Does a 7 yo need a car seat? - Page 2

[Maedze]

This isn't really correct.  Height limits vary WILDLY on car seats.  A harnessed. car seat is outgrown by height when the shoulders go over the topmost harness position or the tops of the ears go over the top of the seat.   Some harnessed seats are easily outgrown by many two year olds, others could last to 6 or 7 or even more.   There is no 'most height limits'.  

Originally Posted by SweetSilver 

Car seat or booster seat?  I think most height limits on *car seats* (seat belt is used to secure seat, a harness is used to secure child) is around 4'.  You cannot be safe in a car seat above this height.  Yes, check the manufacturer's website for info.  The instruction tag is supposed to be left attached to the car seat, or the info is printed on a sticker on the side or front (or somewhere, you might even have to take it out).  A *booster seat*, which uses the seat belt to secure the child, is appropriate for those over the *height limit* of the car seat.  The weight limit on the car seat is intended for those kids who exceed the weight limit before exceeding the height limit.

[insidevoice]

Originally Posted by LynnS6 

Is he 4'9"? 80 lbs? 8 years old? Can he meet the 5 point test?

The 5 point test

1. The child should sit all the way back against the seat.

2. The child's knees should bend comfortably at the end of the seat.

3. The lap belt should be touching the top of the thighs, and not the stomach.

4. The shoulder belt should be centered on the shoulder and chest. It should not cut across the neck.

5. The child needs to stay seated like this for the whole trip.

You know- as I think about it, in some vehicles *I* can't meet all of these.  Two and four are huge 'maybe' things- even for me.  I would imagine this varies a great deal car to car for kids as well. 

[Cyllya]

Originally Posted by LynnS6 

Wow, really! I was way off in my estimate of when most kids are able to get out of a booster. I guess I must know tall kids! (At dd's current rate of growth, she'll be 9 or 10 too by the time she's out.)

I think most people don't use boosters even when it's dangerous, uncomfortable, and illegal not to. I never even heard of them until I started lurking in this forum, and I've still never seen one in my life ever. (And when I was young enough to need one, I griped and moaned endlessly about how uncomfortable and unsafe the seat belt was. No booster for me, though.)

Originally Posted by insidevoice 

You know- as I think about it, in some vehicles *I* can't meet all of these.  Two and four are huge 'maybe' things- even for me.  I would imagine this varies a great deal car to car for kids as well. 

I'm pretty sure not passing those tests is dangerous for YOU too. I guess you can't really help #2, but I'm pretty sure there are cheap products that let you adjust the seat belt to hold it in the proper position.

[SweetSilver]

Originally Posted by Maedze 

This isn't really correct.  Height limits vary WILDLY on car seats.  A harnessed. car seat is outgrown by height when the shoulders go over the topmost harness position or the tops of the ears go over the top of the seat.   Some harnessed seats are easily outgrown by many two year olds, others could last to 6 or 7 or even more.   There is no 'most height limits'.  

You're right, I shouldn't have said "most", but I did recommend that she check a model's requirements.  Our car seat will accommodate a child up to 49" and 65lbs.  But I'm seeing signs that my 6.5yo, at 45", doesn't fit into it well anymore and have researched a booster seat already.

     The reason for my post was that "car seat" and "booster seat" seemed to be tossed around a bit almost interchangeably.  So, just in case I wasn't just reading the posts too fast (well, I was, that's just the nature of my time!) I wanted to clarify the point.  

[LynnS6]

Originally Posted by Cyllya 

I think most people don't use boosters even when it's dangerous, uncomfortable, and illegal not to. I never even heard of them until I started lurking in this forum, and I've still never seen one in my life ever. (And when I was young enough to need one, I griped and moaned endlessly about how uncomfortable and unsafe the seat belt was. No booster for me, though.)

Well, I'm ancient enough to be before the days of car seats!

Everyone around here uses boosters, but I suspect most give them up before they should. That being said, I only know of one child who should be in one according to her height, but isn't in one in her parents' car. She's 10, but short for her age. When she's in my car, she's in a booster. She hates me.