Spinoff: What age OUT of a booster seat in the car?

[Eeyore'sthebest]

My DD is tall for her age. She's 9 and almost 5'. Actually, for my family she is considered the short one. Her cousin is the same age and almost dwarfs her by 4 inches. DD was out of her booster around 7.5 yo. Seatbelt hit her fine in all the right places. There was no need to make her suffer with that booster.

 

[Nicolepa]

Here is the TN law (for the pp who asked)...

http://www.state.tn.us/safety/newCRD.htm

and an excerpt...

Children age four (4) through age eight (8), and measuring less than four feet nine inches (4'9") in height, must be secured in a belt-positioning booster seat system, meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards in the rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer's instructions. (Note: If the child is not between age four (4) and age eight (8), but is less than four feet nine inches (4'9") in height, he/she must still use a seat belt system meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.)

I still have him in a booster because the 4'9" was measured at home, he was 4'7" at his last ped appt.

I think you are misreading this. It is saying if the child is between 4-8 they must be in a booster seat, if they are older than 8 but less than 4'9" they need to be in a seat belt.

If your child is still OK with being in the booster that's great but once he hits that 100 pound mark I wouldn't think twice about puting him in a regular seat belt.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

In Indiana the law is until the age of 8 they need a booster. At my oldest child's 8 year doctor appointment the doctor said that the law was too lax, and it should be 4ft. 9 in. (I THINK THAT IS THE CORRECT HEIGHT.) Regardless, I know the doctor said most kids are 10 when they hit that height. Since my DS is average height, we used the booster until 10 1/2. None of his friends were still in one, but he liked it. He said he liked being up a bit! We just stopped using it last week because I thought he looked too big for it to be safe. He's over 4'9" and weighs 90 pounds.

My DD is 8, but short. She'll be using one for awhile. She'll probably complain unlike her older brother.

 

[mrsbert]

I have a big'un too. DS8 uses this and has been for about a year. He was too wide for his booster.

He actually didn't like sitting on the seat because he couldn't see everything as well. He's gotten used to it and taller.

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

I think you are misreading this. It is saying if the child is between 4-8 they must be in a booster seat, if they are older than 8 but less than 4'9" they need to be in a seat belt.

If your child is still OK with being in the booster that's great but once he hits that 100 pound mark I wouldn't think twice about puting him in a regular seat belt.

The next age bracket in the article is 9 thru 12, and my DS is 8 1/2, so he has to be in a booster until age 9. All the 'abbreviated pamphlets' at the ped's office just say 'under age 9'. But we could probably drop the booster, b/c he is pretty darn close to 4'9". He doesn't mind the booster, so he'll be in it until his birthday or 100 lbs, whichever comes first .

I think TN has some of the strictest laws for child safety, though. I think 8 and 80 is the standard almost everywhere else that has booster laws.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

It is 8/80 here in PA too.

 

[Mandychelle79]

It is 8/80 here in PA too.

Actually accord to my BIL who is a State Trooper for Pa there is no weight portion of it. They child has to be 8 yrs old to be out of a booster, even if they weigh over 100 lbs.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

Va is till age 8. I took them out at 8.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

Holy cow, I didn't break 80 lbs until I was in 6th grade! Things were different back then though, I don't even remember being in a booster, !

Me too. I remember bring in 7th grade and weighing 75lbs.
I would of been th eonly high schooler in a booster.

 

[minniebeth]

Ohio just changed it's booster seat law. Here is a link if anyone is interested:
http://www.boostohiokids.org/resources/Ohio_law_changed_ODH.pdf

Will make it more difficult for a Girl Scout leader like me, now we have to have booster seats for any carpooling we do, and we have seen police looking for compliance of the law, although warnings will be given for awhile.

 

[Kathi OD]

Actually accord to my BIL who is a State Trooper for Pa there is no weight portion of it. They child has to be 8 yrs old to be out of a booster, even if they weigh over 100 lbs.

BIL better read up on the law...from Title 67 of the PA Department of Transportation Code:

§ 102.3. Physical criteria for use of child passenger restraint system.

(a) General criteria. Children under 4 years of age shall be securely fastened in a safety seat belt system and a child passenger restraint system appropriate for their height and weight in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer. Children 4 years of age but younger than 8 years of age shall be securely fastened in a safety seat belt system and an appropriately fitting child booster seat in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer.

(b) Exemption based on child's weight or height, or on vehicle characteristics. Exemption from the general criteria in subsection (a) shall be as follows:

(1) Children 4 years of age but younger than 8 years of age who weigh less than 40 pounds may, in lieu of use of a booster seat, be securely fastened in a child safety seat or other child passenger restraint system appropriate for their height and weight in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer.

(2) Children 4 years of age but younger than 8 years of age riding in a passenger position in the vehicle which was not originally equipped with a shoulder safety seat belt shall be fastened in the safety seat belt system without the use of a child booster seat and may be fastened in a child passenger restraint system appropriate for their height and weight in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer.

(3) Children 4 years of age but younger than 8 years of age who weigh more than 80 pounds or who are of a height of 4 feet 9 inches or taller may be fastened in the safety seat belt system without the use of a child booster seat.

http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol33/33-13/564.html