This one is about older kids.

At some point do you think the age of the child should determine how they sit in the car or should it always be what the law states?

My son is going to be 9 in 6 weeks. From what I can find here in WY he wont be required to sit in a booster anymore. I'm not sure but I think the law in most states require children to be 8 and 80 lbs and 4' 9" before they can stop using a booster seat. He only weighs 52 pounds and hes only 4' 1" tall. I will still make him use his booster because I think its safer but when do I say ok thats enough? He still has to gain another 28 pounds just meet some states minimum weight requirements and grow another 8 inches just to meet the hight requirement. At the rate hes growing hes going to be taking his drivers test in a booster seat.

I'd go with what the law states.. DD's seat converts to a belt positioning booster and will accomodate a child up to 100lbs. She'll most likely be sitting in a booster until she's 10 or 4'9... and will ride in the backseat until she's 12.

If it's the law, then it's the law KWIM?

I also just wanted to add, make sure it says 8 and 80 lbs not 8 OR 80 lbs. Thats a common mistake here in Cali.

I would also go with the measurements not the age.. I think it's safer for them to be in the booster seat.

I know what you're saying by when is it enough. Dh's G'ma is about 80lb and only 4'8. If you go by height and weight, she should still be using a booster seat. I think if you go by the state requirement of age you should be ok, but TMO.

I go by age. Thats just me though

I am against the state laws in that I think they are too low, atleast here in TX. I think they should be madatory that kids be atleast 8 years old, etc. Though I still would ignore those to a point! I say ignore them because I go well beyond what the states feel are adequate!

DS will be 9 at the end of July. He is 4ft 11. He weighs 85lbs. I still feel he is too small to ride in a deatbelt alone even with our vehicle having the little clip attached to help the seat belt sit properly on his neck. If I can find him another high back booster that would meet his specifics, I'd buy it! Unfortunately Britax does not have one! I would prefer to keep him in a high back but I might be on the look-out for a backless booster.

DD is 6 & still in a 5pt harness! She will be boostered until she passes the heigh/weight guidelines on her Britax like DS, regardless of age!

I would generally go wirh the laws, but I think at some point age should be considered. I was 5 feet tall and 90-95lbs before I had my first son. I was barely over the requirements and I was 18.

Some states have to lax of laws in our home our children will be in a seat until they are 8 years and 80 lbs. Arizona has lax laws they only have to ride in a car seat or booster until they are 5 years old. (no weight OR height limit just the age) Children at 5 are NOT tall enough to sit and be safe in a regular seat belt.

I would generally go wirh the laws, but I think at some point age should be considered. I was 5 feet tall and 90-95lbs before I had my first son. I was barely over the requirements and I was 18.

And why were you not in your booster seat? For shame! :no :vent

J/K :D

And why were you not in your booster seat? For shame! :no :vent

J/K :D


:lol My husband keeps joking with me about how they keep upping the height and soon I'll need to be in a booster :lol

I believe that it should go by size, not age. My two 10 year olds are a prime example of size difference by age. dd is 5'4" and 115 lbs, while mds is 4'11" and 75 lbs. Ds uses a Britax booster (the same one that yds uses, it is adjustable and has 3 more good years left before I pitch it) Ods will keep using it until he is too tall for it (as that will happen before he is heavy enough), yds will do the same and we'll probably end up having to replace it with the newer seat in three years.

How crazy.. Call me a redneck, but I remember riding from MN to TX in the back of my dad's pickup truck when I was 6.. I had a coffee can to pee in so they didn't have to stop. :lol

How crazy.. Call me a redneck, but I remember riding from MN to TX in the back of my dad's pickup truck when I was 6.. I had a coffee can to pee in so they didn't have to stop. :lol

I too remember being in the back of my Dad's pick up (her name was betsey) but my children WILL NEVER ride in the back of a truck. As a grown up I have SEEN an accident with teenagers in a truck some were riding in the back. Never ever will my kids ride like that as long as there is a breath in my body.

:lol My husband keeps joking with me about how they keep upping the height and soon I'll need to be in a booster :lol

Good man there! :tu So when you have your baby shower, should we chip in for a matching booster for you?? :thinking

I too remember being in the back of my Dad's pick up (her name was betsey) but my children WILL NEVER ride in the back of a truck. As a grown up I have SEEN an accident with teenagers in a truck some were riding in the back. Never ever will my kids ride like that as long as there is a breath in my body.

Yea, times sure have changed. :no It's amazing we're still alive, I can remember my little sister's carseats, they had a hook on them that hung them off of the back of the seat... No belts, just a hook.:oogle

Yea, times sure have changed. :no It's amazing we're still alive, I can remember my little sister's carseats, they had a hook on them that hung them off of the back of the seat... No belts, just a hook.:oogle

LOL carseats whats a carseat my little sister was the only one of us kids to have one and I don't think she used it longer then a year. She was born right when they started making seat laws and all that early 80's.

Good man there! :tu So when you have your baby shower, should we chip in for a matching booster for you?? :thinking


:lmao.. maybe I'll add a girly booster seat to my baby registry! I wonder if they make extra wide for big bums??? hmmmm

I wish I have having a baby shower :lol

I too remember being in the back of my Dad's pick up (her name was betsey) but my children WILL NEVER ride in the back of a truck. As a grown up I have SEEN an accident with teenagers in a truck some were riding in the back. Never ever will my kids ride like that as long as there is a breath in my body.

Same here! I used to always ride in the back of the truck when traveling! We'd have our soda cans to drink from, snacks & a sheet to cover up from the sun some! But after seeing far too many kiddos die from the same things, I am a lot more paranoid with my kids!

Yea, times sure have changed. :no It's amazing we're still alive, I can remember my little sister's carseats, they had a hook on them that hung them off of the back of the seat... No belts, just a hook.:oogle

Isn't that the truth! My sister was born in '92 & a lot of people would still hold the babies in their laps. :wow Thank goodness my Mom never did that!

:lmao.. maybe I'll add a girly booster seat to my baby registry! I wonder if they make extra wide for big bums??? hmmmm

I wish I have having a baby shower :lol

We should so throw an online baby shower for some of you guys! I would so coordinate that! :tu Hmmmm. :thinking

Sorry to threadjack! :D

I would go by the law. If my child was too short and not heavy enough, I'd be concerned that the seat belt wouldn't be safe enough on its own.

better safe then sorry... my neice is 12 and she is 90 pounds.. but she is tall.. so once she hit the 4'9 she stop using it.. my daugher will be the same way most likely.. she is almost 4 ft and she is just 4.. lol

How crazy.. Call me a redneck, but I remember riding from MN to TX in the back of my dad's pickup truck when I was 6.. I had a coffee can to pee in so they didn't have to stop. :lol


Seriously, there are pictures of me being held by my brother while riding in the back of a pick up when I am like a year old. Its ok though because they put us babies up near the cab, not the hatch lol

you need to go by the positioning of the seatbelt. If its not right, keep using the booster.

My lil bro rode in the backseat til his 13th bday because its the law. When he was 11 and 12 I had people question why I made him sit in the back when it was just us in the car.

Posted via Mobile Device

depends on the state law...kind of like the whole 8 OR 80 vs 8 AND 80...all the laws in CA are AND not OR

We will go with the height and weight requirements. My BIL teaches 7th grade and one of his studens has a booster seat. Better safe than sorry.