Just buckled in for a 5 year old?

[julianito]

OK, So my hubbie took my son, age 5, out to test-drive cars. I said: "That must have been a pain putting the car seat in and out" and, he said "Oh, no; I just buckled him in like a big boy."

OK, so I get angry, and he says I'm overreacting, that he must be big enough soon.

My son is 43 inches and 33 lbs. Our cars have a Britax Marathon, good up to 65lbs. But I worry as DH is open in situations where he we have to be sure everyone has the right seat for an outing (ie. with three cousins, two cars, etc.)

Am I wrong? Or is there something I can show DH to help him understand the importance of the carseat even though DS is "big".

[KempsMama]

What state are you in? It's very likely that your son is not old enough to legally ride with a belt alone.

[KempsMama]

Ok, so I looked at your past posts, and your in MA. MA law requires an appropriate child restraint until age 7 and 57".

[mrsfrenchy]

Originally Posted by KempsMama

Ok, so I looked at your past posts, and your in MA. MA law requires an appropriate child restraint until age 7 and 57".

:
At the very least your DS needs to be in a belt positioning booster if for no other reason than that it is illegal.

[SubliminalDarkness]

33lbs? No way, no how. A booster isn't even close to ok at that weight.

[KempsMama]

I totally agree he should still be harnessed, I was just giving the OP some ammo for her husband.

[chickabiddy]

Actually, a 5yo, even a small 5yo, is usually okay in a booster, provided it fits well and he can use it properly.

[Smithie]

I'd have that 5 y.o. in a belt-postioning booster. I prefer them to extended harnessing FFing. And you might get better complicance from DH in future situations if he just had to move a booster around instead of a huge heavy seat.

However, just the seat belt is not OK. Obviously. Nobody was hurt, so there's no use fuming about it anymore, but you were certianly right to be angry!

[Bokonon]

Isn't 33lbs. small for a booster? I think the law in CA is 4 years and at least 40 pounds for a booster.

[noobmom]

Originally Posted by Smithie

I'd have that 5 y.o. in a belt-postioning booster. I prefer them to extended harnessing FFing. And you might get better complicance from DH in future situations if he just had to move a booster around instead of a huge heavy seat.

However, just the seat belt is not OK. Obviously. Nobody was hurt, so there's no use fuming about it anymore, but you were certianly right to be angry!

Why do you prefer boosters to extended harnessing? Is there something bad about harnessing at that age/weight?

[chickabiddy]

Originally Posted by Bokonon

Isn't 33lbs. small for a booster? I think the law in CA is 4 years and at least 40 pounds for a booster.

No.

California state law requires proper use to 6y/60#: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/di...le=27360-27368 .

This means that a child can use a booster as soon as s/he meets the manufacturer's minimums, which for many highbacked boosters is 3y/30#. I do not recommend putting a 3yo in a booster, but it is not illegal.

[Bokonon]

Originally Posted by chickabiddy

No.

California state law requires proper use to 6y/60#: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/di...le=27360-27368 .

This means that a child can use a booster as soon as s/he meets the manufacturer's minimums, which for many highbacked boosters is 3y/30#. I do not recommend putting a 3yo in a booster, but it is not illegal.

Good to know, thanks!

[Smithie]

"Why do you prefer boosters to extended harnessing? Is there something bad about harnessing at that age/weight?"

The evidence is not conclusive either way at this point. I BELIEVE, after spending a lot of time looking into it, that the explosive retractor of a properly positioned integrated seatbelt (you go forward a bit on impact, then get yanked back) provides better protection from internal decapitation and related injuries then the harness of a car seat. I also think that car seat harnesses are inadequately tested for high-weight FFing situations - we jsut haven't been doing it that long, whereas integrated seatbelts have been in use for quite a while.

There is no One Right Choice on this issue - just what you conclude is safest for you and your kid, based on lots of factors including what fits properly in your car, whether or not your kid messes with his/her seatbelt when using a booster., etc.