Kids in booster seat rule.

[nmmom95]

"Mom....I got my period today and it got all over my booster seat.". HahahahahahAhahahahahahaha

Lol and ew

 

[morethananyonex]

I was not saying that the booster seat = helicopter parents. I was making a general statement.

You're the one who brought up parents being ridiculously safety conscious at the expense of their childhoods in a thread about car safety. How else is everyone supposed to interpret that?

 

[luvsJack]

Snooki would still be in a booster seat!

Personally, I think that parents should look at the law and stay within that but also look at the "expert's recommendation", compare it to the law and make a decision for themselves and their child.

 

[The Wise One]

You're the one who brought up parents being ridiculously safety conscious at the expense of their childhoods in a thread about car safety. How else is everyone supposed to interpret that?

I apologize. I was making a general statement that I feel that our society is too safety conscious. I should have been more clear.

 

[alex9179]

I apologize. I was making a general statement that I feel that our society is too safety conscious. I should have been more clear.

I think this is a product of the information age. Not only are the potential hazards of being alive constantly being scrutinized but if you don't follow every precaution, and your story hits the media, you're torn apart by the public. Hate mail, picketers, etc. become a daily part of your life if you unlucky enough to attract attention. No one wants to invite that into their lives, although I can't imagine someone has that specific worry. It's something I think about when a parent is asked "why didn't you..."

 

[The Wise One]

I think this is a product of the information age. Not only are the potential hazards of being alive constantly being scrutinized but if you don't follow every precaution, and your story hits the media, you're torn apart by the public. Hate mail, picketers, etc. become a daily part of your life if you unlucky enough to attract attention. No one wants to invite that into their lives, although I can't imagine someone has that specific worry. It's something I think about when a parent is asked "why didn't you..."

I do agree with this. I was actually discussing this last night with my DH's aunt. She was saying how it's so much more dangerous to let your kids outside to play "now a days" and it wasn't dangerous when she was growing up. I said I believe the element of danger is still the same, we are just more aware because of internet/tv/radio that bad things happen. You didn't hear about child abductions back in the "good old days" unless it happened in your town.

 

[DopeyDame]

Snooki would still be in a booster seat!

Personally, I think that parents should look at the law and stay within that but also look at the "expert's recommendation", compare it to the law and make a decision for themselves and their child.

Wait.. what??? You're saying that parents should arm themselves with all of the facts and then use their judgement (as the person who cares most about their kid in the whole wide universe) to make the best decision for them and their family?

Now that's just crazy talk.

As for the issue at hand... DS is 3, so he's still in a carseat and will be for a while (he'll probably top 40 pounds somewhere around 4th grade ) However... I'll take this opportunity to get on my personal soapbox. For all those concerned about the 'safest' thing to do at all costs, please make sure to buy a seat for your child and appropriately restrain them (car seat or CARES, if big enough) every time they fly. The AAP and NTSB recommend that, also, and for some reason that seems to often get eye rolls around here when it's mentioned.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I choose not to gamble with my child's life. To each their own.

Really? Is this neccessary? So people who make different choices than you are just wrecklessly gambling with their children's lives? I hate to tell you but if you even let your kids get in a car you are taking a gamble. Do your kids ride bikes? Rollerskate? Scooters? Swim? Fly in a plane? Walk down the street? Play on a swingset? You get my point. I don't believe anyone is "gambling" their child's life. I like to believe that like myself- we have read the research and the laws and applied them to our children in way that it would serve them best.
I really hate when people (a general people) make statements implying that only they do things the right and perfect way and if anyone differentiates from that they are wrong and clearly don't care as much for their kids. IMO that is ridiculous.

 

[nmmom95]

Really? Is this neccessary? So people who make different choices than you are just wrecklessly gambling with their children's lives? I hate to tell you but if you even let your kids get in a car you are taking a gamble. Do your kids ride bikes? Rollerskate? Scooters? Swim? Fly in a plane? Walk down the street? Play on a swingset? You get my point. I don't believe anyone is "gambling" their child's life. I like to believe that like myself- we have read the research and the laws and applied them to our children in way that it would serve them best.
I really hate when people (a general people) make statements implying that only they do things the right and perfect way and if anyone differentiates from that they are wrong and clearly don't care as much for their kids. IMO that is ridiculous.

 

[morethananyonex]

Really? Is this neccessary? So people who make different choices than you are just wrecklessly gambling with their children's lives? I hate to tell you but if you even let your kids get in a car you are taking a gamble. Do your kids ride bikes? Rollerskate? Scooters? Swim? Fly in a plane? Walk down the street? Play on a swingset? You get my point. I don't believe anyone is "gambling" their child's life. I like to believe that like myself- we have read the research and the laws and applied them to our children in way that it would serve them best.
I really hate when people (a general people) make statements implying that only they do things the right and perfect way and if anyone differentiates from that they are wrong and clearly don't care as much for their kids. IMO that is ridiculous.

Yup, really.

Those are horrible comparisons, you can't hide inside all your life but you can do your best to prevent injuries and death. A better comparison would be asking if I gamble with my child's life and don't force them to wear a helmet riding a bike, not the actual act of riding a bike.

Why would you not do something to make a car ride safer? Banking on a crash not happening is gambling with your child's life, IMO.

 

[mad madam mim78]

Yup, really.

Those are horrible comparisons, you can't hide inside all your life but you can do your best to prevent injuries and death. A better comparison would be asking if I gamble with my child's life and don't force them to wear a helmet riding a bike, not the actual act of riding a bike.

Why would you not do something to make a car ride safer? Banking on a crash not happening is gambling with your child's life, IMO.

But you're not doing your best. I'm sure if you make them wear helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, mouth guard, and wrap them in bubble wrap you can even further ensure their safety. Don't you want to protect your child?

What kind of mother are you? You could increase their chances of survival by another 3 percent!!! Isnt it worth it????

 

[Coconut36]

But you're not doing your best. I'm sure if you make them wear helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, mouth guard, and wrap them in bubble wrap you can even further ensure their safety. Don't you want to protect your child?

What kind of mother are you? You could increase their chances of survival by another 3 percent!!! Isnt it worth it????

Oh for cripes sake..you aren't even making a valid comparison. Again..your choices (general) are on (general) your shoulders not mine. You actually think things like elbow pads and knee pads on a bike is remotely comparable to car seat safety? If so you are woefully uneducated about restraint safety and the risk involved in car accidents.

 

[1Mouse2RulethemAll]

My kids ride in my pick up truck where the back seats are fold-down bucket seats that only have a lap belt. I can't even fit a booster seat back there or use it properly.

 

[mad madam mim78]

Oh for cripes sake..you aren't even making a valid comparison. Again..your choices (general) are on (general) your shoulders not mine. You actually think things like elbow pads and knee pads on a bike is remotely comparable to car seat safety? If so you are woefully uneducated about restraint safety and the risk involved in car accidents.

You just said why wouldn't you want to make a car ride safer. There are always ways to make things "safer". I have to draw the line somewhere and I draw it at my 4th grader being in a boosterseats. You draw it at whatever you want. I feel my kids are safe enough.

 

[morethananyonex]

But you're not doing your best. I'm sure if you make them wear helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, mouth guard, and wrap them in bubble wrap you can even further ensure their safety. Don't you want to protect your child?

What kind of mother are you? You could increase their chances of survival by another 3 percent!!! Isnt it worth it????

A helmet prevents a head injury. Knee pads prevent scraped knees. How is that comparable? How many people do you know that die from scrapes knees?

 

[The Wise One]

A helmet prevents a head injury. Knee pads prevent scraped knees. How is that comparable? How many people do you know that die from scrapes knees?

They could get an infection and die from said scraped knee.

 

[morethananyonex]

They could get an infection and die from said scraped knee.

I hope that winking face means you know how ridiculous that comparison is like I do.

 

[disney1990]

Does anyone actually follow the 4ft 9in rule on boosterseats? My son is 4'5 and going in the 4th grade. If we followed the rule I guess most kids wouldn't be out of the seat till 5th or 6th grade. Even though I know it's safest, I can't imagine putting my 4th grader in a booster. Anyone follow this? Opinions?

This is what the State of Maryland says. Just because a child is short, they don't stay in a booster seat after age 8. My daughter stayed in her booster seat until she was 8 and was not allowed in the front seat of a car until she was 13.

Every child under 8 years old must ride in an
appropriate child restraint* unless the child is
4 feet, 9 inches or taller, or weighs more than
65 pounds.

 

[mirage0306]

The law here in New Mexico is downright ridiculous:

5 through 6 or less than 60 pounds in a booster seat

There is no way that either of my kids (now 9 and 6) were tall enough to sit without a booster at their sixth birthday, regardless of weight. Anyway, yes, I am keeping my 4'6" 70lb soon to be 4th grader in a booster until he no longer needs it for the seatbelt to fit him properly. With it, the seatbelt will help protect him in an accident. Without it, the seatbelt doesn't sit properly on his neck or upper thighs to provide the best protection should an accident happen. So, he's still in it.

 

[LoserMomma]

Don't mean to offend anyone....but this conversation calls for this picture....