Just wondering, how old does your child have to be to sit go from a car seat to a booster seat in California? Or, is it determined by weight and height?
Thanks!
Here's the national chart as of June 2012:
http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/childsafety_laws....
Always handy to have a look - especially if you are traveling this summer!
Moving into a booster is when they no longer fit with the belts at the highest shoulder points and they exceed the max weight of the car seat. There is no age listed. It is safest to keep them in a 5 pt harness for as long as you can.
The law is 8 years and 80 pounds.
BUT, seat belts aren't made for anyone under the HEIGHT of 4'9" and you are endangering your child if you take them out of the booster before they reach that height. I would keep them in the booster seat until the child can sit in the seat with their bottom against the back of the seat, back straight against the back and their knees bent at the edge of the seat and touching the floor flat footed. The belt must come across their chest, not their neck and the lap belt must sit across their hips and not their stomach.
http://www.carseatlaws.com/california-car-seat-law
http://www.californiality.com/2011/12/california-booster-...
my 5 year old daughter is 43 pounds and rides in a seat belt booster. she also uses a 5 point harness carseat. it is determined by height and weight. your safer going by that then age/
I think Katrina answered your question very well.
I just had to add that in TX, we are very lax. My police officer friend said he'd never think twice about it if he saw my 4 yr old in the backseat buckled up without a booster. But when I went to visit my in-laws in CA, we forgot one day to take the car seat out of my husbands truck. We were carseat-less for the day. I suggested we just not worry about it and buckle him up in the backseat. MIL says "Oh no. California is VERY strict. No way. We're going to Costco to buy one." Yet she'll drive her car with her other grandson being held in M.'s arms while he nurses!! So my 4 yr old can't be buckled up but your infant grandson can go with no restraints whatsoever? Sorry. Had to vent.
THANKS Karina! I am glad to know the strict law!
Katrina has the perfect answer. We are going to California in 3 weeks and I looked this up as well. I live in Colorado, and it is required until the child is at minimum 4'9, regardless of age. CO was actually stricter than CA as of last summer. My sister came out and was surprised that my then 7 year old had to be in a booster. It was 6 years old and 60 lbs. She said CA it wasn't mandatory, but she kept her 7 year old in a booster and 4 year old in a car seat until she would pass the shoulder straps. I think 8 and 80 lbs and 4"9 is a good rule.
The law is no longer 8 years and 80 lbs. New law just went into effect in January. Children must be in a booster seat until they are 4'9" tall and 8 years old. There is information about this on the CHP website.
they have to be 7 years old regarless of weight
If I'm reading it right, you're asking about the minimum not the maximum height/weight and age requirements. Its according to the seat manufacturer but there is a test somewhere online to see if they're ready for it I think. I'm just barely letting my super tall and big 7.5 year old into a high back booster with the seatbelt, I'd keep them in a five point as long as it fits them. That's safest, and that's all that matters to me. We have the britax frontier booster, five point to 85 lbs then seatbelt to 120.
Eta: age is a big factor because of bone density. Maturity is HUGE when it comes to being able to sit properly in a seatbelt.
I know it was 6 years old or 60 pounds but I think they have recently changed it to 8 years old or 80 pounds
I believe the minimum age to move to a booster seat is 4 years old. Check the height & weight on the booster seat specifications, because most I've seen indicate 40" tall and 40 pounds (as well as 4 years old). You can find some which start at 30 pounds, but they're are not as highly rated.
I agree with keeping your child in the five point harness as long as it works for your family. However, keep in mind that once your child is 40 pounds, you can no longer use the LATCH system, and must switch to the seatbelt to attach your carseat to the car.
ETA: (for Marina A.) From what I can tell, when the law changed Jan 1, 2012 it lowered the age for riding in the front seat to 8 (or when they are 4'9" tall). http://www.chp.ca.gov/community/child_safetyseat_faqs.html
sorry to jump on your question but can someone clarify what are the rules for a child to use front seat in CA? My daughter has a friend who is 10 and she is always driving in a front seat so I have always wondered what is the right age/weight/height for that.
