When Give up the Car Seat

Keep him in the car seat as long as you can. It's the safest place for him.

Info from American Association of Pediatrics:

http://www.aap.org/family/Carseatguide.htm

The recommendation is 8yrs and 80 pounds. My 8 year old is still in a booster. But safety is very important to me to I push it as long as I can.

The ads say when your child is four foot nine inches, then you can give up the booster seats. I understand what a pill it is but as I tell my son (6 yrs old and 62 lbs.) ..."Saftey first!!!!"

Hi! I know the laws are different in all states, but it is suggested that you leave them in a car seat until they are 4 feet 9 inches tall. Statistics show that children involved in an accident do not suffer as many injuries if they are in a car seat/booster. Most of the reasoning behind this is that the seat position the child better & the seatbelt is positioned better on them, so they don't get injured. I have always been very strict about car seat use for my kids & any other children that ride in my car. I have a tall-for-her-age 10 year old that still uses a Graco booster (just the bottom, the back is detachable). She has not quite reached the goal height yet & i feel it is MUCH better to safe than sorry!!! Keep them safe, keep them in the seat!!!

There is great information on some of the other posts, regarding the legal requirements. As for me and my family, even if they fit the legal age/height/weight requirements to be without.. I let my eyes be the final judge. If the seatbelt strap does not go over their shoulder like it should (instead of across the edge of their neck!) then they MUST use a booster of some sort.
At 4.5 years, I would put him in a comfy booster. He'll still have easy access to a cup holder that way, plus arm rests. If he does much sleeping in the car, I would opt for one with a back (they are usually removable, but check before you buy). That way he has a little neck support when his head will tilt when he's dozing. Otherwise, the little backless boosters are only about $15 and should do the trick.
Some cars my daughter was required (by me) to use a booster, not in others. Some LOCATIONS in the car the seatbelt would fit differently too. Check where the seatbelt crosses him at the shoulder to be your final gauge.
He's growing up mom!
:)

Really that depends on State Laws, you should be able to look it up online. Here it's 50 pounds and at least 4 years old. My oldest son didn't reach 50 pounds until this year (he's almost 9). So we only waited until he was tall enough that the shoulder strap fit like it's supposed to (he was 6) because where that hits is actually the most important factor in whether or not it works. It would be humiliating for a 9 year old to be in what he sees as a baby seat. My second son reached the appropriate weight at 6. My five year old daughter still sits in a harness but will probably be moving soon because she's tall enough for a regular belt, even though she doesn't weigh 50 pounds either. The weight and age requirements are based on an average, and they insist that you meet both- but not all kids can easily do that. I think where the shoulder strap sits on your body is actually the most important thing. That's the part that locks in place in an accident.

I think it's a State Law that you can look up with FHP, the age/weight that you can buckle up (in the back seat! - it's safest) Good luck

From what I understand its not an age thing or weight its a height thing, which makes sense when you think about the seat belt straps and it hitting the neck. The height max is 4'9, once they are taller than that you do not need a boster seat anymore. Seems kinda tall, and I have never seen a kid older than 6 in a booster seat, my daughter is only 4 but I plan on keeping her in one until she is that height.

My son will be 6 next month. He is still in a booster seat. I believe the recommendation is booster until 80 pounds. It has to do with height & weight. Your local police station or highway patrol can tell you if you need to continue.
C.
WAHM

My son is 7 & is still in a booster seat. I wish I didn't have to worry about it but one thing you have to look at is how the seat belt fits on them. Without the booster, the beslt fits just above my sons chest. In order for them to be pretected properly, the belt must fit across the chest, not above the chest b/c if there were an accident & the seat belt was not laying properly it will isntantly snap the neck. Yes, that is visual, but the truth & that is why I am SO strict about it with my kids. We moved from Washington State & everyone followed the laws & here it seems noone pays attention. None of my kids friends have used boosters here in Florida & in Washington, everyone did. When we got here we wanted to know the laws & here is what the Sheriffs department says about it. This way you know what you should do legally, which in turn is to protect our kids:

Sheriffs Office
Florida law requires children under 5 years of age to be properly restrained no matter where they are seated in the vehicle. Children through age 3 must be secured in a separate carrier (child safety seat) or in a vehicle manufacturer's integrated child safety seat. For children ages 4 - 5, a separate carrier, an integrated child safety seat, or a safety belt may be used. If a safety belt does not fit the child correctly, a booster set should be used to correctly position the lap and shoulder belts once they outgrow forward facing child safety seats (generally at about 40 pounds and 4 years old). Children from approximately 40-80 pounds and under 4'9" in height should ride in a booster seat

Hi there my son was out of a car seat at about 3 to 4 years old and then put into a booster seat,he is now 8 yrs old and is no longer in a booster seat either,he could still be if we wanted him to but we feel hes old enough for just the regular seat belt from the car.He weighs 60 lbs,so really its what ever you feel comfortable with, Good Luck.

I'm not sure if there are actual laws. I was always told by my son's daycare that you should keep a child in a booster until 100lbs or 10 years old. That is what I am sticking to. I had a friend with an 8 year old. My friend had a real hard time telling her 8 year old (she was very tiny framed) that she had to sit in a booster. I have seen Public ads that insist on keeping 12 year olds or younger in the back seat becasue it's the safest.

HTH, Good Luck!

If he is over 40 lbs he can go in a booster. The one that has no back but you use the seat belt. He needs that until he is 4'9" and 100 lbs by law.

Robin,

I would suggest keeping your son in the car seat until he reaches the age of when the seat bealt alone fits him properly. That could be age 7 or 8. So many people think that once their child turns 4 or 5 they no longer need that seat, but the seat belt alone is not safe of a child of this age since their bodies aren't big enough to fit the belt properly.
I also have a four year old son and he is still in the car seat with a weight limit of 40 lbs...he only weighs 36 lbs.
He has a few friends that are 5 and not sitting in any safety seat and he questions me about why he still has to sit in the car seat. I tell him it is the safest place for him until he gets to be bigger, I love him so much and I wouldn't want him to get hurt if something were to happen.

Hope this helps,
M.

Hi Robin,
I would get rid of the car seat and get him a backless booster seat. Based on the state recommendations in FL, it sounds like he is ready for that. You should use the booster seat until he is 4'9" and 80 lbs (usually around 8-10 years old, I think). My kids got the short genes form DH's side, so I a sure they will be older than that...lol.

Keep him in the car seat as long as possible (height and weight considered) But you can check with the DOT of the Fire Department. They have people who will tell you if the seat is well placed and safe.
After he outgrows the car seat, you'll need a booster so the seat belts to work properly.

Robin,
I think in Florida they have to be in some kind of restraint until they are 7 or a certain weight. My son is only 15 mos, so I am not there yet.
Check out this website for more guidelines:
http://www.car-seat.org/

it's really up to you. you can look on the web for FL laws, but the last time I looked, they could legally get out of a carseat when they were either 4 or 40lbs. they recommend you keep your child in a carseat until they are 8yo, 80lbs, or 48" tall (i think that's it)and to also have them in the back until they are 12. my daughter is 4 1/2, but she is only about 32-35lbs, so she is still in a carseat. my nephew is also 4 1/2, but he is probably closer to 50 and he is also still in a carseat. most of the children in my daughters daycare that are her age are also still in a carseat. i would say that probably about 5-10years ago, people would take their kids out of their carseats immediately when they could, but parents are keeping them in longer now as the carseats become better equipped to hold them. but i think that as long as your son is big enough, and you are comfortable with him being in a regular seatbelt (which he really is already) and when you take him out of the carseat, the seatbelt still fits him right, then it shouldn't be an issue. and you should be fine with letting him out of it.

My daughter is 6, around 42 lbs. and I still have her in a booster seat. I think it's the safest thing until they get a bit taller and the seat belt goes across them the same way as it would an adult. Some states want kids in boosters until 12 yrs. or until they're a certain height.

I am so glad you asked this question. I am a bit of a car seat fanatic and have done tons of research regarding this issue. Your child's body is not built for a standard adult seatbelt until he is about 80 pounds and 4 foot 8 inches tall. Children under 8 years of age, even those strictly trained on the importance of sitting properly, are not mature enough to remember to stay in the exact position required for safe traveling. Have you ever seen your child lean over to pick up a toy or to get a drink or talk to you? During this time when he leans over, the belt path is moved up by his neck and if you were to get into a wreck at that very moment, he could become decapitated. I know it's horrible to imagine, but it happens...often enough. Also, with a five point car seat, his entire torso is properly restrained and it protects his delicate little body from internal injuries from seat belts jamming into his gut. For this reason, the SAFEST possible way to transport your child is with a five point car seat. There are a few now that go up to 80 pounds. My son is 8 1/2 and just outgrew his Britax Regent. It was a wonderful five point seat that could be tethered to the car to help restrict how much his head would be forced forward in even a small rear end accident. Now that he is bigger and more mature, he is riding in the Sunshine Monterey booster. It not only makes sure his spine is aligned by giving him a boost up and by holding the shoulder strap in the proper position, across his shoulder, away from his neck, but it has superior side impact protection. All people need this protection, but as adults, we are unwilling to be so restrained while we run around in our cars. Even adults can become internally decapitated from the force of an accident, why not give your child the best possible safety available. I know I could never forgive myself, if a tired truck driver crossed the median and hit us and my child was killed or seriously injured because I didn't want to spend $250. It is a worthwhile investment. The best car seat is one that never needed to be used because you were never in an accident. Please go to youtube and search Kyle david miller and watch the video. This childs seat belt failed and had he been in a five point, tethered seat, he would still be alive. Also look up videos that have crash dummies for booster seats vs five point seats and side impact crash dummies. When you see the crash dummies head crash against the cushioned support of his seat rather than the glass in the car, you will appreciate the benefits of extended use of a booster. Age has NOTHING to do with when to get rid of the car seat. It is all about size. My oldest son was 80 pounds and 4 foot 8 at about 8 years old, so he was graduated to an adult belt. NEVER use a lap belt on anyone unless it's an emergency. My second son is smaller in stature and will ride in his new booster until he is 5 foot 2 and up to 130 pounds, because the seat allows him to. Why take away added safety because it's too hard. Doing what's right is ALWAYS the harder thing to do. This principal applies to every area of our lives. My youngest daughter is a little over three and still rear faces, because she in under 35 pounds, the limit of her seat to rear face. This protects her spine from severe injury or death and is 300% safer than a forward facing child. She will remain harnessed until she's 65 pounds, the limit of the seat and will graduate to her brothers booster until she's at least 10. Again, it has nothing to do with size, but it's the height and weight of the child that is the deciding factor, the summary of this long response, give your child the safest restraint available on the market for as long as possible, his life depends on it. If I told you that you were going to drive on the highway today and that you would be hit head on by a semi and roll five times, ending up in a ditch, how would you prepare your child, what seat would you buy, how much would you spend? You cant predict this type of accident, so the entire purpose of buckling or using car seats EVER is to prepare for the what if. It can happen to you, many greiving mothers will agree, be prepared. If you purchase your seat from www.hipmonkey.com all of the proceeds will go to the kyle david miller foundation, they put car seats in the hands of people who cant afford them. Email me for more info and help choosing the best seat, for now, if your child is under 40 pounds, put those straps back in and get the seat properly installed, if over 40 pounds, use the seatbelt until you can get a better seat.

Unfortunately it is really not up to us...it is what the state says is most safe for our children. Here is the Florida State 4 steps for kids guidelines.

http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/CPS/4Steps.htm

Hope this helps....

You need to follow the guidelines for the specific seat you are using. When my oldest daughter, who is 9 yrs old now, outgrew her booster seat, I bought her one of those booster seats that she sits on but she can use the shoulder strap with. Her seat is not actually fastened to the back seat like her other booster seat was. Yes, most of them go up to 100 lbs BUT the height is equally important. Usually it is up to 100 lbs or the height restriction, whichever comes first. My 6 year old is still in her car seat but she is still not up to the height that would allow us to use the shoulder strap. Her seat is still tethered to the car. Read your manual for the car seat and if still in doubt, call the manufacturer yourself. I say the car seat is the safest place and I wouldn't stop using it unless they have fully outgrown it.

there are laws that govern that usually by size and weight
calland ask a cop

a 5-pt harness is the SAFEST
i have my 5.5 yr old in a 5-pt harness! I splurge and pay for BRITAX brand- the way I look at it is that I do not have money for a Volvo (very safe car) so why not put my CHILD in a 'volvo' which I say is a Britax carseat! I also believe in extended rear-facing in a Britax Marathon- my 2.5 yr old is still rear-facing! it's the SAFEST!
and, it's not how safe a driver YOU are- it's all the OTHER crazies out there!!!

please research all you can! keep your precious cargo SAFE!!!
please look at the VIDEOS on this site:
http://www.kyledavidmiller.org/pages/4211/Car_Seat_Safety...