One more reason to HATE the new Michigan booster seat law!

[jodifla]

You're not suffering from FTM syndrome as I have 2 kids and my son will be 20 months old next week and is still happily rearfacing in his carseat. My daughter is 4yo and still in a 5 point harness and will be for quite some time.

I also don't get "hating" this law. It's for your kid's SAFETY! Not an attempt to inconvenience you or anyone else. I family I know recently lost their 7yo (and the mom) in a car accident, while the 4yo lived, with speculation that it was because she was in a 5 point harness. So next time you start thinking about the inconvenience you're going through, just stop and think about that family and how you'd never want that to happen to your own son and this is for his own protection.

Well, what about the mom here? Why wasn't she saved? She was wearing a lap/shoulder belt, right?

It's impossible to have rational discussions on this topic with people who are convinced car seats and booster seats are a magic shield and nothing bad will happen if they are in a booster seat.

Instead of a law, I'd rather see really increased education on the subject. Michigan does havea really low booster seat usage rate.

Today they are saying you have to use booster seats until kids are 8 or 12 or 25, and tomorrow they are saying you HAVE to vaccinate or no school, and the day after that they stepping in to make parents be licensed teachers to homeschool their kids.

Be careful how much government intrusion you wish for.

 

[lillygator]

wow FL is way relaxed...

 

[jodifla]

DH's 2001 Honda Civic has three shoulder belts in the back. Is it not standard on cars yet? I figured our car was pretty old in the car world.....not that I've even attempted to go anywhere as a family of 5 in it. I personally can't imagine not having a minivan with 3 kids anyway!

One of our cars is a 97, one is a 95. The 95 actually seats 7 people, but only has four shoulder harnesses, two in the front and two in the back.

 

[npmommie]

They've got three kids under 7, and three car seats and or boosters won't fit in their back seats of their small sedan.

So what are those people supposed to do, exactly?

What do they do now?? under 7 should still be in a seat, whether 5pt or booster.

 

[lillygator]

My 10 year old - 27 lb son sits in a booster seat and will for quite some time. YES - I am concerned about his self esteem but not enough that I am going to compromise his safety......

 

[npmommie]

Today they are saying you have to use booster seats until kids are 8 or 12 or 25, and tomorrow they are saying you HAVE to vaccinate or no school, and the day after that they stepping in to make parents be licensed teachers to homeschool their kids.

Be careful how much government intrusion you wish for.

I have to look at the law, but is it based on age?? I think it should be based on height because that is what makes you sit properly in a seat belt.

 

[lillygator]

What do they do now?? under 7 should still be in a seat, whether 5pt or booster.

in FL it is only 3 and under in a "seat".

 

[jodifla]

What do they do now?? under 7 should still be in a seat, whether 5pt or booster.

Most kids in Michigan stop using booster seats by 6, I find. So their children all fit fine.

 

[lillygator]

. What is Florida's Child Restraint Law?

All children 5 years of age or younger must be properly restrained no matter where they are sitting in the vehicle. Children through age 3 must be secured in a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer's integrated child safety seat. For children aged 4 through 5 years, a separate carrier, an integrated child safety seat, or a safety belt may be used. (FL Statute 316.613

 

[npmommie]

My 10 year old - 27 lb son sits in a booster seat and will for quite some time. YES - I am concerned about his self esteem but not enough that I am going to compromise his safety......

he only weights 27 pounds??

 

[jodifla]

I have to look at the law, but is it based on age?? I think it should be based on height because that is what makes you sit properly in a seat belt.

My niece STILL is not 4 foot 9, and she's 14. You expect her to sit in a booster??


In Michigan, the law is UNDER 8 or 4 foot 9 or over.

 

[justhat]

Well, what about the mom here? Why wasn't she saved? She was wearing a lap/shoulder belt, right?

I don't know, but I assume she was. It was a head on crash so I'm guessing the seatbelt alone didn't do anything. The 7yo, who was seatbelted and according to the dad recently moved out of a booster, could possibly have been saved had she been in a booster, or 5 point harness. The 4yo who was in the 5 point harness was entirely uninjured and sitting in the intact seat when help arrived.

Is that rare? Maybe. But did it speak wonders to me about car safety? Yes. And to the dad of that family as well as he is starting up a local program to donate carseats/boosters to families who can't afford them.

 

[jodifla]

I don't know, but I assume she was. It was a head on crash so I'm guessing the seatbelt alone didn't do anything. The 7yo, who was seatbelted and according to the dad recently moved out of a booster, could possibly have been saved had she been in a booster, or 5 point harness. The 4yo who was in the 5 point harness was entirely uninjured and sitting in the intact seat when help arrived.

Is that rare? Maybe. But did it speak wonders to me about car safety? Yes. And to the dad of that family as well as he is starting up a local program to donate carseats/boosters to families who can't afford them.

I think education is great! And so is the free booster seat program!


It's the LAW I object to. We are a nation of too many laws, and I'm SICK AND TIRED of my life being micromanaged by a sea of do-gooders and lobbyists preying on people's fears.

 

[justhat]

I think education is great! And so is the free booster seat program!


It's the LAW I object to. We are a nation of too many laws, and I'm SICK AND TIRED of my life being micromanaged by a sea of do-gooders and lobbyists preying on people's fears.

Yes, education and the free boosters are great, but clearly not doing much good if many people still aren't using boosters. Excluding those who haven't been educated on booster safety, I'm assuming you and others know about their benefits, but it is taking a law to make you use one for your child. So in that case, I think it's great to enact a law.

 

[solferino]

Instead of a law, I'd rather see really increased education on the subject. Michigan does havea really low booster seat usage rate.

Maybe they've realised education isn't going to work because of people not wanting to change their ways, even if they know it's safer.

 

[sha_lyn]

It's impossible to have rational discussions on this topic with people who are convinced car seats and booster seats are a magic shield and nothing bad will happen if they are in a booster seat.

Huh? I don't believe anyone here believes they are a "''magic shield".
However there are documented cases where injuries were in direct proportion to the type of restraint used. There are also studies that compare similar accidents and the types of injuries based on the type of restraint.

 

[jodifla]

Yes, education and the free boosters are great, but clearly not doing much good if many people still aren't using boosters. Excluding those who haven't been educated on booster safety, I'm assuming you and others know about their benefits, but it is taking a law to make you use one for your child. So in that case, I think it's great to enact a law.

Again ...my DS is in a booster over 99 percent of the time...even though he hasn't had to be in either Michigan or Florida.

But, I believe it should be my choice.

 

[mjkacmom]

Really? Everyone in our family follows it...... DN aged 7 is now starting to be too big for it. But he wouldn't get in a car unless it was there. He knew was a "rule" - plus he could see out the window.

Better safe than sorry.......

I'm in NJ, and everyone I know uses carseats and boosters religiously. Those that don't usually end up being the parents that pack coke in their kids' lunch boxes.

 

[HelenePA]

I'm in NJ, and everyone I know uses carseats and boosters religiously. Those that don't usually end up being the parents that pack coke in their kids' lunch boxes.

WOW Do you go thru their lunchboxes?? How do you know this?

 

[justhat]

Again ...my DS is in a booster over 99 percent of the time...even though he hasn't had to be in either Michigan or Florida.

But, I believe it should be my choice.

I guess, but why would one want the less safe choice so why is it even an issue?