Booster seat requirements

mckayleesmom wrote: what are they?.....They had a debate about booster seat and state requirements on another board I go to. I know all laws are different depending on state...But Im just wondering what the average start time and weight is.

mckayleesmom replied: I guess I was suprised because I didn't expect to put Mckaylee in one till she was about 5 and I saw that some of the parents put their kids in at 4.....which I guess is ok if they meet the requirements, but I can't imagine Mckaylee being in one at 4....She is so short and doesn't wieght that much.

mom2my2cuties replied: we got informed at Andy's last appointment that it is time to move her to a booster - she weighs 33lbs and I forget how tall, but they said it's time. Which shocked me because she is only 2. However, in TN they have to be in the booster forever I think it's 90lbs or 5ft tall.

mckayleesmom replied:
Geesh. .....That is awfully young.

mom2my2cuties replied: you are telling me...Andrew & I were just talking about it. And our only concern is her weight is different on several scales. (DR office - 33 Emergency Room - 27 & home 29) So we are putting it off for a few weeks.

mom2my2cuties replied: On that same note - it varies from state to state. In WA - it's 40lbs and my son barely broke it last year. In TN the doc said 30lbs. Although I don't know what the law is.

PrairieMom replied: I bought a booster at Walmart that says 30 pounds, and I don't remember how tall, but The boy fits that catagory and he is 3, but wearing 2T stuff. he's one of the smaller kids in his class at 32 pounds.
My PED says 40 pounds, so I am following her advice and not using the booster yet.

mom2my2cuties replied: Oh see Andy is huge - she is wearing a 3 & 4T in most things

My3LilMonkeys replied: Here in PA the law is 4 years. They recommend that they also be 40 lbs, but as far as I can find that's not actually law.

They can get out of a booster seat at 8 by law but they recommend they stay in it until they are 4ft 9in.

mom21kid2dogs replied: Ohio is a pathetic state for car seat laws in general. It's a 4 yr/40lb state still. Obviously, O is still in hers at almost 6 and 65 lbs and 47". She nowhere near meets the 5 step standard to sit safely in an adult belt.

It really isn't an issue for state law or legislation. It really boils down to science. Here is the info on the 5 step test. No child should be out of a booster until they meet these requirements regardless of what the "law" is in your state. It's not a magic age or height it actually is a combination of factors, not the least of which is maturity.

http://www.southflorida.com/sfparenting/sf...0,1919402.story

mckayleesmom replied: I need to check my carseat for McKaylee and see how long I can legally keep her in it....Im not ready for her to be in a booster seat.

mom21kid2dogs replied:
I hear 'ya! I HATED the day I had to move her from her Marathon to a booster. Every step up the car seat ladder is a step down in overall safety. Ugh. Let me tell you, moving them out of a 5 point harness to only a seat belt and a booster seat (no matter how nice they are) is HUGE!!

mckayleesmom replied:
How old was Olivia when you moved her?.....I just think Mckaylee is too short to be in a booster seat...kwim? She doesn't weight that much either. If I had my way I would just keep her in her carseat till 5.

mom21kid2dogs replied:
My sister and I split the cost of a Britax Marathon convertible. They have one of the highest harness heights on the market and can use them to 60lbs. She actually still fit in it when I had to give it up when Olivia was 4 years 4 months. I bought a Britax Bodyguard which is a very nice booster but still~it's just a belt holding your kid in at 4.5 KWIM!!

Most boosters without internal harnesses (5 point restraints) require the child to weigh at least 30lbs. McKaylee will have outgrown her seat by height if her shoulders are at or above the highest harness slot. Some kids are longer in the torso and actually outgrow the harness height long before the manufacturer height requirement so actual shoulder measurement while in the seat is a much better/safer guide. If you do have to move to a non harnessed booster, I highly recommend "locking" the seat belt after McKaylee is in it. You can do this with most belts by pulling the belt out as far as it will go at the top and hearing the belt click back into place when it tightens. Olivia is still very wiggly (moves her body forward while in the seat, reaches sideways for stuff, etc.~all not safe at all) at almost 6. I almost always lock her in it.

coasterqueen replied: Our law here says 40 pounds AND 4 years of age. Kylie isn't 40 pounds yet, but is 4. We bought her a 5 point harness seat that will last her til the age of 8, when then she doesn't have to be in a seat anymore. My 6 year old niece can't even stay in her booster seat. She's constantly trying to get out of it while the car is moving so IMO Kylie will stay in the harness until she's 8 or shows the maturity to sit still.

MyBlueEyedBabies replied: In COlorado it is 4 years or 40 lbs until 55 inches.

Katy outgrew her seat and went into a booster...6 months ago maybe. She is still barely 30 lbs. but over 40 inches and that is the max for her carseat. She knows she has to sit up and she never tries to wiggle out. she sits up and would never think of unbuckeling her seat until we are parked. We did move her before legal but there is no way to fit the husky (or whatever the seat turned into now) with 2 other seats in the back seat of my car and she was mature enough to sit up and listen to instructions.