CA law for booster seats?

[aliceinoz]

Hi there
I was just about to book our airport transfers and thought I should check the CA laws for child safety seats. DS is 6 and a half and weighs 45pounds. The website states that children need to be 6years old or 60 pounds. So does that mean he doesn't need one, because he is already 6? Or that he does need one because he is under 60 pounds. I def, don't want to be brining a booster seat from OZ.
Oh and it seems that a very similar law applies in Vegas as well.
I would greatly appreciate if any one can clarify for me,
TIA!!!

 

[goldies 5]

It is 6 and 60 lbs. Not either or. I have a light weight that will probably have to use one forever.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

California law states children MUST be secured in an appropriate child passenger restraint (safety seat or booster seat) IN THE BACK SEAT OF A VEHICLE until they are at least 6 years old OR weigh at least 60 pounds.

Here's a link to the California Highway Patrol: http://www.chp.ca.gov/community/safeseat.html

I still feel more comfortable, however, having my older daughter use a booster even though she legally doesn't need one. The seatbelt still doesn't hit across her shoulder at the right point without one. Legally, did she need one in California once turning six (no matter her weight)? No, but it was and is still the safest way for her to ride in a car.

Maybe you could bring a booster rather than a full-fledged carseat with you from Australia? Or buy one when you get here? Target sells them for around $20.

 

[amamax2]

When my kids were that age, we got them these seat belt adjusters:

http://www.amazon.com/Safety-1st-Seat-Belt-Adjuster/dp/B0000488W5

They wore them until they were about 8 or 9 and it made me feel much better.

 

[disneychrista]

If you are taking a bus as transportation you won't need one. But if you are using a rental or town car ask them, they usually have them for use.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I don't care what a state's laws are ~ I go by my own law - Seat Belts are made for adults so until a child is the size of a small adult they need something

 

[daniele_ut]

I don't care what a state's laws are ~ I go by my own law - Seat Belts are made for adults so until a child is the size of a small adult they need something

DisneyMomma81 is right. I'm a serious advocate for child passenger safety and the fact is that at 6 years old and 45lbs your child isn't safe in an adult seatbelt regardless of the inadequate laws. The law here says that you can have a child who weighs a year old and weighs 20 lbs in a forward facing seat, but my very small (25lbs) 2.5 year old still rides rear facing.

My 5 year old (who will turn 6 while we are at DL next week) still occasionally rides in a 5pt harness seat (Graco Nautilus), but mostly rides in one of 2 high back boosters. I wouldn't put him in a backless booster, but in your case, it would be better to use a backless than just a seatbelt. Wal-Mart here carries the Harmony Lite Rider Booster seat for $13.50. Is there a chance you can hit a Walmart on your way from the airport to DL? At that price you could use the booster for the trip and then just give it away.

I know it's a pain to travel with car seats. We fly a LOT and it's just part of our routine.

 

[briggscreek]

We took a booster and a car seat with us on our last trip, we were able to check them as baggage for free. It wasn't as big of a hassle as I expected to cart them around.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

DisneyMomma81 is right. I'm a serious advocate for child passenger safety and the fact is that at 6 years old and 45lbs your child isn't safe in an adult seatbelt regardless of the inadequate laws. The law here says that you can have a child who weighs a year old and weighs 20 lbs in a forward facing seat, but my very small (25lbs) 2.5 year old still rides rear facing.

Yay ~ my DD faced the rear till her 4th B-day!

My 5 year old (who will turn 6 while we are at DL next week) still occasionally rides in a 5pt harness seat (Graco Nautilus), but mostly rides in one of 2 high back boosters. I wouldn't put him in a backless booster, but in your case, it would be better to use a backless than just a seatbelt. Wal-Mart here carries the Harmony Lite Rider Booster seat for $13.50. Is there a chance you can hit a Walmart on your way from the airport to DL? At that price you could use the booster for the trip and then just give it away.

DS was in a harnessed seat till his 10th B-day! That backless booster at Wal*Mart is a nice cheap seat.

I know it's a pain to travel with car seats. We fly a LOT and it's just part of our routine.

 

[gethane]

My almost 7 year old is still in a 5 pt harness as well. We've thought about getting him a booster, but he's just so secure and seemingly comfortable in his seat, we haven't bothered. He probably weighs about 45 pounds.

 

[Rowlf]

To answer your question without additional opinions added, no, your child will not need a seat to comply with the law in CA.

 

[scldir]

I've been wondering about the logistics of bringing a booster seat, since we have to change planes. Am I correct in thinking that if we gate check it, we'll need to carry it around during the layover? Thanks.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I've been wondering about the logistics of bringing a booster seat, since we have to change planes. Am I correct in thinking that if we gate check it, we'll need to carry it around during the layover? Thanks.

Correct. I always gate check strollers, car/booster seats - but luckily we always fly direct to DLR - even last year when we flew to WDW we had a direct flight

ETA ~ seeing Molly's response below mine - I guess I don't know *I've never had to do it before....

 

[bumbershoot]

I've been wondering about the logistics of bringing a booster seat, since we have to change planes. Am I correct in thinking that if we gate check it, we'll need to carry it around during the layover? Thanks.

I haven't! Well, on one trip I did, but since then the gate people have had my gate checked stroller/carseat checked THROUGH, so that they move it from one plane to the other. A most excellent thing! And then at the destination I pick it up at the gate.

 

[haydeecm]

Every time I have gate-checked strollers I have had to carry them from one flight to the other when not flying direct. I thought the point of it was to have the stroller available for your layover. So it looks like it might be possible to "gate-check" the whole way, I would ask.

 

[DahliaRW]

A backless booster is small and light and you can put it in the overhead bin on most flights. Easy peasy. The laws of physics don't change, regardless of your location or that areas laws. I would most definitely bring a booster (a backless being ok) for a 6yo, regardless of it it was legally required or not.

 

[daniele_ut]

A backless booster is small and light and you can put it in the overhead bin on most flights. Easy peasy. The laws of physics don't change, regardless of your location or that areas laws. I would most definitely bring a booster (a backless being ok) for a 6yo, regardless of it it was legally required or not.

When we flew to NJ in June we had a direct flight. I carried on the bottom of DS's booster and stuck it in the overhead bin and detached the back and put it in one of our suitcases that was checked through. That way I knew that I would at least have something to put him in at our destination if our luggage got lost without having to haul the whole thing to the gate to gate check it.