Car Seat Question - Lehi, UT

I have moved all my kids to the backless booster seats by the time they were three. It is much easier for them to get into and they feel "big" since they can use the regular seat belt.

Good Luck

Try moving his carseat to a different location . This will start to give him the freedom to sit where he wants and encourage him to climb up into the van, seat himself and belt himself. Maybe just switch it to middle section behind passenger seat.so big brother can help with his sister. I think that the baby's carseat should go where his does. I think that if you switch carseats to a booster that it is so unsafe. Plus if your little guy still likes to fall asleep in the car then the small booster will not support him at all. Stick with a 5 point carseat as long as possible. My 3 1/2 year old sits way in back closest to the door and he can buckle everything . Good job

WOW! I was surprised at the responses! The law in CO is age 4 AND 40lbs. Not age 4 OR 40lbs. If your son is only 2 then you need to figure out how to make it work, either move him to another seat with more room so he can get in/out by himself or get a different car that has a different seat configurations that work better for you. You have 2 or more years before he moves to a belt positioning booster (AKA backless booster).

Just FYI, here is the law as it is written per the State. Its available at http://www.carseatscolorado.com/

Statute text:

(2) (a) Unless exempted pursuant to subsection (3) of this section, every child, who is under four years of age and weighs under forty pounds, being transported in this state in a privately owned noncommercial passenger vehicle or in a vehicle operated by a child care center, shall be provided with one of the following child restraint systems suitable for the child's size and shall be properly fastened into such child restraint system which is in a seating position which is equipped with a safety belt or other means to secure the system according to the manufacturer's instructions:

(I) If the child is less than one year of age and weighs less than twenty pounds, the child shall be properly restrained in a rear-facing child restraint system.

(II) If the child is one year of age or older, but less than four years of age, and weighs less than forty pounds, but at least twenty pounds, the child shall be properly restrained in a forward-facing child restraint system.

(b) Unless excepted pursuant to subsection (3) of this section, every child, who is at least four years of age but less than sixteen years of age and weighs forty pounds or more, being transported in this state in a privately owned noncommercial vehicle or in a vehicle operated by a child care center, shall be properly secured by one of the following safety devices approved for a child of such age or weight by the United States department of transportation, or in a safety belt, whichever is appropriate for the child:

(I) If the child is at least four years of age but less than six years of age and is less than fifty-five inches tall, the child shall be properly restrained in a child booster seat or with a child safety belt-positioning device.

(II) If the child is six years of age or older but less than sixteen years of age and is fifty-five inches tall or more, the child shall be properly restrained with the motor vehicle's safety belt properly adjusted and fastened around the child's body.

(c) It is the responsibility of the driver transporting children, subject to the requirements of this section, to ensure that such children are provided with and that they properly use a child restraint system or safety belt system.

Two years old(even if almost three) is WAY too young for a booster with or with out a back unless it has a 5point harness built in. Do some research on the matter. there are lots of videos showing the importance of harnessing for as long as you can(AAP now says to RF for a min. of 2 and 30lbs even). Belles gift is a touching story of a little girl who was killed do to being in a booster too soon. Just do a search for it. You can also get Crash test footage of the difference the same impact has on the same child but restrained differently. Please Do Not move your child to a booster! It is too soon. And the law in Utah is 8 years and 80lbs made official by law just a few months ago.

I would definately recommend moving him to a booster seat, but you will need one with a back. To be without a back, they need to be 4 years old and 40 pounds. Graco and Evenflo back ones with backs that are detachable. We have one for our son and he loves it. It makes him feel like a big boy instead of a baby.

Hi M.-
I think that if you spent some time out in the van and let your little guy play in the van he would get it. Maybe if he gets in the opposite side and crawls across it would be easier for him to climb up. It is my personal experience that a 3 year old is far too immature to use a booster regardless of their size. It is safest for them and everyone else in the car if they are in a car seat with a 5 point restraint. Even when he is 4 and you transition to a booster you should use one with a back so that you have the belt positioner. I have a van too and I think that having a kid in the back row would make them too far away, I am always passing things back!! One last thought, what about moving his seat to the passenger side?

Well, having experienced many times where we have changed them to booster seats I would suggest waiting until he is 4 or 4 1/2 to move to booster. They generally have to be 40 lbs before going into a booster. My kids at 3 would unbuckle while I was driving and it really gets frustrating when you have to pull over constantly if they are refusing to rebuckle. We moved our now 4 1/2 year old into a booster about 4 months ago and our 3 year old is still in his highback carseat in the farthest backseat. He climbs into it most of the time. Sometimes he starts saying "I not buckle today" and we don't know where he gets the idea that he doesn't have to buckle on certain days!!! I have our 4 year old and our 3 year old in the farthest back seat. The 4 year old can buckle himself into his booster. Our oldest who is 12 doesn't like to sit in the back if he doesn't have too because his legs are longer. We have a suburban and they don't have much leg room from the back seat to the middle seat. Good luck!!

you didn't mention if you have the captains chairs or a bench? we have a 2005 with captain chairs, and we have a caravan, not a grand--so yeah there isn't a lot of leg room between where my dd's seat is and the front seats. I didn't think she could get in her car seat either. one day she wouldn't get out of the van when I was unloading groceries she was kind of running around in the van. which was fine since I was still unloading groceries in the garage. Well I came back out from the last trip in and she was climbing in her seat to turn on her show. our portable dvd is strapped to the back of the seat in front of her. she just needed to be motivated to climb--she sure climbs everything else. I'm guessing your son can climb if he wants to--it might take helping him a couple of times but I think he can probably do it. my dd is small for her age--so she has a higher climb than an average 2 year old would but she manages it. it completely surprised me the first time like I said but now I just know she can get herself into the seat if I help her up into the van. she kind of scoots between the two captain chairs and then ups herself from there. (which is why I was asking if it was a bench or captain chairs) the captain chairs have the arms on them and she uses them and the other chair opposite hers to push off of sometimes.
I wouldn't go to the backless booster, the seat regulations are set up the way they are because that is what is the most safe for your child.

Hi M.,

Each state has laws about child safety seat restraints and most are pretty much the same.

In Oregon, children over one year old AND between 20 & 40 lbs have to be secured in a forward facing child safety seat.
Children over 40 lbs must be in a booster seat until they are age 8 or 4'9" in height.

Here's a link to a national website that gives you all the info: http://www.usa.safekids.org/skbu/cps/index.html

If, you have any other questions, please feel free to email me, as I'm a certified installer of child safety seats.

Have a blessed day,

It looks like the law in Utah is that they have to be in a car seat until they are 5. I would not move him into a booster seat at this age either. They are not mature enough for the freedom that a booster seat allows. If there isn't room between the carseat and driver's seat, then his carseat should be moved to the back. The other option is to look at other carseats and see if any of those give you more room. If he doesn't have room, then he won't be able to climb into his car seat.

HI M.,
I noticed someone cited the laws concerning car seats and you need to read that and go by that. Your Son needs to be in the car seat until he is 4 and too big for it, that is, his shoulders are higher than the top slot for the straps when he is sitting properly in it.
To help your son get around in the back can the driver's seat be pulled forward some and can your son's seat be pushed back? Like another mom suggested, let your son practice climbing in and out of his seat while you supervise. Maybe you could put a small box or stool on the floor for him to stand on so he can get into his seat. Good luck with this.

C.

You have to wait for a booster until he weighs 40 lbs. Mine won't be that until nearly 5years old. some of her friends are taller and are in a booster (but most still have the backs on them for comfort and support. Besides, he will not be able to do the belt by himself anyway until nearly 4 or older. My 2.5 year old does climb in, get up in his seat, and buckle his top latch. then I only have to do the bottom buckles for both my kids. this is working fine in our "tall' SUV and I am too short to lift them as well. Good luck and just try to teach them to climb in and do the top latch. they love the control that gives them. They try the bottom one but aren't coordinated wnough yet.

My son buckled himself in at that age. He had a high-backed booster seat with an internal harness, so he did the 5-point harness by himself. It was a sad day when he got too tall for the harness and had to switch to using the shoulder belt with the booster, because suddenly I had to buckle him in for the first time in a year and a half! He was almost 4 when he changed to the seatbelt only. So I bet you could teach him to do that and move him into the back.
My 2 year old climbs into his car seat by himself, too. Well, sometimes. I have to be right there to help him stay focused, or he'll climb over the console into the front seat to play with all the buttons. I bet you could make it a game for your son. Say, "Do you think you can climb like a monkey into your seat?" and then praise him as he tries.

Check the weight limits on every car seat before you put your child in it. At 3 I doubt he is the weight necessary for just a booster - but check. The law in Utah just changed and kids have to be in at least a booster until they are 8 years old --- yes, 8! If you have questions the people at Babies R Us are a great resource and very helpful with carseat info, install and anything else you need. They periodically have carseat checks that make sure your kids are safe and buckled correctly. Good luck.

He is not ready for a booster unless he is over 40lbs and if he fits in his carseat fine, then the five point harness and him being in that is the safest place for him to be!
I am not sure how there is no room? I have a van and have a almost seven year old and there is room.
Maybe change sides if you don't have to have your seat that far back? Both of my kids can climb up in their carseats, have your son practice climbing up there.
If is that tight then he is safer in the back then in a booster, unless he is really tall and weighs over 40lbs.
My daughter is just now ready for a booster and she is almost 7, she is 46 inches tall and weighs 42 lbs. I waited until the was no more room on the straps for her. Talk to your Pediatrician.

I'm not familiar with the Dodge. Our van has lots of room. My only thought, other than he may not be ready for a booster, is that in most minivans, the gas tank sits right under the back row, so if you were ever rear ended, your son would be at much greater risk in the back seat than in the middle seat. Our son is small, but was able to go into the Graco booster with removable back at around age 3. He was tall enough to fit well. The headrest adjusts for as the child gets taller, and the seat itself takes up very little room. A big plus for us was that the seat reclines for long trips. GL!

Well Althea gave you the straight scoop on the law. Do some shopping, he doesn't have to be in a newborn/infant seat and is too small for a backless booster, there are some great car seats for toddlers. My kids were on the small side and were in car seats until they were 5 because they didn't meet the weight requirement (now I'm dealing a daughter who is under the safe height and weight limits for driving a car with airbags - car seats are just the beginning) They reached a point that the infants seats weren't comfortable or really safe, their heads were above the seat back. We bought seats the looked somewhat like a small bucket car seat. The kids could see out the window, the seats were easy to get in and out of and they were much more comfortable. Consummer Reports has had info on this in the past, you could check their recommendations. Some cars require an adapter to properly install a child seat. As your child gets older you want to foster their development of competence and self care by having age and size appropriate equipment. So them with when you look for a "big kid" seat. ToysRUs used to have a good selection.

I also have a dodge Caravan. The only problem with the child moving to the back is you have to lean over the seat to buckle them. My daughter just turned three and is in the back. She actually can buckle all the buckles herself, which we are all grateful for. Every once in a while the clothes she is wearing makes it difficult for her to buckle the bottom, so I will help her. My other kids however didn't buckle themselves this young, so each to their own. Maybe move the front seat forward and then he could climb in, if you want to keep him in the middle.

There is no way a 3 year old is ready for a backless booster. Go to Car-Seat.Org and have the wonderful car seat techs help you with your problem. They are awesome at figuring the best and safest solution for any problem I've ever had.

can you move your seats back or over? I'm not familiar with that van as far as whatit looks like inside. I think he's old enough to put in a booster but I would keep him in the other seat until he out grows it because I would think they are safer!