For all die-hard carseat advocates out there

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I am having a dilemna about what to do with my DS and carseats. My son is 7 3/4 and about 75 lbs. He's built like a football player with wide hips and shoulders. Legally he needs to be in a booster because the law is 8 years or 80 lbs, but in the ones we have he really doesn't fit very well. We have a Starriser (too narrow for his hips -- doesn't fit in at all), a Next Step (fits better, but has an 80 lb limit and is reaching it's expiration date, and he rides in a Graco backless booster in the car he carpools in (he can wedge himself in, but it's not comfortable). Without a seat belt, the shoulder part hits in on the side of his neck but doesn't cross the neck -- if he slides towards the center of the back it fits OK. His legs don't bend at the edge of the seat, he's got about 1/2 an inch to an inch to go, but he seems to be able to stay sitting back, with his legs only partially bent. It doesn't look really comfortable, but better than the backless boosters.

How safe is he without a booster? Can I leave him in the Next Step even if it's expired? If I decide to buy a new booster -- which one? I don't want another Next Step that he will outgrow in 5 lbs, but that's the only one that fits.

 

[dudspizza]

I am having a dilemna about what to do with my DS and carseats. My son is 7 3/4 and about 75 lbs. He's built like a football player with wide hips and shoulders. Legally he needs to be in a booster because the law is 8 years or 80 lbs, but in the ones we have he really doesn't fit very well. We have a Starriser (too narrow for his hips -- doesn't fit in at all), a Next Step (fits better, but has an 80 lb limit and is reaching it's expiration date, and he rides in a Graco backless booster in the car he carpools in (he can wedge himself in, but it's not comfortable). Without a seat belt, the shoulder part hits in on the side of his neck but doesn't cross the neck -- if he slides towards the center of the back it fits OK. His legs don't bend at the edge of the seat, he's got about 1/2 an inch to an inch to go, but he seems to be able to stay sitting back, with his legs only partially bent. It doesn't look really comfortable, but better than the backless boosters.

How safe is he without a booster? Can I leave him in the Next Step even if it's expired? If I decide to buy a new booster -- which one? I don't want another Next Step that he will outgrow in 5 lbs, but that's the only one that fits.

Not a die-hard booster seat guy here. DD is 7 3/4 and about 75 pounds, though she IS NOT built like a linebacker. She has been out of a car seat for a year or more. She is tall for her age and I feel very confident she is perfectly safe in the car. It is the positioning of the seat belt that can determine if they need the booster or not. If the belt fits, they are fine.

Duds

 

[molly2004]

Try visiting car-seat.org. There are car seat safety technicians there who can better answer your question than I. I've been facing a car seat dilemma myself and they've really helped me out. Good luck!

 

[minniebeth]

It sounds like the website will offer a better answer based on the facts.
Sorry I don't have a solution, but I want to commend you for taking the issue so seriously. I wish more people would...many ensure the safety of children when they are little, but once they get out of the littler car seats, adults don't necessarily follow the law or recommendations. I am a car safety nut and I feel like I'm in the minority.