Toddler in Booster Seat....

I recently moved my daughter to a booster seat (she is nearly 3) because she kept undoing her straps and getting her arms out of her car seat which was really unsafe. She meets the weight requirement for most booster seats but I found a small booster seat with a high back that fits her tiny frame better than the ones that cover children up to 100 lbs. So I don't think it's the age or even the height. If you are really concerned maybe you can do some research and find a booster seat that will fit a tiny person and maybe suggest for safety that they should use that one. She may already be aware of how the seat belt is but doesn't know there are other boosters that she can use. Just tell her you are concerned that her seat is too big for her and suggest another seat.

the law states until 40 lbs or 4 years of age...that sounds like a very hard situation, but for the safety of the child...you know you have to say something, especially with a historically unsafe driver! Good luck

You could go to the latest child safety laws for washington and print it off, then show them what you found. It also tells the fees and penalties for breaking that law. I am with you, why don't parents care more about their children and seatbelt them properly, it's just common sense.

You have every right to be concerned not only is she breaking the law but moving to a booster seat too early can result in death or severe organ damage in an accident.
Check out these links:

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPBSEQ4xbTw&mode=relat...=

Help her make a change before it's too late.

J.

You right to be concerned. I have attached two links for you to look at. I have a one year old who I still have rear facing as this is proven safer and my almost three year will not be going anywhere near a booster seat for a long time (at least until he has outgrown the largest car seat on the market). I think car seats are something no takes seriously until it too late.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=y2LFo8vVi04
http://www.freewebs.com/sacredjourneys/carseatsboosters.htm

Has some good information about when to switch seats.

Hope this information helps and maybe you could just tell your friend about what you read online and fingers crossed she will just switch. it's tough though as booster seats are so cheap when car seats are not!

All it takes is ONCE. If you dont say anything and something happens to that little girl, it WILL haunt you for the rest of your life. Offer to get her a carseat if the parents cant afford a different one. You can also go to any fire station and they can check the car seat to ensure that the child is safe. All fire stations and I think most hospitals do this too.

Trust me, talk to your friend.
Good luck!

Of course you're not over-worrying about this. And you already know that. I'd suggest that you contact the Washington State Patrol ###-###-####) and schedule a car seat safety inspection for yourself and your friend. When I lived in Spokane the trooper who did those inspections was Trooper Tina Wallman but I don't know if it's still her. This might be a really good way of getting the information to your friend without making her angry. Washington law has JUST changed about booster seats (The slogan is "up to 4'9, boost 'em every time.) so I'm sure the WSP are getting a lot of calls about this type of thing.

The trooper who does the inspection can give you and your friend some great information about safety belts. They're also great about explaining how to properly install car seats, etc. Trooper Wallman even gave us advice on really good brands of car seats. They can also tell you guys how much the traffic tickets are for violations!

(When I was going to college, I worked in a hospital emergency room and saw way too many needless injuries and deaths because of a lack of safety belts - so PLEASE stick with this!)

You REALLY need to say something, your concern is not with the parents, it is with the child. She needs to be at least 40 pounds to be in a booster. Most cars are equipped with seatbelt adjusters so that you can lower the seatbelt, and where it hits the passenger. It should be squarely on her shoulders.
please talk to the parents, you may regret it if you don't. By the way, i applaude you staying home with your child. i do the same, and everyday, i notice the difference between my son and children who are in daycare. Enjoy!

well i know the booster seat we have for our oldest says "30-100" pounds...but we havent put her in it yet beacause she only weighs 24 or so. (grandparents bought it early so we'd have it when we needed it). so maybe your friend is going by the weight requiremtents for the booster (and maybe the child weighs too much for her old carseat?) and doesnt realize that shes doing anything wrong. i do think that the flopping when falling asleep is normal, since she wouldnt have much control over her body then. even my daughters head kinda rolls around in her carseat when shes sleeping. if you feel you are overworrying..next time you babysit, take the child and the booster seat to a local fire department where they do carseat checks. maybe they can tell you if its ok or not and then you can take that info to your friend

Oregon state law:

Oregon state law requires that all children must ride in a federally approved car seat until they are at least 4 years old and weigh at least 40 pounds. Oregon law further requires that children use a booster seat until they are at least 6 years old and weigh at least 60 pounds. The booster seat law does not apply to vehicles that only have lap belts in the rear seat, as booster seats must be used with lap-shoulder belts only. Oregon strongly recommends that children under age 12 ride in the back seat. All Oregon passengers and drivers are required to wear a seat belt.

A booster seat is still a car seat in most cases. I think the real problem is that the seat is being used wrong. It might be outdated if there is no way to alleviate the seat belt strap being so high on her head. It should fit securely over her chest and lap. In fact, is it the old booster seat type with no back? If so, then yes, it is not being used properly.

I know a lot of people have strong feelings on this, but the law is the law and is out there as a blanket statement that fits the needs of almost all children. Most car seats can convert to a booster seat. As such, the child is not in a seat that is JUST under their fanny, it is the full-back seat as well. I think this kind of seat is the one that most women that have answered here are referring to.

My son is 3.5, almost 3.5ft tall and is 40 lbs. He is tall and has busted out of the straps limits of the car seat. I am not going to crush his future children for the next 6 months when it is clearly safer for him to sit with the lap belt.We have it now so that he has the lap belt over him according to the specs listed on the seat. He is the tallest in his class and is off the charts as far as percentiles go. To sit in a regular seat w/o an infant seat or booster seat is the bottom line here (no pun intended...).

Ladies, we as mothers are to make the most intelligent decisions based on the needs of our children. I know that is what we are all doing here. None of us are being reckless, but we do need to be informed as well.

The parents of this child do sound a bit negligent in not wearing their own safety belts. I can't fathom not wearing one anymore. Yet think back to when we were kids..geez. We were riding around in the backs of pick-ups and never used to wear seat belts. We have come a long way! :o)

she probably wouldn't be so defensive if you make it about you and your car. say that in your car, the seatbelt looks like it will strangle her if you have to stop quick and you are worried about getting a ticket because technically you're breaking the law by having her in that seat. would she mind if you used your extra carseat or borrow one while you're in charge of her child?

or if you can come up with a chair to give her and mention 'oh hey, i have this extra chair, would you like it?'

beyond that, you may just have to say that while you really love watching her daughter, you're sorry but you can't drive her around in the booster because you just couldn't live with yourself if something happened to her under your care.

i am of the same mindset as you. i got a carseat that's going to last until 60 pounds. both my girls are skinny so i know they're going to fit in it for a long time and hate it but they will be safe.

good luck with this sensitive issue

I put my son in his booster seat at age 3 because he was too tall for his other car seat and our pediatrician said it was time for a booster seat. According to the law, I did this a year early and he was only 36 pounds but my son is very tall for his age. I do agree though, booster seats don't seem as safe as a carseat. If the seat belt isn't across the child's chest area, they aren't tall enough for the booster seat. There are car seat installation that can help install the booster and show your friend correct seatbelt positioning. They will also let you know if they think the child is too small for a booster seat.

I'm sorry but there is nothing safe about putting a 3 year old in a booster seat. My daughter wasnt in one until she was like 6. It tells you in the instructions not to put anyone under like 45 or 50 pounds in the booster seat, thier just not big enough for it. As for a nice way of putting it, I dont know that there is a nice way of putting it. It just needs to be explained to her that putting her daughter in a booster seat at this age is unsafe, and if she gets into another accident she could loose her daughter. I know that sounds harsh, but she needs a wake up call before something does happen, and then she has to live the rest of her life with that guilt. Just explain you're not trying to step on toes, however you're concerned for her daughters saftey in a booster seat. Tell her that until she gets a little bigger she should really be in a car seat. I unfortanatly cant really think of a way with out sounding critical, but just trying to be friendly about it and try not to sound like your critisizing her. I wish you luck in your endeavor and hope for succsess.

I think there is an age requirement on the booster seats too. I think it's at least 4 years, maybe you could call your pediatricians office and ask if you are concerned.

You can check with any law enforcement agency but I do believe there are height and weight requirements before children go from a car seat to a booster seat.

For booster seats that have only a bottom there is a strap to alter the angle of the seat belt. This must be used if the seat belt crosses the child's neck. This strap is not attached to the seat and can be easily lost.

In an accident at even slower speeds the child is forced forward and if the shoulder harness is not correctly placed their neck can be broken. Same goes for adult use of shoulder harnesses. They are called shoulder harnesses because they are to cross over the shoulder. In high speed accidents even adults get broken collar bones but that's better than flying thru the window.

I like the suggestion that you have a seat belt and booster inspection. You should do this even if the mother doesn't want to be involved. While the child is in your car you are liable. You will get the ticket for not using it appropriately. But much worse is the emotional toll and liability if she is injured.

Hi...my son is 2 1/2 and we just moved him to a booster seat, because he outgrew his carseat. HOWEVER, I love him enough that I put out the extra money to get the type of booster seat that still has the 5 point harness system and latch on it as well. It also reclines, just like the carseat. I would perhaps suggest to your friend that she get something like that, and that you are concerned for her child's well-being. Maybe she doesn't know that one like that is available? It's a thought. I know that I would be very outspoken to a friend who did that. I was very distressed when I realized that my son could no longer go in his toddler carseat...mainly because of his height...so I was pleased when I realized there was the option for booster seat like the one we got. Good luck!

I had to put my daughter in a booster seat when she was 3. The carseats were way too small for her. She is now 4, weighs 53 pounds and is 3'5''. Ours has a back on it that has a height adjustment. There is a little loop where the seatbelt goes through and you can adjust it to where it positions from the shoulder across the chest area. Ours has worked great. My daughter was always at the top of the percentile for her age. If you feel it is unsafe, tell her mom. As a friend, you have a right to worry about their safety :)

MASAH IS RIGHT! Go to the firestation or your local police department!!!!! They will test for free and give you good recommendations!
But ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS use a 5 point harness belt system for all ages. Take care

The requirements are 4 years AND 40 lbs. You should worry =( She is breaking the law....
http://babyproducts.about.com/od/statecarseatlaws/qt/wash...

Wow, that is DEFINATELY not safe. I would just say that someone said something to you while you had her in it so you looked it up on the internet to see if they were right. Maybe then it will seem like neither of you guys knew, ya know? I would make sure to say something before something happens to the little one and the parents are left griefstricken for the rest of their lives. Dramatic, maybe...but nothings too safe when it comes to the safety of a child!

Good luck my dear!
~J.

I agree with those who say that it is the height to be concerned about, but of course if the child is in the weight range for a particular seat too. It is my understanding that the age range placed on these seats are more guidelines for those who don't know the actual height/weight of the child. My youngest is short, but at a higher weight than my oldest. She won't be moved to a bigger car seat until she can fit right in the straps. But for my oldest (2 1/2), we recently put her in a toddler booster with a seat back attached even though she isn't quite yet 3 yrs. She just qualifies for the weight but is extra tall for her age and definitely fits the height requirements by the seat manufacturer. We also use the shoulder strap guide that is located in the back of the seat behind the headrest (not on the actual seat itself, but attaches by a cord at the bottom and brings the shoulder strap tight to the bottom of the hole that threads the strap to the front of the seat. As for the sleeping-head bobbing problem, we have that too. I've seen this product in a magazine called the Toddler Coddler. Here's a link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BUQNUU/ref=pd_cp_ba_...
This or something similar might be worth a try, but the reviews on Amazon aren't very positive. I think the question is if the child is leaning forward with the seat belt, or if the seat belt is keeping them upright and staying in place, whether the head is bobbing or not.

Hi my daughter has been in a booster seat since she was 2 1/2. I think it is very important that they meet the height and weight requirement. I will agree that they aren't very comfortable to sleep in but of course as they get older they don't sleep as much in the car. I think that it's also important that the booster has a back to it. I don't know know how tall she is but it sounds like she is ok in the weight limit. Hope this helps you

At 35 pounds she is still safer in a carseat. Most booster seats say 40lbs. Some seats come with a little clip that helps keep the belt from riding up on the neck and ear and positioned properly over the shoulder so maybe ask them if their seat came with one of those because right now you are just worried that if anyone was to stop fast that it looks like it will strangle her. My daughter was 3 when she went into a booster seat, but she was over 40lbs so she could no longer safely use a regular carseat. I used to keep a huge blanket in my back seat so if she fall asleep it would push against her and keep her sitting up but she could still lay her head on it. Its hard at that age! I don't think your wrong to worry. Is it their first kid? I think some parents just want to move so fast and let their kids just move on to the next level and just don't realize the consequences. I have a 2 1/2 year old son now too and honestly can't imagine putting him in a booster seat anytime soon and hope to keep him in his carseat at least for another year just because he is crazy and I don't want to worry about him venturing around the car while I am driving. I think even though 31/2-4 is not too much older mentality wise it is and they understand better not to do that. Good luck!