5Yrs 5Pt Harness

My son is 5.5 and is in a Britax 5 point harness that will take him to 80lbs and that's where he will stay. He is 42 lbs and 44". I see kids all the time at my son's school that are still in 5 pt harnesses.

Just a side note to Beth-just because her daughter is 5 doesn't mean she belongs in a booster. She is far below the weight limits for a booster and therefore wouldn't be safe in the event of a crash. I don't have to buckle son in. He is capable of making sure his straps aren't twisted and buckling himself in and pulling the chest buckle up the appropriate area (even with his armpits).

And I wouldn't worry for 1 second what other people say or think. I have my just turned 2 year old still rear-facing because the latest research and recommendations show that rear-facing is the safest place for as long as possible. Her seat will go to either 33 or 35 lbs and that's where she'll stay. I've had people balk or say it's insane or their child would never be comfortable that way. But you know what, it is our job and our job alone to make sure our children are as safe as possible and to parent responsibly. Anything less than that is insane :)!

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My son is 6 1/2yrs old and was in his 5pt harness until just after his 6th birthday at which point his little sister started using the carseat (he has also always been in the 95% for height). We had actually put him back into a 5pt harness (at around age 5) after having him in a highback booster seat using just the regular seatbelt before that carseat. The straps were no longer long enough when he had a winter jacket on, otherwise he would have been kept in it longer. We told him he was riding in a 5pt harness just like race car drivers do.

There is no reason to move a child out of a 5pt harness unless the straps no longer fit or they reach the weight limit. A child is MUCH safer in a 5pt harness than with a seat belt with a booster seat.

Heck my oldest is 12 1/2yrs old (will be 13 in October) and we just recently took her out of the booster seat. Until this point the seat belt did not correctly fit her.

If your daughter ever says something about being teased, just remind her that she is being kept safe in case of an accident....

As for the other people that have 3 & 4 yr olds in a booster, I personally think they are lazy and don't want to have to deal with carseats.....Believe me I have kept my mouth shut on occasion when I see someone putting their little ones ( 2 & 3) in a car even without a carseat at all.

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My 4 year old is still in her 5 point harness Britax seat and I plan to keep her there as long as possible. She is also small for her age so I figure we have a couple more years. Don't worry about what others think. Most of my daughter's friends are in boosters now, but I don't see what the rush is. They are safer in the 5 point harness car seat.

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You are not alone. My son turned 5 in May and he weighs 35-36lbs. He is still in a 5pt harness. He is 42" tall and is getting to the point where I need to upgrade his carseat. I too plan on keeping him in the harness car seat since it is by far safer than just the belt booster. I am planning on buying the Britax Frontier. That one the weight goes to 85lbs in the harness. Right now I have the Britax Marathon and the weight goes to 65 lbs. My son went to 4K this past school year and he will be in Kindergarten but I have no problem keeping him in the harness since he is on the small side. I also get the same reaction from people but I would rather have him safe in the car. I am not comfortable putting him in with just a belt and booster seat. That's just me. I wouldn't give it another thought and keep her in a harness as long as you can.

M.

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My son is 7 and we moved him to Britax's 5 point harness carseat and will last until he is 100 pounds. If you read the research.....they are much safer in a 5 point harness than a booster as they aren't really tall enough for the safety belt to work like it should. My son will be in a 5 point harness for a long time. I can't replace him, so I won't take any chances on his safety and I don't care what anyone says. Maybe you want to get a booster if she is going to be riding in a friend's car, so you don't have the hassle of moving the carseat. I don't get any flack from anyone I know and if I do, I just state the statistics. Good luck and don't worry about anyone else and what they think.

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My daughter was in a 5 point harness into her 1st grade year. then a booster up until she was 10 1/2 - her knees didn't fit the carseat like she was supposed to and only 65 lbs or so. I only let her get rid of it then because i was having a baby and the 2 didn't fit in the car so well! Finally this summer she fits like she's supposed to! People are too anxious to get their kids out of the car seats. The inconvenience or whatever the excuse isn't worth it if there is an accident. My baby is much smaller than my older was so she will probably be in one even longer!

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My 5.5 year old is still in a 5 point harness and he is 48 pounds. I guess I made the decision that being in the car is one of the most dangerous places my kids can be and I did not want to risk having them hurt in an accident. It is "just the way it is" in our car so he doesn't really care, ask about it, or complain.

We have a Britax Frontier model carseat and he actually likes it. It allows him to be in a 5 point until about 80 pounds and a booster until 120 pounds.

I believe it is your own personal comfort level on the issue and wehter parents let their kids go to a booster soon or they wait, it is their choice and they know their own kids and comfort levels best. For me, we have chosen to use the 5 point as long as we can, and we kept our kids facing backwards in a carseat until they were nearly two yeards old as well. My 1.5 year old still faces backwards.

When my son asks why someone else has a booster and he has a car seat (and I do now let him use a booster when he rides with someone else), I just let him know that people have and use different things at different houses and different cars, and that we use our seat in our van just as it is. Seems to work just fine so far.

D.

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My son turned 5 earlier this month & is going to kindergarden this year... he weighs 37#. So, eventhough he wants to be like his sister & be in a booster he can't be. In Ohio - we had a new law go into effect last year... they added to the old law of 20# or 1 yr rear face, 4 yrs or 40# harness seat. Now they are to be in a booster till the are 8 yrs, 80# and 4ft 9in... it is up to $500 fine if they find the kids out of the seats.

I'm not saying everyone follows the "rules" of the seats or the law, but I do. As it stands - my 5 yr old & 3 yr old will most likely end up in boosters around the same time. Since my 3 yr old is 35#... each kid is different. My daughter is 6 yr & has only been in the booster for less then a year - she did start kindergarden in the harness as well and she was a bit taller then most kids, but her weigh has always been low. She is only 45# now.

So, no your 5 yr old isn't the only one that is in a 5 point harness. I have had 2 that were now. And no it doesn't mean you are doing anything wrong... some kids just don't gain weight as fast. Might be a blessing in the long run - after all everyone keeps talking about over wieght kids... we can say ours aren't that - lol.

So you know - mine little ones all eat very healthy & quite a bit. So, it's not a lack of food or healthy food for that matter. They do get some junk foods too, but not as much of the healthy stuff and they eat about 4 meals & 3 snacks a day. But they just don't put on the weight like other kids... might be the mile or so walks we do about 3x or more a week - humm.

Personnaly - I'm more concerned w/ my kids health & safety... so if they are stuck in a seat a little longer, so be it.

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We just bought a 5 pt harness Britax Frontier booster seat for our 5 year old a few months ago. She's starting Kindergarten in the fall and will be in it for many, many years to come. Right now she's 43 pounds and 43" tall. I'm one of those safety moms and would buy nothing less than a 5 pt harness for my child.

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My son is 5 1/2 years old and weighs 38 pounds. We recently moved him to a booster chair. I have a tough time with the weight requirements because my son is tall but very skinny. He was hanging out of his car seat. It didn't look very safe anymore. My daughter is 4 and only weighs 33 pounds. Like her brother, she is tall and skinny. I have no idea when she will finally get to a booster chair! I think the requirements should have a height-to-weight ratio. I know a llittle guy who is 3 years old, short and stocky, and in a booster chair. He doesn't look safe in it because his legs stick straight out and the shoulder strap keeps trying to go across his face, yet because of his weight he meets the requirements. Doesn't make sense to me.

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The best seat for kids is the one that they fit best in, and fits best in your vehicle. Car seat/booster laws are passed by states because of heavy lobbying by carseat manufacturers to guarantee millions of $$ of sales for them. Many studies have shown that kids are safer using just the car's seatbelts, because their is no way that any carseat can fit correctly in every vehicle. So look for fit.

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Hi H.! My son is almost 7 and just moved to a high backed booster a few months ago. Isn't it funny how quick parents are to move their child to the next step? I say, keep them in there as long as possible!

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My son is 3.5 and weighs 40lbs and is around 44 inches. I keep him in the 5pt harness because it is safer and now he knows how to buckle it himself, so I figured why rush to the booster. (his seat is the 3-1 Graco that does turn into a booster, so it doesn't look like a baby chair) People have mentioned to me why I don't switch and I tell them I rather have him safer. If he needed to ride with someone else then I would consider letting them use a booster for convenience.
Don't worry you are not the only one. At least you have a legitimate reason, people think I am nuts doing it by choice.
M.

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My 5 is only 31.5 lbs and 41 inches tall, and she will be in a 5 pt harness as long as she'll fit. We're in the Evenflo Triumph right now, and will move to the Graco Nautilus when the time comes, so that we can keep her in the 5 pt. Her brother (3) is 35.5 lbs and 39.5 inches, and we'll put him in the same seat when he moves up. I think my daughter will probably learn to drive in a booster at the rate she's growing. :) LOL

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Those weight and height recommendations are useful guidelines -- especially as they often correspond to age levels that are appropriate for a transition to a booster seat (i.e. can sit still properly in the seat and not try to wiggle out of the seat belt, etc. etc). But they are not the Absolute Final Word on when you can/can't transition your child from one seat to another.

In my case, my son - who was 37lbs and 37+ inches tall on his 2nd birthday, just HATED his 5pt harness and would scream and protest to high heaven everytime we tried to get in the car. I finally said screw it - we're getting a booster seat. He LOVES it. He loves to climb in his "big boy seat" and help me buckle the seat belt. He sits there patiently and doesn't ever try to squirm out. The seat belt falls across his lap and shoulder in the appropriate places. Now at two-and-a-half he is 39lbs and probably nearing 39 inches. I've never regretted having him in it. In fact, we were in a car accident in early May (another car ran a red light and broadsided my car on the driver's side front fender - we were very lucky). My son was well-protected and didn't suffer even a scratch. (I, on the other hand, suffered some whiplash and minor head injury hitting my head against the window on impact).

The ONLY problem with a booster seat is when the child falls asleep, their head lolls to the side - even WITH the back rest attached. That's my only complaint.

I would say if your daughter likes to sit in a booster seat and feels comfortable in it, just get her one and use it. See how the seatbelt hits her when she is sitting in it, but more than likely, it will lay across her lap and shoulder just fine, as it's supposed to. Good luck!

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My son is 4 1/2 and weighs 39lbs. His seat harnesses to 65lbs, so he'll be in it quite a bit longer. Your kid is NOT the only one!!!

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Our 5 year old daughter is in a 5 point harness that WILL hold her till she is 80 pounds! She is about the same size as your daughter right now! We purchased a Britax Regent for the sole purpose of being able to keep her safer in a 5 point for that long.

We have now just ordered our 3 year old son the Britax Frontier 85 that goes up to 85 pounds as a 5 point harness and THEN turns into a booster!

In MN kids need to be in a car seat till they are 8 YEARS OLD NOW! I say SAFETY FIRST! Keep her in the 5 point harness!

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My 5.5 year old is in a 5-point harness. He likes it better than the booster seat we had. He's about mid 40lbs. He buckles and unbuckles himself, plus I don't mind helping him as long as he says something before I get in the car. (I'm 32 weeks pregnant and it bugs me to sit down and then someone immediately asks for something) He's safer and it makes me happy. Take it as it goes and see what happens.

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My daughter will be 5 next month and will be in kindergarten this fall. She is in a 5 pt Britax Boulevard and will stay there for as long as possible. She does not balk at her seat, she doesn't know any different- she's been in that seat since she was one, it's just where she sits in the car. She also buckles herself in the harness. She is on the smaller side in size, but my 1 yr old son is average size for his age, is also in a Britax Boulevard and I know will still be in it when he goes to kindergarten. 5 pt is way safer than a booster.

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My oldest is 8yrs old and just moved to a high back booster seat at Christmas at 7.5yrs old, 55lbs and 53" tall. He was in the Britax Regent. My almost 5yr old is now in the Regent and will remain there for at least another year or more.

Remember a forward facin car seat is outgrown when one of three things happens; the child goes over the weight limit, the ears become level with the seat back, or the shoulders go over the top harness slot. As long as she's within these limits, she's perfectly, and more, safe than she would be in a booster.

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Your daughter is MUCH safer in a 5 point harness! I would never have my 4 year old in a booster, whether she is big enough or not! There are plenty of parents out there paying a premium for seats so they can keep their 5-6 year olds in a 5 point harness - be happy you can use the same seat and keep her more safe!

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My son went through all of Kindergarten and half of 1st grade in a 5pt. harness. He was 6.5 when we transitioned to a booster seat with the seat belt. And we only did that because his 5pt. harness straps were getting old and twisted which I didn't think was very safe and I couldn't justify the cost of a new 5pt. seat at his age and size.

This is a personal issue between you and your daughter. If you feel safer for her to be in a 5 pt harness then no harm can be done. But have a feeling when she is getting a bit older she is going to fit you to be in a booster seat, also remember that the older they get the more independent they are. While I would recommend they stay in the 5pt as long as possible make sure she also knows how to use a booster or regular seat belt in cases when she may not have her regular car seat available. Do what you feel is right. Remember when she does start going to school there are field trips in vehicles that don't have boosters or car seats so learning all the options is a good advantage.

Both of mine were in boosters by age 4.
I can't imagine having to buckle my kids into a carseat at age 5. I'm curious why she won't be going to kindergarten this year if she's already 5. Here kindergarten starts if they are 5 by September 1st of that year.
I don't think I've ever seen a 5 yr old in a 5pt harness.
At 5 I feel like they should be in a booster, and be able to buckle themselves with the regular seat belt. My 8.5 yr old is still in a booster and likely will be for a while , the law is they have to be at least 4 ft 9 in tall before they can be out of a booster.

Keep her in it as long as possible...this video says it all. http://www.kyledavidmiller.org/

No kids are going to tease her about that- they won't even know. I would say if she's small, it won't hurt a think to keep her in it. That's your call- whatever your gut tells you to do. My son was in a booster by 3- but he was in the 99 % for height so it fit him

I just switched my daughter who will be 6 in a few months to a Britax Parkway highback booster. I hear what you are saying, I know of kids younger than mine who have been in boosters for awhile now but my personal comfort level was to wait a little longer to transition her.

My tall and big, going to kindergarten next year, 5.5 year old is in te britax frontier, which will keep her harnessed to 85 lbs! She sometimes wants to use the seatbelt, I just remind her that this is safest and that I would wear a harness if they had one my size! She's 55lbs, 48" tall btw. Keep it up, it's best for her! If there's a question why it's best, google kyledavidmiller.

My daughter is 4 years old and weighs 31 pounds! Her carseat (5 pt harness) goes up to 40 pounds, so I'm keeping her in it until she's outgrown it. I'm pretty sure she'll still be using it when she goes to kindergarten---and probably even first grade!

I say whatever works best for you, your daughter and you car. No one is going to notice. I am curious because at 39" it sounds like she is getting to the point where she is too tall. I seem to remember the rule was to change seats once the top of their ears were in line with the seat. Anyway my daughter never spent much time in the booster with the back attached - she hated the back and it directed the seatbelt in a weird place on her body. Middle seat with a booster works great at 48".