booster seats

[kristen821]

I just heard they changed the law in Illinois, Is this true? The new law is you have to be 80 pounds and 4'9 before you don't need a booster seat. They keep changing the law on me. It looks like my son won't ever be out of the booster seat. I didn't hit 80 pounds until 8th grade. How embarrassing that would have been going to 8th grade in a booster seat. I am all for keeping my child safe in the car, but is it really necessary to keep them in the booster that long? Does anyone know what the law is?

 

[slo]

Yeah, that sounds right. My DD is 7yrs old and only 42lbs. She'll be in a booster seat forever!!!

 

[kristen821]

Wow she is tiny she'll be graduating high school in a booster! Your children are adorable! I know two girls that graduated high school at 82 pounds! Can you picture a 16 year old driving in a booster!

 

[piglet too]

Had not heard that one. Last I knew it was up to age 8 that they needed to be in a booster. I did a quick search, and only came up with the law change from 2004 which is when the 8 year old came into affect.

 

[Disney_1derland]

Here in TN it's 80 pounds too. My 5 year old will be in a booster until she's 18! My 3 year old will be out of one by the time she's 8. It's weird and I understand safety and all but goodness, I think 80 pounds is a little extreme. I know adults who don't qualify.

But, I didn't see anything on the IDOT website that's dated any newer than the 2004 law. That says 8 years, nothing about poundage (is that a word? )

 

[kristen821]

My son will be 8 in May and he was so looking forward to not be in that booster seat anymore. I hate to break it to him that the law changed. Hopefully it is a recommendation and not a law.

 

[piglet too]

I would call and ask your local police department to be sure. If they don't know, maybe the SOS or IDOT office would.

 

[Colleen456]

Here in Indiana its 8 years or 80 pounds.

http://www.in.gov/legislative/homepages/R60/media/R60_06202005.pdf

 

[dcgrumpy]

I think it's the same in NY. DH's 95yo grandmother weighs 76 pounds, we always joke about putting her in DS's booster.

 

[kbkids]

DD is 8 and weighs 52 pounds. I did let her come out of her booster seat on her 8-year-old b'day. I felt okay with it since our seat belt is adjustable and fits across her shoulders correctly. She had bugged me for the past year since all of her friends didn't have to sit in one. I swear the child was living for her 8th birthday. Of course, now she really misses her cup holder.

 

[piglet too]

I was under the impression that it was 8 yrs OR 80 pounds. That is to say if your 7 year old weighs 85 lbs, that they do not need to ride in a booster. (But they still need to be belted in til age 18 or 19)

 

[Beth76]

I thought it was 8 or 80 pounds too. I've never heard any height requirement, but if it's new, I suppose anything could happen. Here in MO, it's only age 4. Once a kid turns four he doesn't need to be in a carseat or booster. I'm sure it will be changing soon.

 

[1of6]

I would think it is 8 or 80 pounds. I also think that the height requirement is just a suggestion. 4'9" is the height they say kids should be so that the seatbelt hits them in the right spot.

My oldest turned 9 in November and is still in his booster. And here in Michigan the law is only until age 4. He is only 4'5". He was out of his seat for a couple of weeks at the end of summer. We were buying a grill and and it was a pain to take his seat out everytime DH thought he "might" buy a grill today. The day the grill finally came home DS asked if he could "have his seat back NOW!" He likes to sit higher.

 

[cepmom]

I don't understand the 80 lb guidline...I have always been told that if the child can sit in the seat with his/her knees bending at the edge of the seat and the shoulder belt can is across the chest and not the neck then they were big enough not to use the booster seat. I have also been told that if the child's ears are above the back of the seat then they are too big for a booster. I am the car seat nazi around here and I took DD out of her booster seat at 6 years old. At that time she met all the guidlines listed above. She is 8 now and still not 80 lbs.

DD5 is still in her booster and probably will be for a while...she is smaller than her sister was at the same age.

 

[disneymac]

I don't know what the different laws are in different states, but the APA reccommendation is 80 lbs. and 59".

 

[ChrisnSteph]

8 and 80lbs?? That's a little extreme. Here in California it's 6 and 60lbs. My poor dd was in third grade and not quite 60 lbs. Needless to say, there was no way I was going to make her climb out of a booster seat in front of her classmates when I dropped her off at school every day. Fortunately she caught up really quick.

 

[luvmyfam444]

Here's the link on the state laws - was just looking at this earlier tonight & can't even believe how different all the states are. So many states are only 3 years old that have to be in a restraint & then those that are 8 yrs old---what a difference!!!!

My dd #1 isn't in a booster 'cause I thought she only had til she was 5 - turns out she could have been 3 when we took her out! CRAZY Now THAT's too young IMHO.... but obviously our opinions don't count!

Oh sorry --the link.....http://www.hwysafety.org/laws/state_laws/restrain2.html

 

[golfgal]

My 8th grader still needs to be in a booster then if the guidelines are 80 lbs and 59", he is neither. There is no WAY I could get him into a booster (the law was 4 and 40 when he was at that stage). My 5th grade DS weighs just 60 lbs now. I have said for many, many years, car manufactures could help alleviate some of these inconsistencies by putting adjustable seatbelts in the back seats. I did see a show on concept cars/future cars and some manufacturers in a few years will be coming out with adjustable seat heights in the back seats of cars to elevate kids to a proper height.

 

[aprilgail2]

I can't even get my 6 year old into a booster seat, she is still in a 5 point harness!! The booster we have is for 40 pounds and over and she is not 40 pounds yet! My god daughter was in a booster until around 4th grade and I am afraid my daughter will be in there around that long too....I dont care if NY law is 6 years 60 pounds...everyting I read is that they are much safer in one until 8 years old/80 pounds and she will be in there until then. Funny thing is that I have an extra booster seat in the car and when her friends cmoe they hop right in it...one of them asked their mom how come I want them to be safe and their own mom and dad don't care if they are safe?

 

[kristen821]

They need the seatbelts to adjust more in the front seat too. They all hit me at the neck and I am 5'3"