Older kids in booster seats...am I the only one? - Page 2

[iris0110]

My two younger cousins both rode in boosters until recently. The older one is now ten, and he acctually reached 80lbs at about 6 but his mom found a booster that would work till 100lbs. He reached that at about 8 and he has been 5 tall since he was 9. His younger brother is 7 and he is smaller built so I figure his mom will keep him in a booster until he is at least 8 or 9. My aunt is very careful with her kids, and they live in PA and I think a previous poster said it was the law until 8 and 80lbs.

My niece is 7 she quit riding in a booster 2 years ago when she hit 80lbs. She is now almost as big as me. My nephew is 6 and still rides in a booster. Ds continued to ride in a rear facing carseat until he was almost two. At that time he was only about 23lbs, but he was so long that his legs were all cramped. Plus he started getting violently car sick and we hoped that turning him around would help. Unfortunately it only helped in the van, not in my car. He is still in a convertible car seat in the van, but he is quickly getting too tall. He is in a booster with a five point harness in my car, but he is even getting too tall for the last set of shoulder slots there. He is only 25lbs, and I dont trust him not to slip out of the car seat belt if I use it as just a booster, so I don't know what we will do. He is almost three now, so I figure his upward growth will slow down soon.

[willowsmama]

Well, my dd will be 11( yes 11 years old) in 3 months and she just moved out of her booster seat. It was in the conversion van because the seat hit her totally wrong. She had a Graco turbo. When ds' seat was put in the van she moved to the far back seat where she (oddly) doesn't need it.

Yeah, she sometimes got crap for it but she said it was more comfy and made her feel safer.

[Camellia]

My son is 5.5years and will be in a booster until its safe for him to not have it anymore. He is just starting to give me some grief about it. I'm sure it will get worse when he goes to Kindergarten next year and all his friends don't use them I just tell him what happens if he gets a spinal cord injury. That usually makes him feel good about being in a booster seat

[journeymom]

Not sure what the law is here, but my 9 y.o. dd is still in her seat. It's safer, but she also appreciates being able to see more out the window. And I think it helps with car sickness. She gets sick sometimes when we make trips up long windy roads.

[A&A]

My dd is 7 and in a booster seat. Her 8 yo. cousin is in a booster seat, as well. Most kids her age are just in the seat belt, though, but they're so much safer in a booster.

[DebraBaker]

In PA the law has recently changed to 8(years!!) and (I believe) 80lbs.

It had been 4 and 40lbs.

My 9yo son just squeaked past that and it would have been odd for him to go from seat belt to booster seat.

It seems babyish to me but I understand it's safer for the children.

I have the unique perspective of having gone from no carseat laws when my first was born (and few people using car seats) in 1979 to laws for babies up to 2yo (early '80's) to age 4 and 40lbs) in the early '90's to the current laws requiring them up until age 8.

I'm inclined to think 8 is overkill but I'll err on the side of safety and obeying the law. But because of my perspective I can understand why people think it's odd to have such large children in booster seats.

DB

[lab]

Originally Posted by DebraBaker

I'm inclined to think 8 is overkill but I'll err on the side of safety and obeying the law. But because of my perspective I can understand why people think it's odd to have such large children in booster seats.

DB

Yes but my child is not large. He's 10 and weighs around 60 lbs........

I do get what you mean about the spectrum you've been through. It's crazy isn't it. I can remember not having to wear a seatbelt. I remember when it became illegal to not have one on!

[PadmaMorgana]

Right now DS is 2.5 years and is 35 pounds. He is in a combination booster seat with a 5 point harness that goes until 48 pounds. He is also in the middle shoulder slots (and he is tall), so he will be in this for a while. Then in the belt postioning booster part until 80pounds. He will be in some form of booster seat until his legs bend at the knee over the egde of the seat, the seatbelt fits over his collarbone and his hips and his feet touch the floor. This could be a while.

Same with DD. Right now she is in her infant bucket at 18 pounds. She has an inch or so to go until she needs to be in a rearfacing, but at the way she grows, she will be rearfacing for a while.

My SIL turned my neice around at 5 months because she was 20 pounds. DH called her and lectured her about the 1 year AND 20 pounds.

[Pynki]

Iowa law just changed in July.. Now children must be in booster until 8 an 80 lbs.. Which is fine with me.. Ds's were going to be in them until then anyway..

Warm Squishy Feelings
Dyan

[jeca]

saviel is almost seven and still in a booster seat.

[hipmamawnc]

My six and a half yo dd and four yo ds are both still in boosters and will be for awhile yet. My mom even keeps a booster in her car for picking up dd from school sometimes. We had to fight my inlaws about the cousins (7 and 6) for not being in boosters. They were always asking us to give them rides and we were uncomfortable doing it, we finally got them to go to the Fire Department where they were told the kids should still be in boosters and were given seats for both girls. I even took my ds seat with us when I drove my daughter and a classmate for a field trip last year and made the other girl sit in the seat eventhough she said she doesn't need one anymore. In my car all kids sit in boosters, sometimes I think I need one I am so short!

[Azreial]

Originally Posted by beth568

We live in MA, and as far as I know the law here only requires child seats up to 4 years, 40 pounds, but I don't care.

I live in MA also and I believe the law is up to 5 years. At least, that is what ds nana told me after he turned five. She hates his booster seat and I'm sure if the law were 4 she would have started trying to drive without him in it when he turned four.

DS is 6 and about 45 lbs btw and rides in a booster seat. I actually bought 5 differnt boosters for all the cars he rides in (mine, DH, my mum's, DS dad's, and Nana's), just so no one can say they don't have one to put him in if they want to take him somewhere in the car. My cousin 6 (at least 50 lbs) also rides in a booster, and my nephew 5 (maybe 35 lbs) does too. Though I tihnks that mostly because I bully my sister about saftey

[Kundalini-Mama]

Originally Posted by magemom

Here the law just changed to 6 years 60 pounds and I plan to tell my kids 80 pounds. Seat belts aren't really made for anyone smaller than 110 pounds (I think) I tell ds2 I want him safe. He has asked for the smaller boosters, but that isn't happeneing any time soon.

Well, it looks like I should be in a booster seat :LOL

Off to find Vermont laws....

Amy

[Gendenwitha]

We were just rear-ended in a 55mph impact (we were stopped she hit us going 55mph) and then hit the car in front of us. Both of our kids (5&7) were asleep in booster seats. They were both okay (straightened out a little by a chiropractor, but generally okay).

When the state trooper came to the hospital to take the report he was so surprised that both the kids were in boosters seats I thought he was going to give us a gold star or something! He said the law is 6yo OR 60lbs, but they (State Troopers) would like to see it be 8yo AND 80lbs. So I'm glad I learned that, or I probably would have stopped when they hit 60lbs.