Booster Seats - Belmar,NJ

Somewhere i've heard "4 years and 40 lbs" for a booster seat, and 8 years and 80 lbs until they can go without a booster at all. BUT, they are safest staying in a harness as long as your seat allows. My older daughter was VERY tall, so I was only able to keep her harnessed until close to her 4th birthday. My younger daughter is smaller, so i think she'll be harnessed until she's 5.

the booster seats sometimes say a kid can use them at 30lbs, but it's safest if you keep them harnessed.

Hello M.- I double checked a website I use quite often for child care safety seat safety rules, Acts Oregon. The recommendation is 40 pounds. If your child is 40 pounds they can be moved to a booster, if they are less I suggest you wait.

Additionally, check to see where the carseat straps land on your child's shoulders, they should always be above the shoulders. If they are not, the could break the collar bone. If your son is less than 40 pounds, but the carseat straps are short, look at purchasing a booster seat with a full back & straps. Often these straps start higher up than those of typical carseats, so they can work for tall children who may not reach the weight requirements.

Good luck. A link to Acts Oregon is below

http://www.actsoregon.org/boosterSeats.html

R. Magby

Height is also a factor. My daughter outgrew her toddler seat at 3 long before she was 40 lbs because she was tall. If your childs ears reach the top of the toddler seat then it will no longer proctect her in a crash. Get a booster with a back that can adjust height wise. You can also get booster seat with the 5 point harness if you prefer that convert to a regular booster. Safety is not just about weight, HEIGHT is equally important in car safety.

The bare minimum for a booster seat is 4yrs AND 40lbs. Your child needs to be big enough for the shoulder belt to lay across the top of the shoulder and middle of the chest, for the lap belt to lay low on the hips (and NOT across the abdomen), for the knees to bend at the edge of the booster seat. The child has to be mature enough to sit upright the entire trip, not fall asleep and slump over, not put the shoulder belt behind their back, and not bend over, lean, or reach for things. Its best to use a dedicated high back booster seat, instead of using the booster portion of a 3-in-1 seat like the Alpha Omega. The Alpha Omega and similar all failed miserably in every crash test because they are too wide and the belt path places the lap belt across the abdomen.

Children under 4 and 40lbs are 75% more likely to suffer head and abdominal injuries in even a minor crash, and to submarine under the lap portion of the belt.

A harnessed car seat is outgrown forward facing when one of three things happens; the child goes over the forward facing weight limit, the ears become level with the seat back, or the shoulders go over the top harness slot.

A high back booster seat is optimal for a child under the age of 6. It provides side impact protection, belt guides for the shoulder belt, and its more secure for younger kids.

If your child is under 4yrs old and is outgrowing his/her harnessed car seat, there are so many options out on the market right now that will keep a child in the harnessed until a more appropriate age.

Evenflo Generations65 ($99) will harness to 65lbs, and then becomes a high back booster. this is a great seat, and it make a pretty good booster seat.

Graco Nautilus ($150) will harness to 65lbs and then booster to 100lbs. It also becomes a no back booster if necessary. It looks like a high back booster seat, and this seat is a GREAT seat for the money. Most kids can use the harness until they are 6/7yrs old. I really recommend it.

There ar ea couple more, but these are the two that make great harnessed seats for older kids and then become good booster seats for big kids.

It depends on the seat and the style of booster , some have a 5 point internal harness and are suitable from 20lb , to use with the car seat belt the child needs to be at least 40lb and a certain height although I am not sure now tall. You would need to check the description on the seat packaging.

call your local police station and ask. For each state it can be different. In NY they even just changed the law saying all kids to age 8 must be in a car seat/ booster seat. I am not positive but I believe the child must be 4 years old AND 40 lbs to be in a booster seat and not a full car seat! It's best to "get it from the horses mouth". If they are writing the tickets they better know the law!!!! A.

i believe it may vary by state but our state law is in a car seat until 4 years, 40 pounds and 40 inches. Have to have all 3. Well both my girls were over 40 lbs and inches before they were 4 so they got to switch on their birthday. My friend (poor girl) has a tiny little skinny (barely weighs 35 pounds soaking wet) girl who will be 7 in June who is way over the 40inches thing but can't seem to gain enough weight to hit 40 pounds. Up until she started 1st grade she as still crawling into that carseat. It was difficult for her to go in. it was one with the tray like part that pulls down over her head. She had to squat down onto the floorboards then wiggle her head and shoulders under the tray and finally scoot her bottom into the seat to get into the thing. It was funny to watch but poor girl. She was way too tall for it but couldn't (still hasn't) gained the weight. Her mom finally moved her to a booster seat anyway. The booster seat law is 4 foot 9 and 8 years old. I think if you are over 8 but not 4'9" you are safe... I hope so, my son is 11 and is still not 4 foot 9.