger of causing the airbag to turn off, but plenty of petite adults are. Shorter people have to sit WAY too close to airbags, and even though I've *thought* of pedal extenders, I don't even know where I would start to look for ones, let alone find people to install it!

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!

Depending on how long she's been in that seat, she might be approaching the expiration date of the seat itself. Watch for that!



OP I know nothing about the Compass, but we just got a Graco Nautilus for my son. He's 4 and a bit over 40 lbs, but the Nautilus is 5 point harnessed until 65 lbs. We were going to get a Regent, which harnesses to 80 lbs, but the Nautilus was cheaper so we could buy it sooner. I imagine at 65 lbs we'll look into further harness seats for extended weights, since I'm sure more than just the Regent will be out by then. But the Nautilus, for those who aren't as big into harnessing for extended periods of time, becomes a high then low back booster, and goes to 100 lbs!

 

[HayGan]

Both my boys (6 & 8) are still in booster seats with backs. Neither one of them has ever complained. They know that they have to use them for safety reasons. We will continue to use them until the shoulder strap sits properly.

 

[LisaNJ25]

my 8yo (will be 9 in a month) came out of her booster at 8. You guys have peanuts lol.. shes 94 pounds. She is tall I am just not sure of her exact height.

My almost 3 and 4yo will be in 5pt harness until 65 pounds. After that their seat goes up to 100 pounds as a booster. It converts to a back booster and than a backless booster.

My oldest went into a booster at 2. It was one of those that had the lap shield. He used that until 5/6 I believe and than was in the seatbelt. Things have changed since the 90's.

 

[HayGan]

my 8yo (will be 9 in a month) came out of her booster at 8. You guys have peanuts lol.. shes 94 pounds.

WOW! My DS is 8 and barely weighs 60lbs soaking wet. He is one lean mean never-stopping kid machine!

 

[DevilDuckie]

We stopped our booster seat use when our kid turned 6 because the law here was 6/60 and the recommendation was 8/80 and he was already over 70. He's 10 and almost as big as I am. I think if he'd been smallish we'd have kept him in longer.

 

[LisaNJ25]

WOW! My DS is 8 and barely weighs 60lbs soaking wet. He is one lean mean never-stopping kid machine!

lol.. I just measured her height.. she is 59 inches.

 

[Kitzka]

DD is going to be 10 in august. she barely weighs 55lbs. About a month ago we offered to let her not sit in her booster as she is 4' 6" tall now. but she says she wants to be in the booster so she can see out of the car windows. her friends are not in boosters and make comments all the time but she says she does not care. she would rather see out of the car.

lara

 

[marcyinPA]

My DS was 9 in May. He is 4'1 & 3/4" tall, and 63 lbs. He's still in a booster (probably the only kid in his class still in one...seriously.) The law used to be 8 or 80 lbs here in PA, but now the recommendation is 4'9". It will be a while until he reaches that height, unless he has an amazing growth spurt!! We have the backless booster because his head was rising above the high back booster. He was actually sad to get rid of his high back booster! The backless one isn't as comfortable. If I felt the need to go buy a new booster, I certainly would do it!

 

[Brenda in CA]

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

I agree with this. My 14 year old just barely made 80 lbs. a couple of months ago.

 

[dreamin_disney]

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..

oh boy! DD(9) is only 62 pounds so she will be in a booster until probably 10. We take her to police department or to CHP car seat checkpoints. They will tell you if your child needs one or not. In my car dd needs a booster because the regular seatbelt doesnt go across her correctly , she still to small. I've been told the seatbelt needs t fit a certain way .
DD is in a backless booster. She doesnt like it because kids sometimes laugh but i tell her she's safe and those kids arent.

 

[The Disney Bunch]

I will be honest- my dds are the same - 7 1/2 & weigh about 45 lbs - I still have them in a 5 point harness for safety - If we are using the car, not the minivan they use a booster but since most of the time we are in the minivan I have them in carseats - so I think you did right to get a new booster - she will be using it for some time

Just remember - the law is also a guideline - you can keep her in a booster for safety reasons longer than 8 years old - if kids are petite, the booster is safer while riding in the car. While I can appreciate people whose kids are over the limits and want to do away with the boosters, the law does not address those kids who are well under the limits.

 

[Bibbidi]

DD is going to be 10 in august. she barely weighs 55lbs. About a month ago we offered to let her not sit in her booster as she is 4' 6" tall now. but she says she wants to be in the booster so she can see out of the car windows. her friends are not in boosters and make comments all the time but she says she does not care. she would rather see out of the car.

lara

It's funny you mention that because I noticed yesterday when i was doing the "booster seat test" with my daughter that she can hardly see out my crv when not in the booster--she certainly wouldn't see a thing out my dh's camry windows. Like your dd, she enjoys looking out the window. She also mentioned that she likes the head "wings" that she can lean her head on when she takes naps in the car--we take several LONG car trips a year.

 

[heartsy77]

I feel your financial pain; I have 8 daycare 5 of which still require booster seats! However my family learned the hard way. Back in 2005 my husband and 5 year old daughter were t-boned; my dd was in the front seat in no booster seat! Aside from threatening my husband with his life if ever put her in the front seat again , let alone not in a booster seat, it made it clear to my whole family that kids belong in the back seat in booster seats. As a side note all my daycare parents that had their kids ride in the front stopped doing so after mt husband's accident! Even more scarier my husband didn't even received a ticket for the whole booster seat/ front seat issue because he is a firefighter ! That made me really mad. Anyways no amount of $$$ is worth your child being injured. Thank god mine only had a burn on her face from the air bag!

 

[mjkacmom]

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

Why did you have no choice? Dd12 was in a booster seat until she was 10 - they did have them, and they went up to 80 pounds, not 20.

 

[hsmamato2]

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!!

I'm a little baffled too..... my SIL is about 4.5 feet tall,probably 80 pounds soaking wet,do they sell a booster seat for drivers?
I mean, I honestly think we need better seats BUILT into cars for us all if kids THAT big are in that much danger from a seatbelt. I know a few adults that small!
That's just MHO- I do know statistics,but a 12 year old in a booster seat?
I held out for a long time with backless boosters,til the kids were about 7 or so,but NO ONE else did it,and the kids finally rose up and tol me they were not babies. and they were right.
However,if people want to use extra seats for that long,I guess that's their choice.

 

[T. Lynn]

What is the exact law in PA now?

My DD is 8 and very tall. I took her out of the booster seat in January because I thought the age limit was under the age of 8.

 

[mjkacmom]

I'm a little baffled too..... my SIL is about 4.5 feet tall,probably 80 pounds soaking wet,do they sell a booster seat for drivers?
I mean, I honestly think we need better seats BUILT into cars for us all if kids THAT big are in that much danger from a seatbelt. I know a few adults that small!
That's just MHO- I do know statistics,but a 12 year old in a booster seat?
I held out for a long time with backless boosters,til the kids were about 7 or so,but NO ONE else did it,and the kids finally rose up and tol me they were not babies. and they were right.
However,if people want to use extra seats for that long,I guess that's their choice.

I don't think I would risk the safety of my children because other kids weren't using boosters, and they told me they're not babies. The law here is 8/80, and studies show that they are much safer in boosters until they reach the height of 4'9" - my older ones stayed in boosters until they were 4'9", even though they weren't babies. I'm not going to break the law just because other do.

 

[Avonlady1001]

It makes me wonder, if the age of people needing car safety/booster seats is getting into the teens and even some adults don't meet some of those guidelines, shouldn't more be being done to make the cars themselves (and the seats within them) much safer for everyone?

My sister & I were just discussing this last night...after a near collision. We were saying they should make all the seats in the cars like car seats...with side impact protection & harnesses. She said like race cars...and why not? They should be as safe as they can be!

As for the car seat issue...my DD is only 3 1/2 so we're not quite there yet, but she will be in a 5pt harness seat until she reaches the weight/height limits...then, and only then, will we switch to a booster, in which she will remain until she reaches those limits. I don't care if she's 15 by that point!

Every step up in seats (From rear-facing, to foward, to booster) is a step DOWN in safety. Research is even showing now that you should keep your infant rear-facing as long as possible. The law here is 1 yr/20lbs...but my new baby will stay rear-facing much longer than that.

To the OP, good for you for buying a new seat! Keep her in it as long as you can! I keep trying to rationalize buying the new Britax Frontier, which has higher harness limits than the one I have & then turns into the booster. But I already have 2 Boulevards which are good til 65lbs...DD is about 40. LOL

 

[kathi29]

I held out for a long time with backless boosters,til the kids were about 7 or so,but NO ONE else did it,and the kids finally rose up and tol me they were not babies. and they were right.
However,if people want to use extra seats for that long,I guess that's their choice.

Huh?
If I am reading correctly, you allowed your kids and the habits of strangers/acquaintances to dictate the safety of your children?

My 9 year old isn't a baby, but she certainly isn't qualified to determine what is appropriate for safe travel.