Tiny Kids and Carseats

[Aletheia]

My 5 year old just finally made 30 pounds on the scale.  He is starting to ask why his (similarly aged) friends have booster seats instead of carseats.

As near as I can tell, he needs to be in a carseat until he weighs 40 pounds.  And I'm thinking he won't weigh 40 pounds until perhaps he is 7 years old.  

Is anyone else in this position?  Do I really keep putting a 7 year old in the same carseat he's been in since he was 6 months old?  Please be gentle.  I don't know why that sounds so strange to me, but it really does.  And I am worried too about the social component.

FWIW, his little brother, age 3, is likely to make that 40 pound mark before he does.  Argh.

[bandgeek]

I don't know your states laws specifically but most states don't require 40 lbs before switching.  Usually they refer to the manufacturers instructions.  Once kids are about 6 years old, weight isn't so much of a factor.  They are usually mature enough to use a booster and their bone structure is just like any other 6 year old.  If you are worried about the social aspect of it, there's absolutely nothing wrong with putting a 35 lb 6 year old in a well fitting booster.  That being said, there's nothing wrong with using a car seat either!  If you aren't ready to switch him, you can buy him a more "big kid" looking car seat, like a Graco nautilus or a Britax frontier.  Both are lower profile and don't look so "babyish".  Definitely check the expiration on his current seat. If it expires before you are done with it, you may have to get a new seat anyway.  I know a few people who've put underweight 5 and 6 years olds in boosters and it's a very safe option.  Sometimes these kids outgrow the average car seat by height before they hit 40 lbs anyway!  

[Mylie]

My L is 4 years old and 30 pounds soaking wet...She is still in her 5 point harness carseat and will be for a bit yet I think..The ped said keep her in it till she hits 35 pounds and gets a certain height...Can't remember how tall she said off hand..But my L is already asking why she can't sit in a seat belt like everyone else too.She seems to have gone through a growing spurt recently so I am hoping when we go for our checkup in a few weeks the Ped will tell me she has gained some weight:>)

Here is to our peanut children...LOL

[Tjej]

My DD just switched over to a booster at 5 3/4 yo.  She was not over 40lbs before then.  I think she did occassionally wonder about it, but I have just said that when she weighs 40lbs and is big enough she will switch seats.  She could have stayed in her seat a bit longer height and weight-wise, but it was getting to that point where she was soo ready to be someone closer to peers that way.

Anyhoo, I guess I don't see it as a big discussion or a big deal, I am just matter of fact about the way carseats work and that we do it the right way so that she is safe.  That simple explanation works well here.

Tjej

[Justmee]

My 6.5 year old still sits in a radian full time, and her 8yo sister (who weighs about the same as she does), will sit in it also depending on juggling seats (ie: if I'm doing carpool).

I just explained that each grows at her own weight and it's safest for her to still be in the radian as long as she fits.

[Aletheia]

Thanks everyone.  This is really helpful.  His carseat will be expiring this year, so I will start to investigate the options.  I liked bandgeek's suggestions of looking at "lower profile" carseats.  Because we know a family that lost a 15 month old to a car accident, I tend to want more safety features than I think I would otherwise.

And I appreciate the comments about "everyone growing at their own rate."  Any further suggestions there?  DS1 doesn't seem to get it yet.  He is sure he will always be bigger than his "little" brother, even when both his Dad and I point out that we EACH have a younger sibling who is taller than we are.  And my sister is 4 years younger than me!