When did you stop using a booster seat for your child(ren)?

[Kimberle]

My dd just turned 9, is about 53", 62#'s. We still use one. (Though she gives me grief every day. ) Our state law mandates seats until they are 60#'s, and a neighboring one (NY) maindates (I believe) until they are 80#'s. The recommended age/height is 8 yrs or 57"'s.

So, when did you feel comfortable letting your child not sit in a booster?

 

[aprilgail2]

My dd just turned 9, is about 53", 62#'s. We still use one. (Though she gives me grief every day. ) Our state law mandates seats until they are 60#'s, and a neighboring one (NY) maindates (I believe) until they are 80#'s. The recommended age/height is 8 yrs or 57"'s.

So, when did you feel comfortable letting your child not sit in a booster?

NY is 4 years old or 40 pounds. They RECOMMEND 8 years old or 80 pounds but at that rate my daughter would be in one until she was 20 years old- she is 8 years old and 45 pounds but she hasn't used one since Dec. No one we drive around or who drives around my daughter uses a booster seat, most stopped around Kindergarten-first grade. My daughter stayed in one longer than any of her friends, she was in it up until Dec of thrid grade and only becasue she is smaller than the rest.

 

[irishprincess]

I kept dd14 in as long as I could. Can't remember the age, but is was older than 9. she is tiny. Seat belts aren't made for kids, or women for that matter. I dealt with a lot of griping from her, she hated when she had friends in the car and was in it. Most of them climbed in and didn't even try to put on a seat belt. Wouldn't pull out till they did!

 

[shortbun]

My son was in his longer than ANY of his friends. They made fun of him when they rode with us. Yep, the rule in our car is that it doesn't start until all seat belts are securely fastened and correctly in use. No child under 5' or a 100# sits in my front seat either.

 

[aprilgail2]

My son was in his longer than ANY of his friends. They made fun of him when they rode with us. Yep, the rule in our car is that it doesn't start until all seat belts are securely fastened and correctly in use. No child under 5' or a 100# sits in my front seat either.

I don't put any child under 16 in my front seat now, I have 5 back seats, no reason to have them up front. That rule may change with my daughter though, she may never get to sit up front if she doesn't start growing LOL!! Many of her firends sit in the front seats of their cars already but that one I won't bend on. I don't need to have her head blown off by the airbag!!

 

[MushyMushy]

I honestly don't remember with DS, but it was a bit past what the law required, though not much. DD was just ready to get out of the booster when they changed the law in PA, so we kept her in until she reached the weight limit. She's always been tall and large for her age, so I'd say it was around kindergarten with her.

 

[sassyat30]

Here in WI, it's 8 years old or 80 lbs. My DD is still in a booster seat and she's almost 7.

 

[DisneyTeacher]

My son turns 9 in May and still uses a booster. The seatbelts don't fit him right in either car we own, they cut right across his neck and I just can't let him ride that way. I'm lucky in that he never gripes about it, I actually think he likes it becuase he can reach the controls to the DVD player if he's in it.

I am amazed that his friends were all out of car seats by the time they started school even though the law was 8 years or 80 pounds. I have to double check seatbelts before I start the car because my son has one friend who pretends to clip in but doesn't.

 

[cepmom]

I stopped really early for DD18... about 5 years old I think....back then the rules were less strict than they are now. DD10 stopped at first grade. She was big for her age and fit well in the seat without a booster. DD7 is still in her booster (backless booster) she weighs about 48 lbs...not sure of her height at the moment. She is about ready to come out of it I think....at times I have had to transport other children (neighbor's son) that are smaller than my DD so I let them use her booster and put her in the middle seat. She fits well there but not in the other seats in my car (seatbelt is lower there and fits her better) so for now she still uses the booster. She will ask occasionally when she can stop using it but generally it doesn't bother her.

 

[ilisao]

I have tiny kids. My daughter is 9 and still in a booster seat. She'll be in it for quite some time.

DS is 6 and in kindy and is still in a 5pt harness because he is small. He's just reaching the point where we can put him in a booster.

 

[Jaimee]

I think DS stopped around his 7th birthday, but he's always been really tall. He turned 10 last week and is 5 ft 2 and about 110. Although of his friends are over the 8 year old age recommendation for my state, they're still way under the weight (80lbs..) but I haven't seen any of them in booster seats since 1st or 2nd grade.

 

[momx2]

My oldest DD (10) was freed from the the booster before I should have. I gave into begs and peer pressure and let the booster go after kindergarten. She was the only one still using it and she was 6 1/2. Now, youngest DD (7) is still using one. She really doesn't complain like the other DD did. DD (7) is 54lbs and 52 inches tall. Our state still has the 4 or 40lb. law.

 

[NHdisneylover]

DD stopped at 6. This was because she is very tall and was outgrowing them all. She is 11 now and I have been letting her ride in the front now when we have an extra kid (not that often) rather than trying to squeeze three kids in the back of a Focus. She is 5'3" and weighs over a hundred pounds so she is really adult sized.

DS, on the other hand, is small for his age. He is 9 and still uses one (he is 4 feet six inches and only 60 pounds). He is close to being out of it as well. He doesn't mind riding in it at all (it has cup holders and he can see better), so I guess I am lucky there.

 

[Becky2005]

I wait until they are 8 now that they have the law. DS #1 was just about ready to come out of his when the law passed.

I don't pay attention to the weight because in that case, my nearly 14 year old would have *just* gotten out of a booster last year and her head would have been close to the ceiling in one (it would definitely have been above the headrest). I have started letting her ride in the front seat on occassion because well...she's going to be able to drive soon (I believe they can get their permits at 15, so next year she will be getting her permit). I figured it might be a good idea to let her sit in the front seat to get some observations although she probably won't crack 100 pounds until after she gets her license. She certainly isn't going to be tall as her predicted height is only 5' 1" - 5' 2" fully grown. It all depends on how much stuff I have in the passanger seat though since no one sits there, I use it as storage for all their papers, etc...

My 11 year old son is probably going to be taller than me before he cracks the 100 pound mark as he's nearly as tall as his sister is now. He doesn't sit in the front seat yet.

My 7 year old is still in one and when he turns 8 in May he will come out. I don't know his weight. The little guy will be in one until he's 8.

 

[MareQ]

8 or 80 here in NJ.

DS will be 10 this month - he is still in one and will be for QUITE some time - he's only 37 lbs.

DD will be 7 this month and will be in hers for quite some time as well - she is 35 lbs.

Youngest DS is 4 - he rides in the built in car seat in the van. As soon as he no longer fits, he will be in a booster as well. He's 33 lbs.

I don't care what other parents do and don't care who makes fun of my kids. It's not safe for them to ride without the booster seats so they will use them until I feel it's no longer necessary.

 

[Mean Queen]

I just went to a carseat safety check last week. My DD8 is in a booster, she's about 71# and is 4'2". They recommended she stay in the booster. They showed me what to look for as a sign she didn't need it anymore. Check if the childs knees fit comfortably over the edge of the seat. If they don't fit, the child tends to scoot forward which moves the lap belt over their stomach rather than over their lap. Very dangerous in a crash. Another thing to look for is where the shoulder strap hits. It should not hit them in the neck. The safety check team told me they are looking to make it law in our state for kids to be in boosters until they are 8. The firefighters there said they've seen too many accidents where kids were severely injured or killed because they were taken out of a car seat too early. My DD8 now understands why she needs to be in one and what to look for to be able to get out. (My main purpose to be there was my DD1's seat.)

 

[Cool-Beans]

I let them sit in the booster seat until they were big enough to see out the window on their own. They were probably around 5 years, I guess. I let them sit up front, too.

This was back before all the hoopla over car seats, though.

 

[JustineMarie]

My 9 year old is still in a car seat. In NJ the law is 8years old and 80 pounds, not or 80 pounds. She isn't 80 pounds yet so she will be in it or a while yet. I always thought it was either or but my husband, who is a police officer, said that it is supposed to be both.

 

[Disney4Drew]

My 5 year old is still in a 5pt harness. I just started researching some britax boosters this week as I'm not sure when to put him in one! I'm always amazed when I see young kids bopping around in a car. I think it's really hard to get a straight answer on car seat safety.

 

[mom2boys77]

My ds12 has been out of one since he was about 5 but the law went into effect after that (8 or 80lbs.) and younger ds is in the Britax Regent..he's 6 and it goes up to a high weight(either 80 or 100lbs.)..it's a five point harness..he has never once complained about it..he actually freaks if someone suggests that he go into their car even in a booster seat. This is kind of ot but does anyone know what can be done about seatbelts and short adults..I am 5'3 and the seat belt does not sit on my shoulder but rather cuts into my neck..I know it can't be safe but is there anything I can do to make it fit right?