When is it ok to switch my 2 and a half year old daughter to a booster seat?

Question

When is it ok to switch my 2 and a half year old daughter to a booster seat?

Answer 1

I would check your local states rules and regulations.  Every state is different.

I believe it goes by weight and height.

You can probably find this information on the web.

Answer 2

If your daughter has outgrown her carseat then thats when you put her in a booster seat. She should be no less than 40 lbs or too big for the carseat.

If her shoulders are taller than the shoulder harnesses on the carseat then it is time to switch to the booster seat. Until then please dont put her in a booster seat it is unsafe if she is too small.(Not trying to tell you what to do... its just safety for your little girl :] )

I had to put my daughter in a booster seat at 2 1/2. but that is only because she is really tall for her age.  She will be 3  sept. 2 and is already wearing 4T and some 5/6.

Answer 3

You should wait until she is 3-4 and over 40lbs. I waited until my daughter was 4 and a half because she is tall and skinny and was still ok to use her five point system.

Answer 4

4 years or 40 pounds.  There is one out there that says 30 pounds, but that is really too early. I have a 3 year old daughter who is just under 33 pounds and while I'd love her to have it (it's a princess one), but I'm keeping her in the 5 point harness until she bigger. It's hard to wait sometimes, but it's safer.

Answer 5

We just bought the graco turbobooster, for children who are 3-10 years old, 30 to 100 lbs, 38" to 57" IF YOU USE THE BACK WITH IT.

If you don't have the back, then you have to wait until they are 40 lbs and 40 inches.

Our daughter is nearly three, but 39" tall and 35 lbs. It fits her perfectly.

Answer 6

Forward facing harnessed seats are outgrown when a child reaches the weight limit, or more commonly when the child's shoulders are above the top harness slots.

If the child is 4 years AND 40lbs, then he may move to a booster with vehicle lap shoulder belt seatbelt.  If not, then the child needs a larger FF harnessed seat.  There are many seats that harness to 55-80lbs.  Some are the Britax Marathon, Decathalon, Boulevard, Frontier and Regent; the Sunshine Kids Radian; the Evenflo Triumph ADVANCE; the Graco Nautilus and the Cosco/Safety First Apex.

Stay away from: The Alpha Omega 3-in-1 seats only harness to 40lbs and most 40lb weight limit seats are outgrown before a child is mature enough for a booster seat.  They also have very low top harness slots, so are outgrown by height at around 2 or 3 years old.  The Graco Comfortsport also has very low top slots.

A child should ride in a booster with vehicle lap/shoulder belt until he or she reaches approximately 4'9" (around age 12) and then can move to just the adult seatbelt if he passes the 5 step test and the seatbelt fits him correctly.

Answer 7

You need to read the laws for your state. For Ohio, the child must be 4 years old and weigh a minimum of 40 pounds before you no longer need a car seat. Booster seats are currently being recommended for children who weigh at least 40 pounds and are between the ages of 4 and 8 years old. Especially those children under 4'9" tall.