Carseat Question - Inver Grove Heights,MN

My child is huge, but he will be in a 5 point harness booster seat until he is 80 pounds no matter what. Why risk safety for money, independence and convenience? Please watch the UTube video and visit the poor boy's memorial site. We recently bought the Britax Regent and LOVE it. He is so comfy in there...I wish we had always used a Britax.

When my daughter was 3 1/2, we moved her into a booster car seat due to her size. She's VERY tall for her age and her length was becoming an issue when sitting in her old carseat. She LOVES the booster and looks so much more comfortable in it...and still sleeps in it. I believe she's safer in it than her old one.

I think the rule is 4 years and 40 pounds.
I know that some people go by one or the other, but I think the general rule is to be both.
so with that said, with my kids I felt comfortable graduating to a booster at age 4 as long as they were close to 40 pounds. I don't remember how long it is recommended to have your child in a safety seat. I do remember hearing my oldest two children talking about what they heard on TV and if that were true they would still have to be in a booster seat at ages 10 and 12. with their body height, shape, and weight it would be awkward and uncomfortable to ride anywhere.

but if you would like some more formal information, here is a link to a pdf file of a booklet I was given in the hospital last summer about how to buckle up your child.

http://www.buckleupkids.state.mn.us/The%20BuckleUp%20Kids...

The law is 4 years and 40 lbs both. Most carseat 5 point harnesses only go to 40 lbs. I just bought new seats for my 2 oldest kids ages 4 and 5 at Babies R Us. They both go up to 65 lbs on the 5 point harness. I had a 15% off coupon so they were $117 each. It's worth the investment to insure safety. People drive like maniacs these days and I want the safest possible seat.
I had to take carseat training for foster care and they had simulations on there of kids in booster seats when a vehicle was rolling. From the waist up they were like rag dolls slamming side to side and in no time slipped right out of the seatbelt.
Hope this helps,
J.
Mom to 4 going on 5.

You need to go by her weight and the carseat you have now. My daughter is almost 4 and 41 lbs and her carseat only goes up to 40lbs so she is now in a booster. If I had the extra money I could have chosen to go buy a Britax marathon and keep her in it until she is 60lbs, but I can't afford that. So the safest for her is the booster. My almost 7-year-old is also in a booster and will be until she reaches the 80lb mark.

I believe the typical height/weight requirements are 40lbs and 40 inches. Check out the website for the Minnesota Safety Council at http://www.minnesotasafetycouncil.org for more information.
I bought my son the Regent like other posters but if you are going that route make sure that you have a top tether to use if she is past 40 lbs. The van we have the Regent in doesn't have the tether system (older model) and so we can't use it once he is over 40 lbs (he is 39 and growing).

It all depends on the kind of car seat, so shop around. My daughters ages 6 & 8 both still sit in backless boosters. We found them to be most comfortable for them and less of a struggle. Alot of the boosters now have weight suggestions on the box. We always went by weight verses age cause some kids are small for their age. My kids were both in boosters by age 4. They also take up alot less room.

Definately watch that you tube video the previous poster listed..

My daughter is 6.5 years old. First grade. 45inches tall about 50lbs and I have her in a 5pt.harnessed carseat called the Britax Regent. My daughter doesn't feel like a baby and actually loves this seat. She's got atleast 3 more years of room left too probaly even longer.

We do have a Graco Turbo Booster which is a great booster the best we've ever tried but I don't like to use it accept as a backup seat or spare. We've been satisified with this booster since my daughter was about 3 (big toddler) but prefer a 5pt.harness

My MAIN problem with boosters is my daughter will fall asleep and literally slump over so bad she's no longer belted safely and I like the comfort of knowing the main seat we do use is much safer but I'm not totally against a booster either.

++the Britax Regent is exspensive! I'm a single mom too and financically challenged but tax returns are a great time to purchase something like this

The fact is that the state law does not yet include the recommendations from the American Academy of Pedatrics.

It is legal for a 4 year old to not have to be in a booster seat. (I do not remember if that is Iowa or Minnesota, but it is one of the states)

It is also legal that children age 6 can just use a seat belt.

It is also legal for two children to share a seat belt. (My lawyer looked that one up and I was shocked)

Now the recommendations are 50 lbs and 48 inches to be without a car seat or booster and when sitting in the car seat, sitting all the way back, their feet should be flat on the floor in order to go without a booster.

If any one's child is riding a bus to and from school, they are not in a booster seat during that ride. Something to think about as the child gets older and their friends start to pick on them.

My daughter is petite, however she will be 9 in March, weighs just 50 pounds and is 48 and a quarter inches. She is also in 3rd grade. Her father stopped putting her in a booster seat when she was 6, I stopped during this last summer while she was 8. Because the state law only says 6, he could get away with that. Also the recommendation that children under 12 should be in the backseat is just that, only a recomendation.

The recommendations were supposed to be going through the House and Senate back in May of 2004 and they still are not written into law.

Dealing with an ex-husband, I dug deep for that information. It is up to each parent and what they are comfortable with once the child is past what the law states. It varies somewhat state to state. Minnesota has a better law than Iowa does. My ex still lives in Iowa and they are more lax on seatbelt/car seat/booster laws.

Basically, do what is comfortable for you and your child. If any one wants to push legislation on this, let me know. At the time I felt pretty alone, trying to fight with my ex about keeping her in a booster and finding out that the law didn't back me up.

Like I mentioned above, I kept my daughter in her booster until just last summer and she was 8.

Good luck!

I'm not sure of the requirements (check with the booster seat instructions when you purchase it) but my son is exactly the same age and has been in an upright (full backed) booster seat since he was 4. It helps with independence (he can buckle himself) as well as convienience. Again, I don't know the requirements, but I know I didn't put him in one until it was "allowed" by the guidelines. Also, my friends daugter just turned 3 and got a booster for Christmas. It must be ok!

Good luck!
V. Olson

This site says that a child should be BOTH AT LEAST 3-4 years old AND AT LEAST 40 pounds before starting to use a booster seat.

http://www.thecarseatlady.com/car_seats/forward-facing_se...

You want your child to be AT LEAST 4 AND AT LEAST 40LBS to switch to a high back booster, and AT LEAST 6 to use a no back booster. However MN state law really sucks when it comes to carseat usage.... MN law states proper usage up to 4yrs/40lbs, and then there are no booster laws. I wish that would change, and I wish that the law was tougher on parents who don't use or misuse carseats.

That being said, the bare minimum you want to switch to a booster is 4yrs AND 40lbs. Obviously a 5point harness is safer (why do you think race car drivers use them!) so keeping her in the harness as long as possible is absolutely the safest option. She will outgrow the five point harness carseat when her shoulders go above the top harness slot, her ears are level with the seat back, or she goes over the weight limit of the seat.

If you want to keep her in a harness longer, here are your options on carseats that will fit her best for her age and size.

Cosco Apex65- ($130) available online and at Babies R Us. This seat will harenss to 65lbs, and then becomes a belted booster to 100lbs. Great seat for the money, but you must have adjustable headrests in your car to use this seat. Other than that quirk, its a great seat that will accomidate a larger older child in the five point harness.

Britax Regent- ($270) available online and at Babies R Us, USA Baby, etc. This seat will harness from 22-80lbs and accomidates most children up to age 8, and most alot longer. This is literally the 'king of all carseats'. Its large, comfy, and is like a big recliner in the car. WE own one of these for our 5 1/2 year old (he is 48'' tall and 45lbs). He has at least 3 years in this seat before he outgrows it.

Graco Nautilus- ($150) will be available at Wal Mart nationwide by the end of January. Thsi is Graco's new seat! It looks just like the Turbobooster only it has a five point harness that will harness to 65lbs, and then it becomes a belted booster to 100lbs, and will also become a no back booster. This is a GREAT seat for the money, and it will fit most children right up to age 6-8. This is the seat I would recommend to you if you are interested in extended harnessing, keeping your daughter in the 5point harness as long as possible.

Britax and Sunshine Kids Radian make seatss that harness to 65lbs, but at her age and size I would recommend you consider one of the above instead.

Again, at her age, a booster is ok, however a 5point harness IS safer, so the seats above would be perfect for your daughter.

Please visit this site befoe thinking about placing your daughter in a booster seat. For the safety of your daughter and your piece of mind. My son turned 4yrs old in October and is 51 lbs and 43 1/2" tall and has been in a booster for awhile since he was past the limit for his convertible carseat, but is going back into a 5 point harness carseat.

Link to view video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azgBhZfcqaQ


Website:

http://www.kyledavidmiller.org/pages/home/index.htm

Check out the Radian 60 or Radian 80 or the Britax Regent. The Britax is too large for our vehicle since we have 3 in
carseats.
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Edited:

Children are not ready to be in a regular lap/shoulder seatbelt until:

They are tall enough so that their legs bend at the knees at the edge of the seat; and

They are mature enough to remain seated with their backs flat against the back of the seat and not slouch; and

The lap belt sits high on the thighs or low on the hips (NOT on their tummy!); and

The shoulder belt crosses the shoulder and chest (NOT on their arms or neck!); and

The child is taller than 4'9"

We have the Cosco Apex65 and really like it. My son is big (both height and weight) for his age , so we struggled to find a 5pt harness we liked. The Cosco goes to 65 lbs. on the harness. However, he outgrew the harness straps this past fall, so for a short time we were using the seat belt/booster function. Then another Mamasource mom mentioned that the company will send a longer crotch strap free of charge, so we did that and he's not comfortably back in his 5 pt. harness. Just something I thought I'd mention if you run into that. (Though, they might now all be longer on the new ones.) Good luck! (It's worth the investment, I think.)

it depends on the booster seat- the weight minimum is 30# but there is a height requirement and it varies by manufacturer.

It's usually done more by weight than age (it might be 40 pounds), but if she is the size of a typical 4-year-old she's ready. Most people switch at age 4. By law they only need to be in child restraints until age 4, but for safety reasons it is highly recommended they use a booster seat until they are 54" tall or about 85 pounds. My small for his age 11 year old still uses one! Good for you for keeping her in a car seat after age 4.

Hi K.,

Check out www.chop.edu/carseat There is a lot of info there on carseats and boosters. It is an interactive web site and based on height/weight and age. It is very helpful.