5 Point Harness Vs. Booster Seat. (Opinion Question)

Since the five point is known to be safer, I kept mine in the five point as long as I could. What is the rush?

My DDis 4.5, and I'm keeping her in her 5 point as long as I can. However, when my SIL drives her, she rides in a booster because we can't find a car seat that can install safely in it. We even had Safety Riders try to help us with several seats; her truck's seat is just too short and the material it is made of doesn't allow for safe installation... So the booster is the safer option in this case... Buuut in general, I use the harness seat whenever possible.

To me, weight has nothing to do with it, height is a better indicator in terms of the seat belt fitting appropriately, etc. however, at the end of the day, a 5 pt harness is ALWAYS safer!!! My boys were in a bad interstate rollover collision several years ago... This occurred in my mothers car, I had flown the boys to stay with her for a week, the accident occurred on their way home from the airport. I had come thisclose to bringing my then 5yo sons britax parkway booster rather than lugging two heavy britax boulevards, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Good thing... The only type of accident where it's a huge concern is a rollover, the boosters just don't hold the kiddos in as well, accident investigators said hands down he would have been seriously injured or worse had he been in a booster that day. Their spines mature with age also, so size is just one VERY small piece of the car seat puzzle. My kids ride in a britax big kid 5 point until they turn 7, because why would I not?

As one writer pointed out 75lbs seems pretty big for a booster bit as the writer before her pointed out, 'they are my kids why wouldn't I.'

You can look at the car seat/booster seat debate many different ways (as the aforementioned are doing) and legally there is no right and wrong. Remember, the sizes that manufacturers put on booster seats and car seats is the ABSOLUTE minimum size that they can be used with. That dos not mean that the minute your child is that size you should switch them.

As previously pointed out, 5 point harness is the safest for the young, little people.

I will use myself as an example; I was rear ended and sent into the cement median when I was 18. Not only did I have a fractured pelvis (seat belt) but I had severe brain damage. This was simply caused by the brain being jolted around in the skull and there only being liquid to try and hold it on place.
We can be thankful that the airbag didn't deploy, because it would have crushed me because I didn't weigh enough.
Stupidly, the man that hit me decided to unlatch my seat belt and pull me out of the car. (Thank goodness I didn't have spinal injuries because he would have paralyzed me.)

What I have decided for my Very tall 4 year old son, is to keep him in a five point harness as long as possible. It is the most secure ha can be and if he falls asleep in the car he will be belted in the best possible manner in case of an accident.
Yes, 'they' say that our children don't need that much protection in a car but I have suffered some of the worst and I would never risk my sons safety by thinking that he might be to hug, old, 'cool,' or whatever, to he properly belted in a 5 point harness.

It is safer for kids to be in 5 point restraint as long as possible. This is not opinion, it is fact. My son went to a booster when he reached 70 lbs, the limit of his seat. He is currently 75 lbs and 53" and still uses his booster - the seat belt fits better (safety) and he can see better out the window (his preference).
http://www.homebizlifestyles.com/kyledavidmiller/car-seat...

Go on youtube and watch the videos. You will see that your friend's advice is safest.

A 5 point harness is only good if you are in a crash (it saves lives more often than the kids in the booster). If you never plan to crash then it does not matter (heck, no seatbelt needed).

As far as the law minimum requirements, you are most likely fine. Boosters are so much easier to move from car to car.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi0xLH_zdu4

http://www.edmunds.com/car-safety/tragic-youtube-video-qu...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctw2Bob7sH0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD2tZj9Ne3c

edit: My 55 lbs child is in a 5 point harness.

40 lbs. By age 5 and definitely by kindergarten, kids in our town are in boosters.

My son has a booster in my husband's car but a Britax Marathon in my car - he much prefers the Britax. If he's tired, he can lean against the sides, it has cup holders, etc. And the 5 pt. harness is easier for him to get on vs. the shoulder strap used with a booster. And the shoulder strap hits him in the neck and is uncomfortable.
A friend of mine was in a very big accident last year, and she and her husband both had serious injuries. Their son didn't have a scratch and was in his 5-point harness. That sold it for me.

My harnessed boosters go to 85 and 90 lbs. When my children meet the weight or height maximum and can no longer safely use the harness, that's when they will sit in a regular booster until they reach the weight and height max. on that and are ready for a regular seat belt.

To me, the safest place for them to be is in a harness, so that's where they'll stay. My 5 year old daughter's friends rides home with us from school and sits in a backless booster in my car because that's what her parents provided. If I had an extra $300 laying around, I'd buy her yhe seat I feel she should be in, even though it's just 3 days a week. I'm constantly having to ask her to keep her butt in the seat, to face forward, to leave the belts where I placed them. In an accident, I'd be really worried about her safety, even though she meets the age, height, and weight minimums to legally be in a booster.

As for convenience, my 5 year old can buckle herself in and unbuckle herself, even with the straps adjusted properly, tight enough you cannot pinch them together at all. She's been able to do that since last winter. She even adjusts the chest harness to the right height, each and every time, because that's what I've taught her. Her seat currently resides in the far, drivers-side corner of my third row, where I can't reach her, but I don't have to. She's self sufficient in her seat and completely safe, whereas I have to buckle and unbuckle her friend in the booster each and every time.

I think your friend is right. Leave your son in a harness for as long as possible.

My kids outgrew their seats by height long before the weight limit. My older son was 12 before he was 80 lbs!

There are several determining factors for booster seat use beyond age and size.

Will your son stay in the seat and not unbuckle himself?
Does the booster fit correctly? Across the hips, not the tummy; across the collarbone, not the neck.
Will he leave the belt on properly and not tuck it behind him or under an arm?
Can he sit upright and awake while in the car, even on longer trips?

I see pictures online all the time of kids in boosters that have fallen asleep in the car. The parent takes a picture because they look so cute, not realizing that their child is in danger of serious injury or death if an accident happens.

In Oklahoma kids don't have to be in ANY sort of child seat as soon as they turn 6 so my grand kids went into boosters as soon as they turned 3.

You do realize the purpose of a booster is to give the child height so they can use the regular seat belt right? If you get a booster that raises him up and he simply uses the regular seat belt he is as safe as you are in the event of an accident.

The seat belt should go across his chest, not his neck, and be snug everywhere.

Boosters have several different styles. We chose the flat style for our taller grandchild, he didn't need a back on his for any reason. For another child we choose a Graco with a back because he still fell asleep and his head could use that side to rest on. Also the style that has the back has a groove the shoulder belt fits in so you can move the strap across the best part of his body. Ours had 2 different grooves for the shoulder strap. Since we had several kids riding with us this was convenient so we could put the belt through which ever one fit that kiddo.

If it has a back or not doesn't matter. The parts of the seat that are beneficial for your own kiddo are what chooses the style.

I suggest you go to Walmart and check all the displays and pick on that meets his needs.

We always got the one that had a cup holder, the favorites had a cup holder on each side. They would hold a cup with cereal or another dry snack and the other side would hold their drink. Padding on the seat is VERY important. If you travel at all his hiney will be sore in a few minutes if his seat isn't padded.

Who really cares what any if us "think" or what our "opinions" are. Call your local PD or FD. There will be a certified car seat tech on staff.
Get the FACTS regarding minimum state law and safety recommendations!

There is always the option to only meet the minimum and you will be legally in the right. Your friend Amanda may be listening to current guidelines and recommendations which may go beyond state law. Many state laws still lag behind the guideline to rear face a child til 2 yrs old.

Personally, my 6 yr old is in a harness to booster Frontier because I feel that it is better for her to be in a harnessed seat til she is bigger. There are many different harnessed booster options on the market, in many configurations and price ranges. I expect this to be my DD's last seat, and then she will sit in the back of the car til she is 13 where she is safer.

I moved my DD from a convertible car seat to a harnessed booster this year, and she will remain harnessed for a while yet. I have not decided when we will switch. We have a Bubble Bum for belt positioning for travel and she does not like it. I also feel she is less safe with just the booster to sit on and no back. There is no side impact protection from a backless booster. She wiggles out of a shoulder strap or slumps when sleeping whereas she cannot wiggle out of her harness.

I have friends with whom we have to agree to disagree because while they could not wait til 1 yr old and 20 lbs to turn their kids FF, I RF'd mine til she was 4. You don't say why you think your friend's opinion is excessive. Is it because it is beyond state laws? Or do you just not like the harness? At this age, my DD can do the top snap and almost get the bottom secure. It's not any bother to me to buckle her into it. I'd have to check a belt every time, too.

If you were my friend, we would have to agree to disagree. I disagree with some of the posters in this thread. It may mean that I drive my child places longer because I want to use this type of seat or it may mean that if I drive my niece, she's in a harness in my car regardless of what she rides in elsewhere because that is our spare seat. I feel that I have the means to use the tools provided to keep my child safer longer and I will use those tools. Legally in the right means nothing when your child has serious injuries from a crash. Legally right means nothing when your child could have been safer.

FYI: this article points out some information on booster vs harness and WHY. Some of her WHYs are exactly why I have chosen harness mode.

http://csftl.org/harness-or-booster-when-to-make-the-switch/ also http://www.safercar.gov/parents/Right-Seat-Age-And-Size-R... which your friend may be reading - i.e. keep a kid harnessed til he or she outgrows it. I feel it does matter whether the seat is harnessed, high backed or just a butt booster. Maybe time to visit a car seat installation center (many are at fire houses) and talk brass tacks with someone who has seen the other side of improper seating before choosing your son's next seat.

DS was in a 5 point harness in my car through kindergarten and into first grade. By then he was still well under the weight limit (65 lbs) but was too tall for the harness.

Now (8 yo) he's in a high back booster. He still only weighs 55lbs, but he's 54" tall (4'6") and far too tall for our old 5 point harness... which also expired.

I know people said check the laws in your state, but that's a minimum requirement. You should do what you are comfortable is SAFE for your child. The harness IS safer, so if your son still fits, why not keep him in it?

(PS weight has NOTHING to do with a booster. They only help position the seatbelt so it doesn't pose a risk by laying improperly)

I know 5-points are safer, but honestly my kids moved into boosters when they were big enough for them. I used the Graco with the detachable back for a while and then just the booster part after that. Sorry I can't give exact ages because they are 12.5 and 10 now and I honestly don't remember. But I will admit that I was the bad mom who moved them up when the booster manufacturer said was good.

What is your state guideline? We moved from a state that wanted kids in boosters until 8 AND 80lbs to a state where anyone 7 and older can just use a seatbelt--regardless of height/weight (way to lax in my opinion).

If you choose to switch to a booster, please use a high back booster.

Here's what's in my car...my kids are petite...

9 year old, 50", 50lbs...high back booster
6 year old, 44", 39lbs...5 point harness
4 year old, 42", 32lbs...5 point harness

We have a Graco nutillus car seat two actually. And we used the harness until it was extended to the max and was getting too tight on my daughter. We always kept them tight but when she said they hurt I switched her, she was probably 4.5 or just turned 5 when we switched. We used the same seat, the nutillus is a 3 in 1 the harnessed booster to highback to no back. We just removed the harnesses and kept the high back

I guess it depends. My 4 yr old is 46.5..40lbs.. big enough for a booster. But we still had him in a 5 pt. We had a car accident in August and emts/police say if he had been in a booster, he would have been internally injured and probably not survived. So, because of my instance, he'll be in a 5pt until he outgrows the biggest one. But, if your kid can stay in it, not slouch, etc you're probably okay. But your friend is right .. it's not excessive. It's safe. Nothing wrong with that.

In our town, the police and firefighters help families with carseat installation and proper restraints, and they are up to date on state regulations. I'd start with a call there and, if they provide the service, go right down there with the equipment you have and your child. 70 pounds seems pretty big for a 5-point restraint but your local safety people will know the laws as well as the problems they find at accident scenes. Their advice will be neutral.