Is your 8 yr old in a booster car seat?

[Minnie824]

Our DD is almost 8 and a half and its starting to be brought up that everyone else in her class isn't in a booster seat. In Illinois where we are, I think its 8 yrs old and 80 lbs. Well, DD is 49 lbs. Seriously, she'll be 16 before she weighs 80 lbs. I'm just curious if everyone else takes them out of the booster at 8?

 

[jodifla]

In Michigan, it's 8 years old OR 4 foot 9 inches.

My son is still in a booster at 8, although in my DH's car, we may rethink that. The belt is starting to hit him too low on the shoulder.

I think most kids around here don't stay in them after 8, though.

 

[mjkacmom]

Funny story - last March, when my dd turned 8, she actually thought she didn't need the booster anymore, and told my parents this, who live in town, and drive my kids places. Poor little thing - she's about 4'2", and 52 pounds, and will be in a booster forever. Even dd13 was bigger at this age, and she was in hers until the age of 10. Ds11 was out at 8, only because he was 4'9", and 80 pounds.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My 9yo is still in a booster. On occasion, I let her out of it.

But I would simply educate your daughter that safety is not dependant on what friends can do.

At 8 she can certainly go backless, I would think.

I have tried DD out of it--but still prefer her in it.

 

[golfgal]

We have a good friend that should still be in a booster, at age 44 .


When our kids were younger the age was 4 so, no, they were not in boosters at 8. My sister has all of her kids in boosters still, they are small but her oldest is in 8th grade. My sister doesn't get why my niece doesn't want her to drive carpool . I keep telling my sister that my niece is going to look silly doing her behind the wheel training strapped into a booster seat (which she will start a year or so from now). The other 2 are 5th and 2nd grade.

 

[fairestoneofall]

My 8-year-old is still in a booster. By our law, she doesn't HAVE to ride in one, but it is recommended that she be in one until she's 4'9". She is 4'6". For me, it's not worth the chance of her being hurt in an accident.

A little, tiny girl in her class rides in the front seat and not in a booster. It kind of makes me sad. Obviously, it isn't my business. But DD notices and asks me. I just tell her that we all have to make the decisions we feel are best for our kids. And our decision is that she rides in the back, in a booster.

 

[mickeylove2]

In MD the law is a car seat or booster until their 8th bday unless they weigh 65lbs and are 4' 9" before then. My DD is almost 9 and only 53 lbs but she is out and has been for about a year and my 6 year old is still in, even though "it's not fair!"

 

[LuvOrlando]

I kept mine in the seats until the limits because I was afraid that if I ever did get into an accident I could be charged with 'Child Endangerment'. I don't know how strictly the booster seat laws are, maybe each community is different, but here in Pa the Police seem to be a bit high strung for me to chance anything.

 

[lovetonap]

My 9.5 year old is still in a backless booster. She is 4 ft. 5 inches, so she is less than the recommended height to be out of a booster.

 

[monkeybug]

My daughter is only 7, but she will most certainly be in a booster beyond 8, I don't see her weighing 80lbs in the near future so I just hope she is tall enough to be out of it before she is 12 . For me it isn't a matter of the law, or how old she is. I just want her to be safe. Car seats and seat belts were built with adults in mind, and she will use a booster until the seat belt fits her the way it is designed to. I guess if she was over maybe 10 and still not tall enough we would have to rethink that, but I don't know. Most of her classmates still use boosters.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

My 8 year old is still in a booster. He weighs 51 lbs and is about 49" He is small for his age. I will keep him in it until he gets to the right height to wear a seatbelt in the proper position.

 

[mom2travel]

My DD is 10 and is still in a booster (backless) - she's 4' 2" and weighs 57lbs so no where near making the 80lbs or 4' 9" requirements. There are some cars we are comfortable without it, where the middle seat is high with a low shoulder belt. But 99.9% of the time she is in it. Most of her friends do not use them, but they are also taller and heavier than she is. DD very rarely complains about it since she knows its for safety reasons. Only once do I remember any of her friends even questioning her in it - and without a pause she responded that duh, she's a tiny person and the seatbelt doesn't fit!

 

[SaraJayne]

My DD will be 9 in May and she's not in a booster anymore. She weighs around 65 lbs, but is taller for her age. She already comes up to just underneath my shoulder.

 

[cybrkitn]

DS7 is looking forward to ditching his booster seat in June when he turns 8. And so are DH and I. He's been in a backless booster seat since age 4.

 

[quentina]

My daughter is tall and light. She is 7 1/2, weighs 40 pounds however; she is 48" tall.

I was thinking of using one of those belt positioning things when she is of age. She will never age out of the booster....maybe high school years!

I am going to keep her in the booster until she no longer fits. ALthough, she will be past the height and age, no way will she be past the weight.

 

[cybrkitn]

We have a good friend that should still be in a booster, at age 44 .

My brother and I would tease our mom every now and then b/c she is 4'10 1/2 or 4'11 (not sure which) and just made it over the height limit for booster seats prior to NY's recent change to 8 years old.

 

[RadioNate]

My nearly 9 year old DS is. Backless obviously. The seatbelt in my car does not fit correctly without it and he'll be in the booster until it does.

I know he doesn't like it but until he grows a few inches he is stuck. Once the seat belt fits correctly, I'll forgo the booster.

Of course, I still have a rear facing 2 year old too.

 

[Aneille]

I don't even know what the current law is in MA but my 8 year old is 52" and 67# and still rides in a booster. She loves the thing. It is backless.

 

[freckles and boo]

Both my kids still use them. My older daughter will be ten in three weeks but she is only 4'-2" and 55 pounds. My younger daughter is nearly eight but is only 4'-0" and 45 pounds. It is non-negotiable at this stage. When they are taller and heavier we can re-visit the issue.

 

[kidshop]

My daughter is only 7, but she will most certainly be in a booster beyond 8, I don't see her weighing 80lbs in the near future so I just hope she is tall enough to be out of it before she is 12 . For me it isn't a matter of the law, or how old she is. I just want her to be safe. Car seats and seat belts were built with adults in mind, and she will use a booster until the seat belt fits her the way it is designed to. I guess if she was over maybe 10 and still not tall enough we would have to rethink that, but I don't know. Most of her classmates still use boosters.

This is really all there is to it for me and my kids know that. I let my ds ride w/o a booster at 9. Our van does have adjustable seatbelts so that helps put the belt in the right spot. I think the car makers could help us out a little bit, making sure the seatbelt doesn't cross someone's neck.

My 7 y/o is in a high back booster, he was harnessed until K.