Booster Seat - Clarksville,TN

Hi Kelly,
My youngest daughter is also 9, she only weighs 57 pounds, and is in the 40-50% for height for her age group. Although she doesn't like to ride in the booster seat I still make her. I used to be an auto claims adjuster and have handled many auto accidents and decided that her safety was more important than her want to be out of a booster seat.
I hope this helps!

Hey K.,look at RECARO youth seats, they look like race car seats, big kids love them,that's what parents say who bought them(we're not there yet).Personally ,my kids will be in one till they can drive:)

If the law says 9 and 4'9" its the law sweetie! Even on short trips without the booster you will be breaking the law and the tickets are pretty hefty. Plus if you got into an accident and he got hurt or worse, you would feel horrible if you did not enforce the law in your own vehicle!

I have a son that is turning 9 in May , but is only 4'2", and well under 80 lbs. I explained to him that in case of accidents the booster seat help protect him from damage to his stomach. I also explained it was my job to keep him safe and the booster seat served that purpose.That explaination ended the whinning at our house (for now LOL).

I know this is a bit late for what you were asking - but both my boys had a problem being comfortable in their booster seats by age 7.5 or 8. I wanted them to stay in them as long as possible, and the laws in SC and NC (we've lived in both) say they have to be at least 8 yrs old OR weigh 80 lbs, but our issue was finding a comfortable one. They had the high-back most cushiony things I could find, but they hurt the backs of their legs below their knees. So i switched to just a seat booster, tried two different kinds, and they had the same problem. For a while I tried rolling a towel to prop their legs on, but that always lost its shape... Finally after talking to our ped., he said if they can sit straight up, the shoulder belt fits correctly across chest, AND their legs can bend at the knee, they can sit properly enough for a regular belt. With my older son, that was right then - he was tall enough (or rather his legs were tall enough!). When my second one reached that age, his little legs were having the same problem, but he was too short for a while, so we kept doing the rolled up towel thing. He just had to put up with it for a while until his legs grew longer.

My daughter (almost 9) LOVED hers, but finally outgrew it. She is one of those that won't be 80 lbs until age 12! I think the boys did feel like "babies" and just want to be big enough, but I wouldn't do it unless they can sit safely. Sometimes I "threaten" to pull ours back out for my dtr, b/c she will lay down across the seat, or slouch too much and the belt goes right across her tummy.

So watch your son for signs that he is tall enough, and if he becomes uncomfortable in the seat, try towels/blankets or seatbelt adjusters. He will understand that you are only concerned about him being safe. I read an article once about car seat safety, concerning people that take their babies out briefly, or put kids on their laps for short trips (yes, there are some idiots who still do that!), but it said to think every time you get in the car that THIS IS going to be the trip that you are in an accident, and how would you and your family want to be strapped in if you knew another car was going to run into you?! Pretty much straightens out your feelings!

My best to you!
A.

My child will ride in a booster until he absolutley can not anymore and that means even purchasing one that goes to 100lbs. The longer they can be in the booster the safer they are. Please at least wait till your child meets the bare requirements...and I do mean the minimum. I wouldnt do it for short or long trips but fo every single time he gets in the car. Remember statistically most accidents happen within one mile of home. Here is one that will go to 100 lbs http://www.elitecarseats.com/Britax-Parkway.pro

I'm assuming you live in NC. I found this information at buckleupnc.org
I can't find any reference to height. See below

Restraint Required:
» A properly used child restraint device (CRD) is required if the child is less than 8 years old AND weighs less than 80 pounds. Most parents and other care givers will be able to comply by using belt-positioning booster seats for children between 40 and 80 pounds. The child must be within the weight range for the child restraint/booster seat and it must meet Federal standards in effect at time of manufacture.

» Children may be secured in a properly fitted seat belt at age 8 (regardless of weight) OR at 80 pounds (regardless of age) - whichever comes first. Placing the shoulder belt under a child’s (or adult’s) arm or behind the back is both dangerous and illegal.

» If no seating position equipped with a lap and shoulder belt to properly secure a belt positioning booster seat is available, a child who weighs at least 40 pounds may be restrained by a properly fitted lap belt only. WARNING: Belt-positioning booster seats can only be used with lap and shoulder combination safety belts. Belt-positioning booster seats must NEVER be used with just a lap belt.

The main concern would be the fact that you could get a ticket if your state law actually states he should be in the seat until he's 4'9". Find out what the state laws are and follow them, he's old enough to understand obeying the law, and won't blame you for it. Perhaps you could find another seat that seems less "babyish" if that's the issue. Most towns have great second hand stores where you can find one cheap.

While I would recommend still using a booster seat, my understanding of the law is that once he reaches age 9 no matter his height, he must be restrained by a *safety belt* but not necessarily a booster.

Maybe this link will help you. http://209.85.207.104/search?q=cache:gep0MVLfnLoJ:www.inf...

If you would like, I could ask my father who is a police officer in the state of Tennessee. Just message me.

My pediatrician recommended that I follow height rather than weight. It is where the seat belt hits the shoulder that matters. My children are all skinny (my 10 year old just hit 60 pounds) and in our area the requirement is 8 years old and 80 pounds - she will be 13 before she weighs that much. She is tall though so I told her that once she is 4'9" she can ride without a booster.

Hope that helps.

K.

K.,
I am so glad you posted this. My son is 8y/o measuring 4'6" and weighing 66lbs. He just had his physical last week and I asked the ped this exact question when she asked about a booster seat. I was given conflicting information and told once he reaches 4'9" he could be out of it. Nothing was ever mentioned about his age or him needing to be 9 and we were in TN for the appt. Without being in the booster, the shoulder belt rests on his shoulder where it should be but I've always been one for leaving them in their seats for as long as possible.

I looked it up online at buckleupnc.org and the state law is 80 or 80 lbs but there was a tab that stated legal vs. recommended and that's where I found the 4"9 information. Here is what it stated. Hope this helps.

Children should not be switched to a safety belt until the child is big enough for a correct fit of the belt and is mature enough to sit reasonably still. This may not be until the child is 80 pounds or more and about 4' 9" or taller. When wearing a lap and shoulder belt, it is important that both the lap and shoulder belts be worn and positioned correctly. Never tuck the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the back. Lap belts alone should be used if nothing else is available.

I always thought the rule was 9 years OR 4 feet 9 inches tall. That never made sense to me. You werre right though, it is 9 years AND 4 feet 9 inches tall. The height requirement is so that the seat belt fits properly to protect your child. I think you should continue to use the booster even on short trips. It is the law. Also, most accidents occur on those "short" trips rather than the long ones. If his booster has a back, you may consider getting him one of the backless ones so it doesn't sem so much like a baby seat. Good luck!

9 year old still have to ride in booster seats? UGH. I didn't realize... wow. Are you sure the law doesn't say 4'9 OR 9 years old? I know when a kid turns 1 it is 1 year old AND 20lbs, but it may be either or when they get that big. However, if it's not, keep him in the booster. I have a cousin who was in a car accident when she was 4 and b/c she was only wearing the lapbelt (this was 25 years ago) her insides were ripped to shreds and she has terrible scars on her stomach. It's not worth chancing his safety.

sometimes the weight can factor in. i think they have to be like 50 pounds or so. so if he is short and thick, he can get out of it! LOL! Poor kids!
My son is short himself, so I can't wait to see how long it takes to get him out of a seat!
I would check on the weight thing. I think its a matter of whether or not they will stay in the seat belt if you were in an accident.

Hi K.!

We had this problem, too. It was extremely sensitive because he 7 yr old sister was the same size as he was and obviously would meet the requirement before he did. We let our son ride without the booster for a few days after his birthday and he actually missed it. It was harder to see out of the window and he missed the cup holder that was on his seat. We got a booster seat that didn't have a back, just the bottom and it had two cup holders - one for a drink and one for snacks. No one can tell he's in a booster seat from the outside of the car and he really liked that. Before long, he grew enough not to need it. This may also be a fact of his younger siblings being in seats and him being "too big" for one. You may try to tell him that he's being a good example for his younger brothers/sisters. Good luck!