Booster Seat for older kid?

Question

Hello All -

Our son is 13 but weighs only 70 lbs and is just under and four and half feet tall. We stopped making him have a booster seat last year; but i've been doing a little reading on this may not be safe. Our younger two are 6 and 8 and we have them in car seats. I don't want to create a problem for him, but what should I do?

Answer 1

its ok he doesnt need a booster seat

Answer 2

I have a small 12-year-old too, so I understand your situation.  There are times when I am a bit concerned about her safety, but I just cannot bring myself to put a seventh-grader in a booster seat.  She is more likely to die of humiliation than in a car accident!  

There are probably people who would not agree with me, but it's hard enough on kids to be very small for their age without adding insult to injury.

Just keep your son in the back seat.  If your car has rear seat side airbags, and he sits in the middle, he should be pretty safe.

Answer 3

The 6 and 8 year olds should be in boosters as well if they are over 40 lbs. Carseat straps typically are not rated for more than 40 lbs. If your seats say they fit children up to 90 lbs, then it is as a booster with a regular seat belt and the inner straps removed.

Answer 4

well you are right to kep the 6 and 8 yr old in the booster seat. Yeah thats an issue when kids become 10 to 13 and are still small in height and wait its embarsing for them to be in a booster seat but how safe are they. What my dad did for me at 12 cuz I was kinda small for my age and they started adding these rules to the booster seat rules and i had been outa 1 sence 4 or 5. And was my chocie cuz when I was in em it was after 3 you werent required to be in 1. He bought me a strap adjuster for the over the shoulder belt if you cant find 1 of those make him ride in back and use the lap belt.Hope this helps.

Answer 5

My almost-9-year-old is still in a booster, and likely my very tiny kids will be in boosters until they're pretty darn old.  it's not an insult; it's not an embarrassment; it's just a nod to the laws of physics.  If they're a height and weight where the seatbelt won't restrain them properly in a crash, they need to be in a booster.  It's not some big discomfort to sit on a booster seat.  If anything, I'd think it's more uncomfortable to have a seatbelt going across your neck.

Answer 6

"Seat belts are made for adults. Your child should stay in a booster seat until adult seat belts fit correctly (usually when the child reaches about 4' 9" in height and is between 8 and 12 years of age). This means

The shoulder belt lies across the middle of the chest and shoulder, not the neck or throat.

The lap belt is low and snug across the upper thighs, not the belly.

Your child is tall enough to sit against the vehicle seat back with her knees bent without slouching and can stay in this position comfortably throughout the trip. "-- http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.h...

Answer 7

I weigh somewhere around 70 and am 13! My mom makes me sit in one, if we go anymore then a few miles. I hate it but have not been maid fun. I have a couple friends who are small like me!

Answer 8

I have twins that are 13 and are small for their age. They sat in boosters until they were 11 (middle school) and then I allowed them to use the seatbelt. The law where I live says 60lbs and 7 yrs old to come out of a booster seat. The twins were right around 55lbs when we took them out. They were lightweight but tall enough that the belt did not come accross the neck and our belts in our car are adjustable. Now they are both around 78lbs at 13.

We used to joke about how if we went by some of the state recommendations they would be using a booster seat at age 16 when they are driving...I can see it now..."mom I'm going on my date now"..."okay honey, don't forget your booster seat dear". LOL

My middle son is 10 and also used a regular seatbelt but he weighs 88lbs and is the same height as my twins.

My youngest is 8 and still sits in the booster seat. He only weighs 46lbs so he will probaly be in it for awhile longer.