Car Seat Questions?

Question

My oldest is 3 years and 2 months old. He weighs 30 lbs, When can he sit in a normal child booster seat with the regular car seat belt acroos him instead of the harness?

This is what it looks like

http://www.gracobaby.com/catalog/product.aspx?modelNumber=8693SIM&CategoryID=1

Answer 1

When his ears are over the top of the back of the booster.

Answer 2

CHILD CAR SEAT RULES

1. BEFORE YOUR FIRST BIRTHDAY LESS THAN 20 POUNDS REAR-FACING INFANT-ONLY CAR SEAT OR CONVERTIBLE SEAT USED IN REAR-FACING POSITION, SECURED IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR.

2. 20–35 POUNDS CONVERTIBLE SEAT USED IN REAR-FACING POSITION, SECURED IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR. LOOK FOR A CHILD SAFETY SEAT THAT IS RECOMMENDED FOR HEAVIER INFANTS.

3. WHEN YOU ARE 1, 2, 3, AND 4 20–40 POUNDS FACE FORWARD IN A CONVERTIBLE SEAT OR A FORWARD-FACING-ONLY SEAT OR HIGH-BACK BOOSTER/HARNESS IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR.

4. WHEN YOU ARE 4, 5, 6, 7, OR 8 LESS THAN 4’9” (57 INCHES) TALL BELT-POSITIONING BOOSTER SEAT (NO BACK) OR HIGH-BACK BELT-POSITIONING BOOSTER SEAT IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR.

5. WHEN YOU ARE 8, 9, 10, 11, OR 12 MORE THAN 4’9” (57 INCHES) TALL MAY USE AN ADULT SEATBELT, BUT MUST KEEP YOUR BACK AGAINST THE SEAT BACK, YOUR KNEES BENT OVER THE EDGE OF THE SEAT, AND YOUR FEET FLAT ON THE FLOOR IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR.

6. WHEN YOU ARE MORE THAN 12 YEARS OLD MORE THAN 4’9” (57 INCHES) TALL MAY SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OF THE CAR WITH AN ADULT SEATBELT.

Answer 3

4 years AND 40lbs is the bare minimum for sitting in a booster with the seatbelt.  He must also be mature enough to sit correctly in the booster ALL the time - no slumping, no sleeping and keeping the shoulder belt on his shoulder.  He still needs to be harnessed for a looooong while.

Answer 4

Yep, at the very least 4 years and 40 pounds.

When my daughter turned 4 we put her in 1 but after about 2 weeks realized she wasn't ready for it, she messed with the seatbelt, leaned over to pick things up etc.

We ended up buying an Apex which has a 5 point harness that's good up to 65 pounds.  Yeah it takes a little longer to get her buckled into the seat than just using the seatbelt, but it's really so much safer that it's worth the peace of mind knowing she'd be much more secure if we where ever in an accident.  She's almost 6 now and still in her 5 point harness.

Answer 5

Each state is a little different. My suggestion is stop the next police officer you see and just ask them.  In Idaho, they have to be at least 40 #'s and so tall; I don't know how tall. Short of that you could call your local police office, non emergency # and ask for their guidance.

Answer 6

Your son is far too young to be using just a booster - regardless of what the minimums say on the box. Depending upon where you live, it may even be illegal! Many states' laws say a child must be at least 4 years old AND 40lbs before riding in a belt positioning booster.

Safety-wise, 4 years and 40lbs is the bare minimum for booster use. However, most 4 year olds are not yet ready to be out of a 5 point harness. To sit in a booster and use just the seatbelt like an adult (basically a booster just fits the belt to the child,so it's essentially the same), they need to be able to not have the lapbelt cause those injuries, have the head proportionate like an adult, and have a solid spine like an adult. kids under age 5 have higher rates of head injury if they are riding in boosters than kids over age 5 (presumably because younger kids have heavier/larger heads in proportion to their bodies, so they fly forward farther or with greater force, thus incurring greater injury if/when they come in contact with vehicle interior or intrusion). We also now know the spine is not solid until age 6.

Each stage forward in car seats is actually a major move backwards in safety. A child should stay in each stage AS LONG AS POSSIBLE! Yes, it may seem inconvenient to still be putting a child in a 5 point harness, but let's be blunt: how much more 'inconvenient' is it if your child dies from injuries while riding in a booster seat, when a 5 point might have saved him? Its just not worth it. Keep your child in a 5 point harness as long as possible. 6 years old is a good age to start using boosters, try to get to at least 5 years old.  Here's some seats that can help you get there, since most people only purchase convertible car seats that go to 40lbs, which won't get most kids to booster age.

Safety1st Apex/Signature Biltmore (same seat, different covers). Harness goes to 65lbs, 17" top slots, then converts to a booster seat. One must have requirement: vehicle head rests that will go up as tall as the fully extended booster head rest. There is no structural support in the Apex 65 back/head, so it needs the support of the vehicle seat. Can be hard to find in stores, check Babies R Us, or save money by buying online at albeebaby.

Graco Nautilus. This seat is brand spanking new, hasn't even made its way to all stores yet. Will be in most Walmarts by the end of January, other stores by the end of February. $150. Harnesses to 65lbs, 18" top slots, then becomes a booster just like the turbobooster, then becomes a backless booster! Awesome seat that may very well be the last you have to buy.

Britax Regent. This one will keep your child harnessed as long as possible. Whopping 80lbs weight limit, and 20" top slots, keeping most kids harnessed to about 8 years old. Does not become a booster, but many kids only need a booster till they are 8-10 years old anyway. $269, but watch for Britax sales in February and September at online stores.

If your child still fits in his current harnessed seat, you still have some time to shop. There is no rush until he has actually outgrown the seat. See the links below for more proof of why you want to keep him harnessed.