OT - car seat question

[pantherlj]

Would you switch your kindergartener to a booster seat from a 5 point if they still weren't 40 pounds?

I don't see my youngest hitting 40 pounds by Kindergarten this fall(she might). She can't undo her 5 point harness and undoing it for her will be a hassle at drop off in the morning. Of course, I would rather have the inconvience (well, DH will have it) if she is safer.

I looked at Target today and the high back boosters start at 30 pounds.

For the life of me, I can't remember what I did with my 2nd grader when she was in Kindergarten booster or 5 point

 

[macmahony]

my almost 6 year old is still in a five point harness, she is just barley 40 pounds, and not quite at the height requirement for the 5 point harness. For me, I would rather have her in the 5 point as long as possible, the hassle is worth it. I do have a booster, for if she happens to be in someone elses car quick, but 99% of the time she is in the 5 point.

 

[WantToGoNow]

Children are always safer in a 5 pt. harness than in a booster. I'm curious to what type of seat you have that a 5 y/o can't undo. My dd3 just recently learned to fasten/unfasten herself into her seats.

 

[all4fun]

I guess it depends on how she handles sitting in the booster seat. If she stays seated properly for 100% of the ride (never twisting around, bending forward or reaching down for toys etc, never putting the shoulder belt under her arm) ... also, if she's older than five (most kindergartners are five, right?) then sure, I think it would be OK to have in her a HBB. But are you sure she can't be taught to undo the 5-pt harness herself? I've read lots of posts from parents of older kids saying that undoing the regular seatbelt on the side of a booster is actually more awkward and harder for kids to do actually (or maybe I'm remembering wrong, and it's just getting themselves buckled up...) My ds just turned four on Saturday and is still in a 5pt at least until he outgrows his current seat by height. I'll probably be faced w/this decision too at some point because he's tall but slender and probably won't hit 40lbs until he's 6 or 7 at this rate. For sure, a child in an appropriate sized 5pt harness is always safer than a child in a bpb. So it really comes down to maturity and what you as her parent feel comfortable with. hth

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

My 4.5 yo DD is still in her 5pt carseat and what I do for dropoff at school is put the gear on P, undo my seatbelt and reach to the back and open the chest clip and the one between the legs, it takes me few seconds to do this, usually the same time that it takes the teacher to walk the 2 steps to my car and open DD´s door, while teacher takes dd out of the carseat I do my seatbelt again.

It is only a few seconds and so much safer that I wouldn´t think of doing it any other way.

 

[zoemurr]

If you're sure she won't when it isn't safe.

My kids are in K and 3rd and still harnessed.. but they can do/undo it themselves (not that this would have mattered)

And I agree with the other poster.. we also have boosters and they are more difficult. You either have to lean WAY into the car to help them, or they have to fasten it where they really can't see.

Keep her there until she outgrows it.

 

[kathyanderson28]

I have a 4 1/2 yr old, and a 2 yr old, and a 1 yr old. My 4 1/2 yr old is in a booster that starts at 30 pounds. At first I didn't like it, because it gave my son too much freedom to move around. But it only took a couple of times of me stopping the car, for him to get it, that he sits still, and doesn't unbuckle while we're moving. Now, it is so great. Because while I'm getting the 2 younger ones in their seats, he's already gotten himself taken care of. We have the Graco Booster, with the 2 cupholders, which my son thinks is so cool. He hides small toys in there. He is probably just now close to 40 pounds, but we started him in the seat when he was about 35 pounds. We moved him into this seat mainly because when we had my youngest, we wanted to give her the infant seat, we moved my middle daughter from the infant seat to my son's 5-point harness seat, then graduated my oldest to the booster. He was with in all the requirements by the manufacturer, and the seatbelt law, so once I realized he could handle not moving around too much and undoing his belt, I felt he was safe. He can handle the buckling and unbuckling part very easily.

 

[tjmw2727]

It was around kindergarten when we switched from the harness to the high back booster for my youngest dd. She was in a convertable seat anyway so we just took out the harness and used the slots for the lap/shoulder belt. I think she was just over the 40lb mark but she was definately ready for a booster as far as maturity.

It really depends on the child, height weight and maturity wise when you will be comfortable switching. Obviously we want to keep them in the harness forever but sometimes that isn't an option. Can you use a high back booster in dh's car for drop off/pick up from school and continue with a harness seat for longer trips and most of the driving in your car?

FWIW my dd is still in a low back belt positioning booster in my car at 8yo because she still dosen't meet the requirements without one. She is fine in dh's car with shorter seats and an adjustable belt system but not in my van.

TJ

 

[Elmo888]

Leave her in the harnessed seat! She's so much safer. Is there a parking lot at the school? My DD7 is on the wrong side of the car (driver's side) because my DD2 is still rearfacing and on the passenger's side. I park in the parking lot and let her get out so she isn't getting out of the car in traffic (in the car pool lane or drive-through as I call it). This might work for you if you have to help her unbuckle.

I really don't like the carpool lane in any case.

 

[MamaOfTwoPrincesses]

My 5.25 year old is 48 pounds and still harnessed - in a Regent, which will hold her til 80 npounds. I plan to keep her there for a good long while. It is just so much safer to be harnessed than to be in a booster.

In fact, we were in a car accident a few weeks ago, and both girls were totally fine in their Britax seats. So glad we invested in them. (Yes, I have already replaced them with insurance money.)

 

[jessica52877]

I would keep her harnessed! DS is 4 1/2 and will be for a LONG time. I just invested $500 in 2 new seats and will get another come May when it comes out (that is ALOT of money to us). It gives me peace of mind to know that he cannot move, period. I have a 2 door car so get in every time in the smaller backseat to buckle and unbuckle him but I do not mind at all! Especially since she won't be 40 lbs. I don't think that is even big enough to be in a BPB.

 

[tanyaandallie]

If your child still fits in the harnessed seat, I personally see no reason to mover her out of it. Esp. if it means buying a new seat. She is safest in the harnessed seat. I bet if you get her practicing on it, she would learn to buckle/unbuckle herself.

My dd is almost 4 and knows how to buckle herself and just today learned to unbuckle. What I have done at her preschool drop off line in the past is just stop the car, turn around and unbuckle her. She is right behind me so it really wasn't a big deal at all.

 

[dhardawa]

As long as the top harness slots are at or above her shoulders and she is under the weight limit, I would leave her harnessed. There is no reason to downgrade her safety just because she is starting kindergarten. Harnessed seats are significantly safer than boosters. This is why race car drivers use a 5-point restraint. It is all about safety. My daughter was 7 1/2 before she moved to a booster and even now, I'd like to move her back to a harnessed seat.

Dana
Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician