What Age Do Kids Typically Use the Booster Car Seats?

1 yr old is too young. i was told to not think age, but weight. They have to be at least the weight on the car seat. Also, shoouldnt be so short against the back of the booster seat....maybe about 4 inches or so. Otherwise they are to short to use a booster seat.

I must say that I'm EXTREMELY disappointed in some of the responses here. I can't stand it when people give advice on things they know nothing about.
In the state of MN kids are required by law to be in a car seat until the age of 4. The general rule is 4 and 40 lbs. I personally would keep them in it until they are 40 lbs even if they are 6 years old because it's so much safer. Beyond that they recommend a booster until 8 and 80 lbs but that's not a law, yet. Here's a link to the law http://www.dps.state.mn.us/ots/Laws_Legislation/child_res...
Don't take the mean responses personally, hey, at least you had the smarts to ask instead of just thinking you know everything :o) Unlike some of the responders.
Have a good one,
J.

I personally hate boosters as does my 5 year old. We spent the extra money and bought a Britax Marathon that will harness a child in a 5pt. harness longer than most carseats up to the weight of 65lbs. My kindergartener is only 45lbs so we have atleast a few more years of life left in this seat. My daughter falls asleep and flops out of her booster or her head is in her lap (not safe) so we only use her booster when I'm washing her carseat or emergencies. I personally would use a 5pt. harness as long as possible. Watch that youtube video that other mom told you about I've watched it about 5 times now it's very educational and heartbreaking. If you still choose to use a booster I'd wait til 3.5 year old or older.

The general is highback booster atleast 30#lbs and noback boosters atleast #40lbs.. My experiance if your going to use a booster is that the Graco Turbo Booster works better than most.

The senate is trying to pass a new law in MN where boosters or some sort of safety seat will be required until age 8. It's $150 dollar fine if you don't. Right now the law is 4 and under.

There was an article in the Post-Crescent last night regarding car seat/booster seats. According to the article, in WI children should not be in a booster seat until they are 4 years old in accordance with the recent law changes. That's not to say a child wouldn't meet a booster seat requirements but from what I understand, even if your child meets the requirements, WI law prohibits using a booster until age 4.

Here's the link:
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200...

This was info in a call out box and I found it helpful as well:
Booster seat law provisions

A new state law went into effect on June 1 requiring children deemed too old for car seats but too young for adult-size seat belts to use booster seats in passenger vehicles. Provisions include:

Children must be in a car seat until they reach age 4 and in a booster seat until they reach age 8. In the past, laws required special car seats for children under age 4, thereafter adult seat belts.

Children younger than 1, or less than 20 pounds must be in a rear-facing child seat in the back seat.

Children ages 1 to 4, or less than 40 pounds must be in a forward-facing child seat in the back seat.

Children ages 4 to 8, or between 40 and 80 pounds, and no more than 4 feet, 9 inches, must be in a booster seat.

Police issued warnings only to first-time violators through December. They began issuing tickets ($10-$25 for first offense) in January.

PLEASE go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=azgBhZfcquaQ and watch the car seat safety video. It will answer your question for you and touch your heart. After you view it, please send it to every parent you know.
T.

you can go to your local fire department and they can give you any info you need on car seats. They also can check your carseat to make sure it is in right.

According to WI state law, your child must be 4 years old and 40lbs before he can be moved from a car seat to a booster.

I think it all depends on weight and height. My son was in one a age 3 but he is really tall and bulky. People think he is like 6 years old! I would not base it on age but weight & height instead! If he fits in a reg car seat comfortably then keep him in one!

NO CHILD SHOULD RIDE IN A BELT POSITIONING BOOSTER UNTIL *AT LEAST* AFTER AGE 4! There is a difference between a belted booster and a harnessed booster. Harnessed boosters are called Combination seats, meaning they have a five point harness to 40lbs, and then the harness can then be removed and used as a belted booster. Belted boosters have NO HARNESS AND SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR CHILDREN UNDER AT LEAST AGE 4.

Children are not mature enough to ride in a belted booster until AT LEAST age 4, car seatbelts are NOT MADE FOR CHiLDREN! and its so much safer to keep them in a 5 point harness until 5 or 6. Britax makes wonderful seats that harness up to 65lbs, and even 80lbs. Sunshine kids Radian makes a harnessed seat up to 65lbs, and the Cosco Apex also harnesses up to 65lbs. Britax runs around $250, Radian around $200, and the Apex around $150. All of them are great seats. The Apex requires headrests on your car seats, or you can't use it. Radian is an all metal seat so its very heavy if you plan on moving it from car to car. Britax is the easiest to find, use, and they are great seats. So if your child outgrow his/her current seat before he/she is 4 years old, consider one of these seats so you can keep him/her harnessed longer. Its PROVEN that five point harnesses are safer for children than regular seat belts, and even belted booster seats.

Your one year old would still be safest rear facing in a five point harness until he/she outgrows the rear facing weight limit, and should remain in a five point harness until at least age 5 or 6.

Your two year old needs to be in a five point harness agian until AT LEAST age 5 or 6. You would be putting your child in great danger by putting her in a belted booster before age 4. She simply wouldn't be big enough, or mature enough, and though sometimes carseats can be very controversial, there is a reason these seats are now having higher weight limits. Its because everyone now KNOWS how dangerous a regular adult seatbelt is to a child under the age of 6.

Also carseats EXPIRE after 6 years, so everyone reading this please check the expiration date on your carseats. They are no longer good after 6 years. If you have an expired seat, please cut the straps, remove the cover, and throw it away. And don't be fooled by seats that claim 'you'll never need another carseat' because in all reality your child will probably outgrow a 40lb weight limit seat in HEIGHT much before WEIGHT. And it will expire in 6 years, your child needs to be in a seat until at least age 8. And a child under 40lbs and under age 4 minimum needs to be harnessed.

www.carseatsafety.gov is a great site for information on carseats.

Again, please don't even consider a belted booster until your child is AT LEAST 4 years old, AT LEAST 40lbs, and AT LEAST 40 inches tall. Please send me a message if you want any more information on carseats and safety. I'm willing to help anyone with questions.

**ETA yes Jennifer, I do know what I'm talking about. I know the MN law of 4yrs/40lbs, but there is also a reason that other states are CHANGING thier laws, and MN will more htan likely follow soon. There is also talk of requiring other companies to follow the lead of Britax and make ALL seats harness up to 65lbs, and make that the requirement. You can't argue hard core evidence that five point harnesses are safer. So whether you think I'm a know it all or not, my post gave tons of good information for ALL parents.
And to the original poster, I assumed you weren't going to put your two year old into a booster, however some parents reading this might, and since carseat safety is one of my passions, I posted as much information as I could, and made it as helpful as possible, for you and for other parents.

I would not recommend moving a toddler to a booster seat and out of a 5 point harness until at least 30 lbs. The seat belt is just not designed to restrain kids that small and young. Keep your kids in a 5 point harness as long as possible, even past the 30 lb. limit. Seat belts are just not as reliable as the car seat harness. Plus I noticed once my older child moved to the booster and with a belt across I would often catch him putting the chest part of the belt behind him which is extremely dangerous for young children in a crash.
YOur local fire department is always a good resource with carseat/seatbelt safety so contacting them is always a good idea if you have questions. They will have the most recent car seat information and each location has a person specifically trained to deal with car seat installment and questions.

You can put a 2 or 3 year old in a booster if they are big enoug and too big for the car seat. Be sure to purchase a booster that has both straps and can be changed out to a reg booster using the car seat belt. You can never be too safe when it comes to your kids. My son was in a booster with a 5 point harness until he turned 4 now that he is 4 he's still in the booster, but using the seat belt from the car. If you have questions feel free to send a personal message I'll be willing to help you out further.

T.
Daycare provider and full time mom

You could if they fit the weight requiments but I would not do it with a two year old. They tend to like to climb out when they figure out how and they can move the seatbelt to easily I don't think it fits well enough for that age.

We moved my daughter to a booster seat just a couple weeks ago when her car seat straps were too tight on her other seat. She just turned 3yrs and I know with most of them you have to be 30lbs. Just be sure it is one of those that has the detachable back on it. You can pick them up at Walmart (nice ones) for $35. She loves it!!!! Hope that helps.. :)

If your meets the height and weight requirements of the booster then there's no reason not to put a 2-3 year old in one. I just feel that the safest is a 5pt harness and that's why my 2.5 year old is going into a Britax Regent this weekend.

Graco TurboBooster Youth booster:
3 to 10 years old & 30-100lbs. & 38-57in. tall.
With back removed on the TurboBooster:
4-10 years old & 40-100lbs. & 40-57in. tall.

Britax Parkway booster is 30-100lbs. and 30-60in. tall
Britax Monarch booster is 30-100lbs. and 38-60in. tall

It looks like they are similar in weight and height requirements. If you're okay with a booster then go for it as long as your little one is in the height and weight range otherwise go with a Britax Marathon good for 65lbs. or a Regent good for 80lbs.

Here is a great website put out by the state. http://www.carseatsmadesimple.org/ This is the minimum that is required and not what is the safest for your child. I had a good friend lose her daughter who was 5 - but only 39 pounds in a booster seat.

I think that its more of a weight thing rather than an age thing. so i would go by the weight requriement.