When should we switch to a booster seat?

Question

Our son is 2 1/2. He is 38" tall and weights about 37 lbs. He is over the 100 percentile mark on the pediatricians growth chart so I know he is big for his age. My friends son is the same size but a year older and already in a booster seat. My husband and I both have the 3-in-1 convertible seats in our cars but we are still using the 5 point harness system in them. Is it time to switch to a booster seat or leave our son in the forward facing car seat?

Answer 1

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.

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.

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 2

Booster seats aren't suppose to be used with just the belt until they are 40 lbs and 4 years old by law in most states.  Some states are allowing booster seats with a back to be used at 30 lbs and 3 years old.  I know here in Ohio my cousin got pulled over with her son at the time who was 2 1/2 and almost 40 lbs and she had him in a booster seat with no back, the cop wrote a ticket for child endangerment and she went to court and the court gave her a fine and a copy of the law that states "must be in a carseat until 40 lbs and 4 years old" then told her that if she must use a booster because of his weight (as harness only works to 40 lbs in basic carseats) that it must have a back to the booster seat until he was 4 years old.  Carseats are always safer than boosters and your son still has 3 lbs before he is to heavy for a forward facing seat with the 5 point harness.  Once he is 40 lbs then you will need to use a booster seat that has the back on it until he is 4 years old.  The boosterseats with back will go up to 80-100 lbs.

Answer 3

I think a child should switch to a booster seat when they can get there selves in and out of their car seat and feel comfortable moving to a big chair. if the kid isnt ready then I wouldn't do it but most kids will be ready. My sister moved to one when she turned six and could buckle herself. I believe it is when they are ready.

Answer 4

my daughter is 2 and i just bought her a booster seat. the size being from 8kg - 26kg which means she can use it now safely till she turns around six. (its a two in one booster)

Answer 5

It depends on your state laws, some say they have to be 3 and 30 lbs I believe.  Check first to make sure you are following laws.