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

[zachnsamsmommy]

Let me preface this by saying I know the state laws vary quite a bit.

Here in TN, they can be out of a booster seat at age 9. Every booster seat that I have seen goes to 100 lbs. My DS is 8 1/2, and very big for his age. He is 4'9" and about 91 lbs. I am hoping he doesn't hit 100 before his 9th birthday (he shouldn't unless he goes thru a major growth spurt). So I plan on keeping him in a booster til 100 lbs...be it age 9 or later.

So...two questions...

1) Would you take a child out of a booster before age 9 if they are more than 100 lbs? (since that is the max wt on all boosters I have seen)

2) Also, what is the booster law in your state?

Thanks!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I would definitely take him out once he exceeds the weight limit as the seat isn't designed to go beyond that. However--do you think he will gain 9 pounds by his next birthday?

My daughter is a feather weight and we have been letting her out of her seat. I do need to recheck though that she's all lined up properly.

We do not have a booster law, but we have been getting the "cinderella' commercials about booster safety.

 

[freckles and boo]

Holy cow. Your child is almost as big I am and I don't use a booster. It would make it harder to reach the pedals.

My nine year old is still in a booster (as is her seven year old sister) because she isn't even close to 80 pounds or 4'-9", which is the smallest size adults seatbelts are designed to protect. Here in Illinois boosters are required up to age eight.

 

[disykat]

Does Tenn ONLY have an age, or do they also have a height/weight guideline? I know in our state you have to meet the age OR the height/weight guidelines - whichever you meet first. I kept my kids in boosters past the age guideline because they were below the height/weight and could still benefit from the booster. (My kids were way back when they were just changing from 4/40 to 6/60, but recommending 8/80 - A lot of their friends had been taken out of boosters and had to be put back in.)

It sounds like your son is probably not getting the benefit intended by the booster seat if he is too big for it.

 

[mjkacmom]

I took ds out on his 8th birthday - he was 80 pounds, 4'9", same as dd, who finally got this opportunity to get out of hers (she was almost 10). It was a great day - up until then, we had 5 carseats/boosters in the van!

 

[mjkacmom]

Holy cow. Your child is almost as big I am and I don't use a booster. It would make it harder to reach the pedals.

My nine year old is still in a booster (as is her seven year old sister) because she isn't even close to 80 pounds or 4'-9", which is the smallest size adults seatbelts are designed to protect. Here in Illinois boosters are required up to age eight.

Poor dd8 - she actually thought she didn't have to ride in the booster when she turned 8 (she's 50 inches and 52 pounds).

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

North Carolina is age 8 OR 80 lbs....whichever comes first.

 

[pixiewings71]

Well last I remember CA was 6 yrs/60 lbs. BUT we did 8 yrs/80 lbs for DD9 so when she turned 8 we let her stop using it.

 

[clovergirl5]

Our ped always told us 8 yrs old and 80lbs. Also, childs legs need to be able to hang over the edge of the seat, kwim?

 

[remyandhollandsmommy]

I think Florida is 8yrs or 80lbs, but I am not positive on that..all I know is that Holly will most likely be 8yrs to get outta hers since shes six now and weighs only 34lbs lol.

 

[Planogirl]

Actually, if I'm not mistaken Texas has no laws governing booster seats. I believe that DS used one until he was 8 though.

 

[Nicolepa]

Where are you getting they have to be in the seat until they are 9? The most restrictive law I have heard was 8 OR 80 pounds. My daughter is 9, 70 pounds and 54 inches. I cannot imagine her in a booster still. She was so uncomfortable in the booster that we let her out of it around 8 1/2.

I don't know how up to date this site is but it says TN is 8, 60 pounds or 57 inches all which your child falls under. Other sites I've looked at (including the state of TN site all say 8 or younger for TN).

http://www.elitecarseats.com/custserv/custserv.jsp?pageName=car_seat_laws

 

[Pigeon]

My nine year old is a peanut, and she complains that none of her classmates use a booster. She'll be riding in a booster seat on her way to her wedding.

 

[tmarquez]

I'm in Florida and my 7yo is the only kid her age that we know that still uses one. Not sure what the law is. I know a few 5yo's that don't use it.

I keep expecting her to complain about having to use it, but I think she likes it because she gets car sick and the lift the seat gives her helps her see out.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Ill just copy what I just wrote on the other thread!!


It really depends on the size of the child. I have an 18 year old who got his license 2 years ago. When I was testing him about info in the manual, I saw that a child 5 - 12 should be in a booster seat! We all laughed as my younger son was 12 and he was 6 feet tall, 170lbs! (Yes, I have monster children).

My giant boys were out of boosters around age 6 1/2 ish.. I think they were in front by age 11 or 12...and ever since, I cant walk to the car with them without hearing "I call shotgun"

 

[DMickey28]

I am honestly not sure what the laws are in my state ... my plan is to keep my DS in a 5 point harness until he hits 80lbs. Then I'll keep him in a booster until he reaches a physical size in which I am comfortable and the state laws.

He's only 2.5 so he's still in a Britax Marathon right now and I'll change him to (most likely) the Britax Frontier when this baby is ready for the Marathon.

ETA: If that elite chart is correct, my state doesn't require the 1/20 for the infant car rear facing and the carseat/booster is 6 years 55lbs. DS is a big kid ... he'll be harnessed until 80lbs and then we will go from there.

 

[aprilgail2]

I am honestly not sure what the laws are in my state ... my plan is to keep my DS in a 5 point harness until he hits 80lbs. Then I'll keep him in a booster until he reaches a physical size in which I am comfortable and the state laws.

He's only 2.5 so he's still in a Britax Marathon right now and I'll change him to (most likely) the Britax Frontier when this baby is ready for the Marathon.

ETA: If that elite chart is correct, my state doesn't require the 1/20 for the infant car rear facing and the carseat/booster is 6 years 55lbs. DS is a big kid ... he'll be harnessed until 80lbs and then we will go from there.

You may change your mind on that depending on your kids size- my 10 year old is no where NEAR 80 pounds, nor are many of her friends at the same age- I think they would be very oncomfortable in a 5 point harness. Mine still rides in a booster seat because she is still pretty short and not even 60 pounds.

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

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.

 

[pyrxtc]

8 yrs old or 80 pounds.

 

[locolala]

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, so I'm guessing it was around 5 or so. Mom says she doesn't even remember when they took me out, so that had to have been awhile ago. We'll follow the laws when it comes time for our kid to be out of the booster and such, though with me as a mom, I'm guessing they'll be on the small size. I'm just barely 5'1" and around 120 lbs. I have a genetic condition that makes me have shorter than average stature, and since there's a 50% chance of my kids having it, chances are decent that they will be short too!