Booster Seat to fit Overweight child?

Question

My daughter is 4'2" and 90 pounds. all the extra weight is around the middle so her regular booster seat is too narrow between the arms for her. Does anyone know of a booster seat without arms or one that is wider than average? She is so uncomfortalble in the seat but not tall enought to go without.

Answer 1

Let me make it clear that I am not sure about the legality of this.  But my daughter went through an awkward stage where the booster put her too high up but without it she was too low.  So we used a chair cushion, the kind you put on kitchen chairs.  It positioned the belt perfectly on her chest. I figured that unlike a carseat, a booster seat doesn't actually strap the belt in so it is only raising the child up a little bit. But that's how we got through that stage.  In our state it's based on age and weight, not height - your daughter would legally be out of a booster here.  They have to be 6 years old and 60 pounds.

Edit: thumbs down? I guess people assume I don't care about my child's weight?  She's 52 pounds and 4'2" - she also has a problem with booster seats.  Don't assume that just because it worked for your child that all children are made from the same mold.

Answer 2

Consider walking, healthy eating and other exercises until she no longer needs a special seat?

I work in stones and lbs - so not sure if she is big for her age or overweight or obese......presuming she is just overweight...

Sorry to be harsh, but the seat problem should maybe be a wake up call to you to help her before she gets too heavy to be happy and healthy.

Answer 3

They have high back boosters with no arms, my son had one a few years back before we went to the no back ones for the kids.

I have seen in walmart (i think) things for the seat belts.  They snap on where you want them and prevent the shoulder strap from being to high on the child.  We have 3 boys and my hubby has a4 door cavalier ( I have a van) so we have one in his car for my 7 yr old because there is not enough room for a carseat and 2 boosters in the back seat if he needs to take them in his car.

Depending on the age of your daughter, this may work.  Here you are required to be in a booster until age 6 or 8.  other states are age 4, so check your laws.  If you need a booster, check ebay, they may have larger sizes.

Answer 4

Good ol' Wal-Mart. I was shocked to see wide boosters for obese children last spring, when shoppig for a new born car seat. I'm gld they are available.... I was surprised that the need was so prevalent that Wal-mart carried the seats.

Answer 5

I have seen some before I know that. My oldest is tall and well not fat, but big boned. She too was to big for booster seats, but it just happened she weighed enough to not need one.

We bought a special seat belt thing though that would adjust it so it fit properly over the shoulder since she wasn't tall enough so this did away with the booster seat.

So search for "seat belt adjusters" also look up online for your state laws on car seats and booster seats. Some states require a height and weight requirement.

Answer 6

I agree with spooky, I hope this is a wake up call for you. my middle son is turning 11 and he weighs 88lbs and is 6 inches taller than your daughter.

Most booster seats are only able to hold children up to 90lbs.

I would use a large safety pin and pin the shouler belt to the lap belt neat the lap so that it won't come across the neck until she is a little taller. You can also use a pillow or two