How many people use boosters for their 7-9 year olds? - Page 4

[ALittleBitCrunchy]

My son is 8 1/2 and in a booster (low). He's 4'7"-ish. DD is almost 7 and also in a low booster. She's 4'3"-ish.

My guess is that both will be in a booster until they turn 9.

DS is the only one in his peer group in a booster. He knows it and isn't thrilled by it but doesn't give us any grief about it. He went through a stage right after he turned 8 where he was very vocal about it but it's faded. I think that he had in his head that it ended at 8 and it was that expectation that caused the problem. DD may be the only one in her group as well - I don't see as many of them in cars so I'm not sure.

My SIL works at the local primary school and said that she very, very, very rarely sees even a kindergartener get into a booster...and that half of these k'ers sit in the front seat.

[chickabiddy]

Originally Posted by Maiasaura

Does anybody know why seats expire? I haven't even thought about that! Must go check ds's. Where would it say?

It depends on what kind of booster it is, but most have a date of manufacture on a white sticker on the bottom of the seat (or stamped into the plastic). Most boosters expire 6 years after date of manufacture.

Really? Got linky? I don't think my ds will have to worry about that, but then again, he might. He's skinny.

Harmony boosters go to 110# and are inexpensive and widely available. Clek and Sunshine Kids boosters go to 120#, but they're pretty spendy.

The law is ambiguous here (NC), I think. There are places I've seen it listed as "8yo and (I think "and" and not "or") 80lbs" and then there are billboards all over that say "4'9". It's the law".

I'm a CPST in NC. Our law is that children must be in boosters (or harnessed seats) until they reach either 8 years or 80 pounds. However, the law also requires that children over 8y and 80# be secured in a properly fitting seatbelt: if they are much smaller than 4'9", the seatbelt will almost certainly not fit properly and it would be illegal to use an improperly fitting seatbelt.

P.S. We're probably a similar size, and I can get most of my butt into a Harmony Secure Comfort Deluxe backless booster.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I am pretty sure that they expire because of the plastic aging. Plastic dry rots and looses its flexibility as it ages as well.

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by chickabiddy

It depends on what kind of booster it is, but most have a date of manufacture on a white sticker on the bottom of the seat (or stamped into the plastic). Most boosters expire 6 years after date of manufacture.

Oh, I did go out and check, and it's 4 years old. That's good to know; thanks. And also the info on heavier car seats. I checked ds's all out, and it's good to 100lbs, so yay!
He'll be way taller than 4'9" before he reaches 100lbs. His half-sister was 12 or 13 and she was still 78lbs or so. Their side of the family is uber tall and skinny. She's 21 now and I think she's like 5'10" and 117lb or so.

I'm a CPST in NC. Our law is that children must be in boosters (or harnessed seats) until they reach either 8 years or 80 pounds. However, the law also requires that children over 8y and 80# be secured in a properly fitting seatbelt: if they are much smaller than 4'9", the seatbelt will almost certainly not fit properly and it would be illegal to use an improperly fitting seatbelt.

I had to read that a couple of times-- I think it's written ambiguously! I wish it was clearer, and that people wouldn't just toss the booster when their kid turns 8.
So...your first sentence says "8 OR 80" and then your 2nd one says children over 8 AND 80. Could you clarify a bit?

P.S. We're probably a similar size, and I can get most of my butt into a Harmony Secure Comfort Deluxe backless booster.

[moondiapers]

My dd was 9 1/2 and ds was 8 when they outgrew their boosters either by hieght or weight. DD couldn't even use a low back booster anymore at that age because it put her head up over the back of the seat of the car.

[chickabiddy]

Originally Posted by Maiasaura

So...your first sentence says "8 OR 80" and then your 2nd one says children over 8 AND 80. Could you clarify a bit?

According to the law, it's whichever comes first. When they hit 8y or 80#, they can legally ride without boosters, IF they fit in the seatbelt properly.

[dizzysmom]

DSS is 7 1/2 and is both short and light for his age. He does not ride in one.

DH and I have gone back and forth on this one. He rode in a low-backed booster until last winter, when his mom stopped making him sit in his booster at home and DSS started refusing to sit in it when he was with us. Frankly, I'd like to know how she's transporting 4 kids, 3 of whom should at least be in boosters according to our state law and 1 who is in an infant seat, in a compact car, but that is another story for another board. Long story short, DH does not feel that this is a fight worth picking.

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by chickabiddy

According to the law, it's whichever comes first. When they hit 8y or 80#, they can legally ride without boosters, IF they fit in the seatbelt properly.

Oh, OK! That's a lot more clear. Thank you! Is the 5-point thingy part of the law, too, or just a recommendation?

[chickabiddy]

NC state law does not specify an age or size to which children must be harnessed, but does specify proper use. This means that if a booster's minimum is 3y and 30#, it is illegal for a child who is not both 3y and 30# to use the booster. MOST highbacked boosters have 3y/30# minimums (all have 30# minimums: most have 3y minimums as well, but some have a 1y age minimum).

[Marissamom]

I'm another mama who should be using a booster in the front seat of some cars. my current car I can't sit all the way back, and the seatbelt won't stay low because it fastens a good 4 inches above the level of the seat, so it literally floats above me on that side. the seatbelt thing is in my opinion a major design flaw of the car, and if we do ever get in an accident and I get injured, the company will get a lawsuit.

[Daffodil]

Originally Posted by Maiasaura

I respectfully disagree. What is more important that one's child's safety? What other factors?

I think most of us consider a lot of other things at least as important as safety. Do your children ever leave the house? Do you take them on unnecessary car trips - to playgroups, museums, parks, etc.? Are they allowed to use bikes, skates, or sleds, or go swimming? Will they be allowed to date or go out alone with friends when they're teenagers? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then you're not doing everything you could to keep your kids safe. But that's perfectly reasonable, because staying safe is not the most important thing in life. If I decide not to make my kids use booster seats as teenagers, even if they can't pass the 5-step test, I think that's just as reasonable as allowing them to ride bikes.

[boheime]

Originally Posted by Heavenly

A high-backed booster at 13 years old!?!

If you had read my entire post, you would have noticed that I said we were looking at purchasing a Monetrey for him, and that if he still needed a booster at thirteen we would probably switch it to a LBB. He's a small kid. He's just under 4 feet at age 8. His growth seems to be on par with how my brothers all grew - on the short and small side until right around age 16 - when they shot up well past 6 feet tall. If he needs a booster at age 13 to be safe, definitely he will have one. The same goes for the rest of my kids.

[SubliminalDarkness]

Originally Posted by Daffodil

I think most of us consider a lot of other things at least as important as safety. Do your children ever leave the house? Do you take them on unnecessary car trips - to playgroups, museums, parks, etc.? Are they allowed to use bikes, skates, or sleds, or go swimming? Will they be allowed to date or go out alone with friends when they're teenagers? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then you're not doing everything you could to keep your kids safe. But that's perfectly reasonable, because staying safe is not the most important thing in life. If I decide not to make my kids use booster seats as teenagers, even if they can't pass the 5-step test, I think that's just as reasonable as allowing them to ride bikes.

There's a difference between reasonable safety and not. It is not UNreasonable to have a child who is unsafe without a booster sit in one, especially if we're talking about a child who is 8 or 9. To take them out simple for the sake of it is reckless. There is no legitimate, significant benefit to it.

[Daffodil]

Originally Posted by SubliminalDarkness

There's a difference between reasonable safety and not. It is not UNreasonable to have a child who is unsafe without a booster sit in one, especially if we're talking about a child who is 8 or 9. To take them out simple for the sake of it is reckless. There is no legitimate, significant benefit to it.

I agree that there's no benefit to taking a child out of a booster seat if the child is not unhappy using it and not being teased about it. But I'm not sure the increased danger for an 8 or 9 year old is great enough to call the decision "reckless." It's safer for a kid never to ride a bike, but that doesn't mean letting your kids ride bikes is reckless.

[mamadelbosque]

True. but at what point does the benefit no longer outweigh the teasing, humiliation, etc of it? At what age could your kids sto priding around in a booster? 15? 16?? I mean, really. Are you seriously going to make your kid haul a lbb around when they're 15-16 yrs old if they still "fit" in it?? I'm not. I love my kids - thats why I keep'm rfing as long as I can (Ds1 just got flipped at 3.5 when he broke his leg and simply would *NOT* fit rfing anymore), but I'm not going to keep them boostered forever. Cause' as noted, some of us adults could and maybe "should" be in boosters. But we aren't. So at what age would your kid be "allowed" to stop using one even if they "still don't fit"??

[chickabiddy]

Originally Posted by mamadelbosque

So at what age would your kid be "allowed" to stop using one even if they "still don't fit"??

Sometime after puberty. As I wrote upthread, developed (internal/skeletal, not external/curvy) hips help hold the lap belt where it needs to be during a crash. I would allow my child to ride without a booster a few years after puberty. Otherwise, I would let her use the funky zebra-striped or pink leopard backless after age 10 or so.

ETA: I realize some people will find this excessive. That's okay. THIS is my parenting hill-to-die-on. I let her buy school lunch when she wants (ours is better than many, but it's still not like what I'd make at home). She gets computer time nearly every day. But she *will* ride in a booster for years to come.

[just_lily]

My kid can ride a bike, but only while wearing a helmet.

She can swim, but only with a lifeguard, or responsible adult present.

When she is old enough to go out on her own, I will expect to know where she is going, who she will be with, and when she will be home.

And when she rides in the car, she will be in a properly fitting and installed car seat or booster until she is large enough to sit in a seat belt, and mature enough to stay that way.

It is not about never doing risky things.... it is about keeping her as safe as possible while still enjoying life.

And if everyone kept their kids in boosters, nobody would get teased because it would just be something that "is". Then all of our kids would be safe, and nobody would be bullied about it.

[velochic]

Originally Posted by just_lily

It is not about never doing risky things.... it is about keeping her as safe as possible while still enjoying life.

And if everyone kept their kids in boosters, nobody would get teased because it would just be something that "is". Then all of our kids would be safe, and nobody would be bullied about it.

Yes and yes!

So, it's O.K. to risk your child's safety... to increase the probability that they will die... because someone *teased* them? How about empowering our kids to stick up for themselves instead? I'm very, very surprised, as a pp mentioned that we do so much that is child-centered AP, and yet, fall short on what may be the most important issue of them all... keeping them safe in the car.

In my dd's grade (3rd - they're all about 8.5yo), only the tall boys are not in a booster. She has 10 girls in her class and every single one of them are still in boosters. Nobody thinks anything of having friends in boosters. It is the norm... as it should be.

[Alyantavid]

My 8.5 year old uses a low back booster. He can pass the 5 step test in dh's car, but not mine, so he uses the booster. He doesn't mind it at all and actually prefers it so he can see better. None of the kids his age (or even younger in some cases) uses any type of seat, most sit in the front and I've only seen a few actually buckled in.

[Katie T]

My 10.5 yo is in a booster and no one at school makes fun of her. She even has friends ride with us and I guess I am lucky that they don't run through the school saying DD is in a booster. It is a non issue because it is not a choice.

I was educating someone last night about the importance of efring after they saw that my 2yo is still rfing and DD1 piped up and said "I have been in a car seat for 10 yrs!" lol. She doesn't love it but knows mama loves her and that is why she is in it till she fits in the seat belt.

I think it is a great teaching moment to let them know to stand up for what is right and not follow the crowd.