Moving from Carseat to Booster

The BARE MINIMUM is 4yrs AND 40lbs. He's not even close. :)

A forward facing car seat is outgrown when one of three things happens; the shoulders go over the top usable harness slot, the tips of the ears become level with the seat back, or the child goes over the weight limit. IF even one of these things happens the child has outgrown the seat nad it must be replaced.

Graco Nautilus is $150 and will harness ot 65lbs and then booster to 100. Most kids can use the harness to age 7.

He's much too young mama, don't make the switch. Keep him harnessed for at least antoher couple years.

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When he actually outgrows his carseat.

There's no reason to move him if he can still ride safely in the carseat. My son is 5 weighs 42lbs and is still in a harnessed seat (he has a Nautilus which goes to 65lbs). We DO have a booster I leave at his school in case I need someone else to pick him up last minute, but 95% of the time, he's in the Nautilus.

HTH
T.

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I think it varies from state to state. Here is Texas your child must be 40lbs AND 4 years old. A quick google search should help you find the info for your state.

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In CA it's 4yrs and 40 lbs (not "or") but I would keep him in a car seat longer if you can. Check your carseat's weight limits, most of them are higher than 40 lbs these days so you'll most likely be able to keep him in it rather than switching to a booster so early.

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They make seats that allow you to harness until 65 lbs so my 3 year old will be in a booster when he no longer fits in his nautilus harness we will convert it.

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last time i checked, booster requirements are 40 lbs and 4 years old...so no, I would not move him! Those requirements are just a minimum - my son is 5.5 yrs, 43 lbs, 44 inches, and is still happy to be in his 5 point harness.

I recommend you keep him in a seat as long as possible for safety reasons. My daughter has a Britax, it goes up to 100 pounds.
check out this website.
http://pediatrics.about.com/od/carseats/a/08_car_seat_hub...
I went to a local store that had car seats & they fitted them there. Then I went online & bought it cheaper.

He should stay in a 5 point harness as long as possible. You don't say what kind of carseat you use, but if it allows him to be in a five point harness until 50 pounds, then keep using it until 50 pounds. If it says 35 pounds, start looking for a carseat that will keep him 5pt until he's older. Some carseats also adapt from 5 pt. highback carseat to 5pt no-back booster.

I know is Washington it is at age 4. I doesn't matter how much the child weighs.

He is not ready for a booster seat! My 5 yo daughter is 40+ and she's still in the type of seat that has a harness. My 50+ 7 yo just moved into a high backed booster seat. It's not worth their safety just to make things easier on yourself. And besides, if you are in an accident and it's discovered you're not using the right type of seat you can be held criminally negligent. My community has 4 nationally licensed carseat technicians and I'm blessed to know all of them. You would be amazed at just how much we as moms DON'T KNOW about carseats. Not only are there guidelines about choosing the right seat for your child but for your vehicle as well. The technician's big books on guidelines are several inches thick and it's small print. Like I said, it's just not worth your child's safety. Do some research on your own and also see if there are any technician's in your area. Make an appointment with them and they'll tell you you everything you need to know.

you've probably already had a lot of great suggestions. Pediatricians highly recommend that you keep kids in 5 point restraints until they can no longer fit. At this point they are moved to strictly a booster chair which they should stay in until an adult seat belt will fit them properly, this is usually when a child reaches about 4' 9" in height and is between 8 and 12 years of age. We recently bought the Graco Nautilus 3 in 1 car seat and we really love it. We especially like that she can stay in a 5 point restraint until 65 lbs and lasts as a backless booster until 100lbs. good luck to you.

I know every other mom on this site disagrees but I moved every one of my grandkids, regardless of size to a booster at 3 because that is what is allowed here. I was really tired of fastening seat belts every time I got in or out of the car.

I agree...he's too young. Wait at least another year. It's worth it for HIS safety.

Don't take anyone's advice on this issue, read it for yourself. Only you can decide what you think is best. Please visit www.nhtsa.gov for the laws and regulations.

If I remember correctly they need to be 4 years old to move to a booster (with a back), but please check it out for yourself.

Updated

Don't take anyone's advice on this issue, read it for yourself. Only you can decide what you think is best. Please visit www.nhtsa.gov for the laws and regulations.

If I remember correctly they need to be 4 years old to move to a booster (with a back), but please check it out for yourself.

I moved my son to a high back booster just over a year ago when he was 3.5 the harness was just way to tight on him and was very hard to get him into. graco does make a high back booster that has a hole part in the side to lower the shoulder strap to fit properly.