Kids in booster seat rule.

[mad madam mim78]

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?

 

[Colleen27]

This is a hot topic, so be prepared...

Personally I don't. I follow the law, which is until 8yo, but only one of my 3 was/will be 4'9" before graduating to a regular seat belt. My middle child is 11yo, 4'7", and in 6th grade. My youngest is the tiniest of the bunch; I'll be surprised if she hits 4'9" before 8th/13yo.

 

[My2Qtz0205]

My kids are little, too. My 9 1/2 year old was 48" at his last dr. appointment in April. He will remain in a booster until it's safe for him to no longer be in one. My daughter is 6 1/2 and is still in a 5 point harness, also. She is itching to move into a high-back booster like her friends, but she is only about 42 inches, so a 5 point harness is safest for her at this point.

 

[mad madam mim78]

Just looked it up and it's 8 years old here too. That's good. I thought the 4'9 was the law.

 

[LittleMissMagic]

I didn't get out of my booster seat until I was 12!! Even then, I didn't meet the 4'9" guideline - but I finally convinced my parents that I couldn't go to middle school riding in a booster seat (front seat was out of the question, though - didn't start that til high school!)... However, I was very disappointed that my then 10-yr-old sister got to ditch her booster seat at the same time. Not fair!

 

[emksmama]

It varies from state to state, so the best advice is to check your own state's guidelines. My DD9 is about 4'7" or so but over 100 lbs, so she's been out of her booster for probably two years now, I think shortly after she started 2nd grade and she'll be in 4th this fall. DD8 is only about 4'2" and 65 lbs, so she'll be in hers for a while, going into 3rd grade. Most of her friends are already out of theirs, but I'm keeping her in it until she's bigger.

 

[Coconut36]

I do yes. If the child doesn't meet the minimum height requirements the seat belts are not going to work properly or protect them as well as they would if they were still in a booster. If the belt does not fall on the right parts of the body it can lead to them not working or lead to them causing injury to the body.

I have been in 3 very serious car accidents..one of those accidents occurred 4 streets away from my home (proving accident can and do happen even when you are driving "just up the road" or are "close to home") and I am not embaressed to say I take these things quite seriously and to the greatest extreme. There are lots of stories about kids not in restraints or not in the one appropriate for their age/height/weight being killed or injured..far less for kids in proper restraints (properly installed, used and proper for their height/weight) dying or being seriously injured (of course no carseat/booster is 100% infallible protection and I know this..the point being that if there is a chance of survival they will fair better in the proper restraint for their height/age than without it).

Laws are archaic in most places. To give you an idea in my state a child 5 and older can legally ride in the back seat utterly unrestrained..no carseat, booster or seat belt. I don't recommend every following the laws but rather following the recommendations of the AAP and NHTSA as they are more accurate/up to date in regards to safety than most state laws.

I am uptight about it for my children. I have educated myself, watched videos, attend sessions with firefighters regarding safety and risk and I am doing what is best for my children. It is extremely important to me and I have no qualms keeping them in boosters until they properly fit a seat belt.

 

[Tiger926]

Of course we follow the rules, which by the way, are the bare minimun for safety. They need to do away with ages actually, and go by height and weight requirements as around here we have parents take their kids out of boosters at age 8, yet they are way under the requirements. Around here we also have 4 year olds in backless boosters. Our DD was in a harnessed seat until about 6.5, and our son will probably be in his harness past that, and in a booster until he meets the requirements.

I don't really get why you can't imagine your son in a booster seat in grade 4. What in the world does age have to do with safety?

Some adults should be in booster seats, and that is why you see very short people sitting on pillows. Seat belts are made for grown adult males, and so boosters are necessary to ensure safety.

Our daughter is going into grade 4, and we had to remove her booster just last week, as she turned 9, as she is very tall for her age. She was at the point where her ears were at the top, so no more seat for her. So despite the fact that she was way under for weight, so maxed out the height requirement. She was actually upset about it too! She sat in a Britax Frontier, as does her little brother. Very safe!

I could care less about ages and what people think, and I don't really get the thing about it being embarassing either. None of my daughter's friends are in my car, so not sure how it's relevant what goes on in my car?

This is a really hot topic for me, as I see so much lazy parenting when it comes to car seats. Parents seem to put more time and effort into buying a car, and showing off that car, then in ensuring their kids are safe in said car.

Tiger

 

[mad madam mim78]

Lol I have pictures of my mother bringing me home from the hospital in the front seat in her arms. We've sure come a long way.

 

[jennyjinx3]

Of course we follow the rules, which by the way, are the bare minimun for safety.

I don't really get why you can't imagine your son in a booster seat in grade 4. What in the world does age have to do with safety?

Some adults should be in booster seats, and that is why you see very short people sitting on pillows. Seat belts are made for grown adult males, and so boosters are necessary to ensure safety.

Our daughter is going into grade 4, and we had to remove her booster just last week, as she turned 9, as she is very tall for her age. She was at the point where her ears were at the top, so no more seat for her. So despite the fact that she was way under for weight, so maxed out the height requirement. She was actually upset about it too! She sat in a Britax Frontier, as does her little brother. Very safe!

I could care less about ages and what people think, and I don't really get the thing about it being embarassing either. None of my daughter's friends are in my car, so not sure how it's relevant what goes on in my car?

This is a really hot topic for me, as I see so much lazy parenting when it comes to car seats. Parents seem to put more time and effort into buying a car, and showing off that car, then in ensuring their kids are safe in said car.

Tiger

Just had to quickly log back on here before bed to say I 100% agree with everything you just said. Our eldest just turned 8 and in no way am I taking her out of that booster. This is our precious cargo people.

 

[morethananyonex]

Of course we follow the rules, which by the way, are the bare minimun for safety. They need to do away with ages actually, and go by height and weight requirements as around here we have parents take their kids out of boosters at age 8, yet they are way under the requirements. Around here we also have 4 year olds in backless boosters. Our DD was in a harnessed seat until about 6.5, and our son will probably be in his harness past that, and in a booster until he meets the requirements.

I don't really get why you can't imagine your son in a booster seat in grade 4. What in the world does age have to do with safety?

Some adults should be in booster seats, and that is why you see very short people sitting on pillows. Seat belts are made for grown adult males, and so boosters are necessary to ensure safety.

Our daughter is going into grade 4, and we had to remove her booster just last week, as she turned 9, as she is very tall for her age. She was at the point where her ears were at the top, so no more seat for her. So despite the fact that she was way under for weight, so maxed out the height requirement. She was actually upset about it too! She sat in a Britax Frontier, as does her little brother. Very safe!

I could care less about ages and what people think, and I don't really get the thing about it being embarassing either. None of my daughter's friends are in my car, so not sure how it's relevant what goes on in my car?

This is a really hot topic for me, as I see so much lazy parenting when it comes to car seats. Parents seem to put more time and effort into buying a car, and showing off that car, then in ensuring their kids are safe in said car.

Tiger

Great post. We are no where near booster age at this point but we've already had to explain to multiple people why we won't turn our son from rear facing (and he isn't even 1!).

I can't get over how some people can't understand why proper car seat use is so important.

 

[smitch425]

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?

Our DD is going into the 4th grade and she will still be in her booster seat. She is 9 1/2 years old, and 4'6" tall. She rode across the main road of our subdivision a couple weeks ago without it and she complained about the seatbelt hurting her neck. We were literally in the car for one minute. I suspect she'll be in it for a while longer. We just took the highback off of it last year. Safety should always take priority over pride.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

My soon to be 6th grader (who actually should be going into 7th) won't be getting out of her booster any time soon, in my car anyway. The seat belt cuts into her neck without it, so in it she stays. DH's seats are made a bit differently, so she is closer to being out there.

I believe our law is only til 8 years, but laws of physics trump man made laws in my book.

 

[Talking Hands]

I am one of those adults who should still be in a booster seat and my daughters both tease me about it. I am 4'8" and the seat belt cuts across my neck. Honestly if I could find one that would work I would probably use it because having the belt diffing into my neck is uncomfortable and I hate using it.

 

[Colleen27]

This is a really hot topic for me, as I see so much lazy parenting when it comes to car seats. Parents seem to put more time and effort into buying a car, and showing off that car, then in ensuring their kids are safe in said car.

I can't get over how some people can't understand why proper car seat use is so important.

Not every difference of opinion can be reduced to laziness or ignorance. I'm aware that a booster is safer. But I'm also aware that it is reducing an already small risk, and I'm willing to take other factors into consideration.

The social aspect might not be relevant if your child doesn't have friends in the car and doesn't ride in other cars, but that's not the case in our lives and I absolutely do care about how my daughter feels. And the fact is, she'd be mortified to be the only kid toting a booster seat along on Girl Scout trips, or to be seen getting out of a booster seat when I drop her off at the middle school activity night (as close to a school dance as kids get around here before high school - a BIG DEAL in the tween social world). That stage is littered with enough social and emotional pitfalls without my insisting on her being the only kid in her grade riding around in a car seat for the sake of a relatively slim chance of any benefit from that decision.

 

[mad madam mim78]

Not every difference of opinion can be reduced to laziness or ignorance. I'm aware that a booster is safer. But I'm also aware that it is reducing an already small risk, and I'm willing to take other factors into consideration.

The social aspect might not be relevant if your child doesn't have friends in the car and doesn't ride in other cars, but that's not the case in our lives and I absolutely do care about how my daughter feels. And the fact is, she'd be mortified to be the only kid toting a booster seat along on Girl Scout trips, or to be seen getting out of a booster seat when I drop her off at the middle school activity night (as close to a school dance as kids get around here before high school - a BIG DEAL in the tween social world). That stage is littered with enough social and emotional pitfalls without my insisting on her being the only kid in her grade riding around in a car seat for the sake of a relatively slim chance of any benefit from that decision.

 

[morethananyonex]

Not every difference of opinion can be reduced to laziness or ignorance. I'm aware that a booster is safer. But I'm also aware that it is reducing an already small risk, and I'm willing to take other factors into consideration.

The social aspect might not be relevant if your child doesn't have friends in the car and doesn't ride in other cars, but that's not the case in our lives and I absolutely do care about how my daughter feels. And the fact is, she'd be mortified to be the only kid toting a booster seat along on Girl Scout trips, or to be seen getting out of a booster seat when I drop her off at the middle school activity night (as close to a school dance as kids get around here before high school - a BIG DEAL in the tween social world). That stage is littered with enough social and emotional pitfalls without my insisting on her being the only kid in her grade riding around in a car seat for the sake of a relatively slim chance of any benefit from that decision.

Well, what I was referring to is keeping young children rear facing. We arent dealing with boosters yet. It is absolutely not a small risk to turn a young child, but that isn't what this is about.

I was referring to the parents I've come in contact with at this stage who seem to put numerous other things over their children's safety.

 

[mad madam mim78]

Well, what I was referring to is keeping young children rear facing. We arent dealing with boosters yet. It is absolutely not a small risk to turn a young child, but that isn't what this is about.

I was referring to the parents I've come in contact with at this stage who seem to put numerous other things over their children's safety.

You know speaking of rear facing I was always nervous about rear facing. When you think about it the only time rear facing would be benificial is in a head-on collision. It seems more likely and common to be rear ended which would cause a rear facing child's head to fling forward. Makes you wonder.

 

[Colleen27]

Well, what I was referring to is keeping young children rear facing. We arent dealing with boosters yet. It is absolutely not a small risk to turn a young child, but that isn't what this is about.

I was referring to the parents I've come in contact with at this stage who seem to put numerous other things over their children's safety.

Oh, I agree with you on the rear facing thing; my girls both rear faced well past their 2nd birthdays, and if I'd had the money and knowledge to find a seat that worked for my son he'd have rear faced longer too (he was a big boy, 95+ percentile, and back then you really had to look for the extended rear facing seats). I don't really think there's a downside there. Dealing with older kids is more complex all the way around.

 

[Tiger926]

Not every difference of opinion can be reduced to laziness or ignorance. I'm aware that a booster is safer. But I'm also aware that it is reducing an already small risk, and I'm willing to take other factors into consideration.

The social aspect might not be relevant if your child doesn't have friends in the car and doesn't ride in other cars, but that's not the case in our lives and I absolutely do care about how my daughter feels. And the fact is, she'd be mortified to be the only kid toting a booster seat along on Girl Scout trips, or to be seen getting out of a booster seat when I drop her off at the middle school activity night (as close to a school dance as kids get around here before high school - a BIG DEAL in the tween social world). That stage is littered with enough social and emotional pitfalls without my insisting on her eing the only kid in her grade riding around in a car seat for the sake of a relatively slim chance of any benefit from that decision.

Around here most parents don't care so much about car seat safety, or they think it's for babies, so that is what I base my comments on.

You have made decisions that are right for your family and more specifically for the emotional development of your child.

For us, there is no issue with car seats, as our kids know they are not-negotiable. They go with being a passenger in the car, and that is how it is. We are lucky that they both love their car seats and know how important they are.

It is too bad that people have determined that car seats are for babies, instead of being a necessary part of riding in a car. If there was more of a positive aspect to it, then your daughter wouldn't have to worry about being made fun of, as most of the other kids would be in car seats as well.

Tiger