Changing to a Booster Seat

Just to correct the poster - the law is over 40lbs and 4 or over (a child who is 3 and 10 mo is considered 3) for a non-harnessed booster seat. Most states require three levels of car seats: 1. Rear facing car seat for all children under 1 or under 20 lbs
2. Forward facing harnessed car seat for all children over 1 and over 20 lbs but under 4 or under 40 lbs
3. Booster seat if over 4/40 and under age 8 or under 60 lbs.

The last recommendation varies from state to state but is recommended by all of the child safety groups/AAP/etc. The key is, don't fudge. I have two kids of my own, and it is a royal pain. Especially when we are just driving from one store to another, and I have to buckle them both in to go across the street! But I do it, every time, because what if I didn't?

Keep them in a five point harness until you can't. My 3 year old is pretty big, we moved him from his Britax Marathon to a convertible seat (booster with a 5 pt harness) made by Graco. We needed the Britax for his little brother, who outgrew his infant seat. The Graco is not nearly as good as the Britax, he barely fits in it (he's 35 lbs), but he will stay in it until we can afford a better 5 pt harness seat that is rated up to 65 lbs. At 4 I think he will still be too little to be in a seat belt.

PLEASE watch this video and think twice about taking them out of a car seat. IT IS NOT SAFE!!!!! They are your most precious possesion in the world!!!!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=azgBhZfcqaQ

I had to put my daughter in a booster seat when she was 3 b/c she wouldn't sit in a carseat. She kept escaping while driving down the road. Once I put her in the booster seat with the real seatbelt she did fine. She is 6 and still uses one in my moms car b/c she owns a cavalier and my daughter likes to see out the window. Legally, yes.

A child is suppossed to be 3 yrs of age AND over 40 lbs before switching to a booster seat. By law, the child has to be over the age of 3. So, really for both reasons, I would say No, you shouldnt switch them yet. Perhaps you could look for carseats that take up less space. When I switched from a minivan to a small car (due to a divorce) I had to get rid of my sons carseat because it just wouldnt fit. There are smaller seats out there.

for other info on car seats... best website is KidSeat.org.

there has been a LOT of information about booster seats lately.
it is safest to keep toddlers in 5-pt harnesses as long as possible. our children are precious cargo!
even though a child might meet the physical requirements of a booster seat, this does not mean they are mature enough fo one...

choosing the best carseat: http://www.carseatdata.org/best_seat.php?tun=home

S.,

I have cut and pasted the law requirements, since, no offense to anyone else, so many people get this wrong. Many people take what is on the box of the item they buy as the law, while it is just the instructions for the item they purchased. The law reads as follows:

Every operator of a motor vehicle as defined herein, while transporting a child in a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets, or highways of this state, shall, if the child is 5 years of age or younger, provide for protection of the child by properly using a crash-tested, federally approved child restraint device. For children aged through 3 years, such restraint device must be a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer's integrated child seat. For children aged 4 through 5 years, a separate carrier, an integrated child seat, or a seat belt may be used.

So, after July, yes you can put them in a booster seat. The problem I have with my girls is that they slip the shoulder harness over their heads, so watch for that. The second issue is that once they learn to unbuckle, they will and you might not hear them do it. They also have a hard time rebuckling. Just as an FYI.
I completely understand where you are coming from, so hang in there for a few more months.

B.

Hello,

I had my daughter who is 2 1/2 now in a booster seat for 2 months now. When I went shopping for one I looked at the ones that have the high back. Anyhow, if you look at the box it tells you depending on their weight and height if they are ok to sit there. Mine was. They have to be 36 in in height and over 30 pounds, so look at that, may be that will save you some space. If your kids are not at the right height and weight , then look for a smaller carseat. Hope this info helps!

Dear S.,
One must carefully consider the trade off of safety for convenience especially when it comes to our children. The absolute safest place for a child under 85lbs is in a 5-point harness, properly buckled to a seat and tethered to the vehicle.

In fact, leaving your children rear-facing as long as possible is an even safer option. In Western Europe they even leave their children rear facing until they are four or five years old. It's just safer that way, because every time a child is "moved up", they actually move down in terms of safety.

I"m not putting this here to pull on heart-strings, but it sends an important message that all parents should see in my opinion (make sure your sound is on):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azgBhZfcqaQ

Sincerely,
A.

I would call your local lawenforcement agency. Have them tell you what the code says. Call the non-emergency number and ask to speak with an officer. Another suggestion may be to stop by a fire station. I know that they will properly install careseats for people, but I don't know if they are familiar with the code. I would concerned that your children wouldn't be properly protected in booster seats quite yeat. My twins are 3 and 1/2. They are both in the mid 30's for weight, and I really could not imagine not having them in a carseat. Carseats restrain them even when they don't want to be restrained. Hope this helps!

Legally, yes. But it is hard to find a booster seat to fit a child of barely 30 lbs, most have standards where you have to fit both height and weight before using a booster seat. They have safety standards for a reason and know what will work best for the child in those seats. Pretty much every make and model has different standards, it might take some shopping around. I recommend checking online first. Google booster seat safety standards and go from there, and when you find one you like find a store it is sold at.