Hot Topic (4/23): Booster Seats for Toddlers and Preschoolers?

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

 Babies should stay in approved rear-facing carseats until they are a year old and  twenty pounds.

But the laws for toddlers and preschoolers vary state by state.  For instance, in some states, the law says a child must sit in a booster seat until "four years and forty pounds" . . . in other states, it's "eight years and eighty pounds" or somewhere in between. 

Do you follow your state's laws regarding booster seats?  Why or why not?

[Mommy_Jenn]

Quoting Cafe GroupAdmin:

 Babies should stay in approved rear-facing carseats until they are a year old and  twenty pounds.

My son was a month short of 1 year and well over 20 lbs when I switched... We traveled a lot and it was easier for us to have him face us.  I made sure it was okay with the ped. first.

But the laws for toddlers and preschoolers vary state by state.  For instance, in some states, the law says a child must sit in a booster seat until "four years and forty pounds" . . . in other states, it's "eight years and eighty pounds" or somewhere in between. 

I believe California is 8 and 80 pounds....  I think that is rediculous because honestly.... I wasn't 80 pounds until I was like 12!!!  I didn't hit 100 pounds until like 14!    Four seems too young, I would say once they are in kindergarten is a perfect time to let them be the big kid and remove the booster.

Do you follow your state's laws regarding booster seats?  Why or why not?

I pretty much have.. But my son is getting too big for his front facing car seat but I don't think he meets the age requirement for a 5 point booster...  I am going to talk to his doctor about it, I know he is at least 30 pounds if not already 35.  I think this shouldn't be said by the state... Doctors and parents should have the say.. But unfortunately people are stupid.  So there has to be laws.

[anziomom]

My son will be in a booster until he is too big. Our state law is four and fourty, he is almost four and a half and in a five point harness.

I have no good reason to not keep him there. He will get a booster when he outgrows this seat. It is the safest I can do. Since I pay so much attention to protecting their insides I can do no less than the same for their outsides.  

[anziomom]

Quoting Mommy_Jenn:

 

Quoting Cafe GroupAdmin:

 Babies should stay in approved rear-facing carseats until they are a year old and  twenty pounds.

My son was a month short of 1 year and well over 20 lbs when I switched... We traveled a lot and it was easier for us to have him face us.  I made sure it was okay with the ped. first.

But the laws for toddlers and preschoolers vary state by state.  For instance, in some states, the law says a child must sit in a booster seat until "four years and forty pounds" . . . in other states, it's "eight years and eighty pounds" or somewhere in between. 

I believe California is 8 and 80 pounds....  I think that is rediculous because honestly.... I wasn't 80 pounds until I was like 12!!!  I didn't hit 100 pounds until like 14!    Four seems too young, I would say once they are in kindergarten is a perfect time to let them be the big kid and remove the booster.

Do you follow your state's laws regarding booster seats?  Why or why not?

I pretty much have.. But my son is getting too big for his front facing car seat but I don't think he meets the age requirement for a 5 point booster...  I am going to talk to his doctor about it, I know he is at least 30 pounds if not already 35.  I think this shouldn't be said by the state... Doctors and parents should have the say.. But unfortunately people are stupid.  So there has to be laws.

 

Doctors are not car seat experts. The state law is based on the recommendations of numerous car seat technicians. The ones who do the safety testing, I would imagine.

[Godgaveme4]

When my youngest turned 4 wemoved her up to booster seat.  So my 3 youngest (4,5,7) are now all in backless boosters.  We have followed our states guidelines for car seats.

[JJTaylor]

Yes, we do follow our states law regarding usage of booster seats for our child.  It's 100lbs or to a certain height, I am sorry, it's late I cannot recall the height.  I do not mind the booster seats, my daughter thinks she's got all this new freedom from having to be stuck/strapped down into her old car seat! 

As for prior, we did the backward seat until she was 1 year old, then at 2 we upgraded to a booster-5 point front facing car seat for the older toddlers, that lasted until about 6 months ago... she is fairly tall, she just turned 6 and is one of the tallest girls in her kindergarten class already!

[Mommy_of_Riley]

80 pounds?  Really?  I weighed 78 pounds when I was 13!    That is a little too much for me.

Anyways...  my son was turned forward-facing at 13 months and he weighed 22 pounds.  He has a sturdy 5 point right now and he will stay in it until he doesn't fit anymore... then he will go to a booster (probably one with a back at first because he is really tall and then we will go to the backless boosters).  I think it all depends on the individual child.  You can't base it on an average weight or height because some kids aren't 20 pounds but they are almost 2.  My son is almost 2 and he only weighs 27 pounds...(He's tall and skinny).  He probably won't weigh 40 pounds when he is 4 but will be in a booster regardless...  JMO

 

[Mommy_of_Riley]

So I am moving to TN soon and I just looked up the laws there...

It says kids between 4 and 8 (and under 4'9") have to be in a booster.  Wow.  My son won't be in a booster at 8 years old...  sorry.

[hsteele]

My daughter is technically in a booster with a back. Its one of those convertible carseats where you just remove the harness and add a seat belt and not its a booster. She's 3 years old, but 43 inches tall and 39 lbs. We're going to be getting her a backless booster seat next month since we have to get her a carseat when we go to Florida anyway. She just seems way to big for a traditional car seat. We actually had to switch to the booster right after she turned 3 or right before. The seat belt buckle was bruising her inner thighs. She is so much taller than other kids her age, that we have had to switch her sooner in al car seat modes. She was in a front facing seat before she was one.

[Mommy_of_Riley]

Your daughter is a perfect example of why the limits should be based on the individual child.  My son is super tall for his age so I understand what you are saying!  LOL  He is almost 2 and already 39 inches!

Quoting hsteele:

My daughter is technically in a booster with a back. Its one of those convertible carseats where you just remove the harness and add a seat belt and not its a booster. She's 3 years old, but 43 inches tall and 39 lbs. We're going to be getting her a backless booster seat next month since we have to get her a carseat when we go to Florida anyway. She just seems way to big for a traditional car seat. We actually had to switch to the booster right after she turned 3 or right before. The seat belt buckle was bruising her inner thighs. She is so much taller than other kids her age, that we have had to switch her sooner in al car seat modes. She was in a front facing seat before she was one.

[hsteele]

 I just looked up Floridas booster seat laws. Children have to be in them until they are 8 or 4'9" tall. I guess for my daughter that means she'll be out of a booster by 5. lol They also say that children have to be in front facing seats until about age 4 and 40 lbs. My daughter won't be 4 until October, but she is already about 40lbs. She is just to tall for regular car seats. Besides. She looks 5.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/ParentGuide2005/pages/WhenDoYou.htm