When Give up the Car Seat

The ads say when your child is four foot nine inches, then you can give up the booster seats. I understand what a pill it is but as I tell my son (6 yrs old and 62 lbs.) ..."Saftey first!!!!"

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There is great information on some of the other posts, regarding the legal requirements. As for me and my family, even if they fit the legal age/height/weight requirements to be without.. I let my eyes be the final judge. If the seatbelt strap does not go over their shoulder like it should (instead of across the edge of their neck!) then they MUST use a booster of some sort.
At 4.5 years, I would put him in a comfy booster. He'll still have easy access to a cup holder that way, plus arm rests. If he does much sleeping in the car, I would opt for one with a back (they are usually removable, but check before you buy). That way he has a little neck support when his head will tilt when he's dozing. Otherwise, the little backless boosters are only about $15 and should do the trick.
Some cars my daughter was required (by me) to use a booster, not in others. Some LOCATIONS in the car the seatbelt would fit differently too. Check where the seatbelt crosses him at the shoulder to be your final gauge.
He's growing up mom!
:)

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Keep him in the car seat as long as you can. It's the safest place for him.

Info from American Association of Pediatrics:

http://www.aap.org/family/Carseatguide.htm

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Hi! I know the laws are different in all states, but it is suggested that you leave them in a car seat until they are 4 feet 9 inches tall. Statistics show that children involved in an accident do not suffer as many injuries if they are in a car seat/booster. Most of the reasoning behind this is that the seat position the child better & the seatbelt is positioned better on them, so they don't get injured. I have always been very strict about car seat use for my kids & any other children that ride in my car. I have a tall-for-her-age 10 year old that still uses a Graco booster (just the bottom, the back is detachable). She has not quite reached the goal height yet & i feel it is MUCH better to safe than sorry!!! Keep them safe, keep them in the seat!!!

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The recommendation is 8yrs and 80 pounds. My 8 year old is still in a booster. But safety is very important to me to I push it as long as I can.

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Really that depends on State Laws, you should be able to look it up online. Here it's 50 pounds and at least 4 years old. My oldest son didn't reach 50 pounds until this year (he's almost 9). So we only waited until he was tall enough that the shoulder strap fit like it's supposed to (he was 6) because where that hits is actually the most important factor in whether or not it works. It would be humiliating for a 9 year old to be in what he sees as a baby seat. My second son reached the appropriate weight at 6. My five year old daughter still sits in a harness but will probably be moving soon because she's tall enough for a regular belt, even though she doesn't weigh 50 pounds either. The weight and age requirements are based on an average, and they insist that you meet both- but not all kids can easily do that. I think where the shoulder strap sits on your body is actually the most important thing. That's the part that locks in place in an accident.

it's really up to you. you can look on the web for FL laws, but the last time I looked, they could legally get out of a carseat when they were either 4 or 40lbs. they recommend you keep your child in a carseat until they are 8yo, 80lbs, or 48" tall (i think that's it)and to also have them in the back until they are 12. my daughter is 4 1/2, but she is only about 32-35lbs, so she is still in a carseat. my nephew is also 4 1/2, but he is probably closer to 50 and he is also still in a carseat. most of the children in my daughters daycare that are her age are also still in a carseat. i would say that probably about 5-10years ago, people would take their kids out of their carseats immediately when they could, but parents are keeping them in longer now as the carseats become better equipped to hold them. but i think that as long as your son is big enough, and you are comfortable with him being in a regular seatbelt (which he really is already) and when you take him out of the carseat, the seatbelt still fits him right, then it shouldn't be an issue. and you should be fine with letting him out of it.

Robin,
I think in Florida they have to be in some kind of restraint until they are 7 or a certain weight. My son is only 15 mos, so I am not there yet.
Check out this website for more guidelines:
http://www.car-seat.org/

Keep him in the car seat as long as possible (height and weight considered) But you can check with the DOT of the Fire Department. They have people who will tell you if the seat is well placed and safe.
After he outgrows the car seat, you'll need a booster so the seat belts to work properly.

Unfortunately it is really not up to us...it is what the state says is most safe for our children. Here is the Florida State 4 steps for kids guidelines.

http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/CPS/4Steps.htm

Hope this helps....

My daughter is 6, around 42 lbs. and I still have her in a booster seat. I think it's the safest thing until they get a bit taller and the seat belt goes across them the same way as it would an adult. Some states want kids in boosters until 12 yrs. or until they're a certain height.

I'm not sure if there are actual laws. I was always told by my son's daycare that you should keep a child in a booster until 100lbs or 10 years old. That is what I am sticking to. I had a friend with an 8 year old. My friend had a real hard time telling her 8 year old (she was very tiny framed) that she had to sit in a booster. I have seen Public ads that insist on keeping 12 year olds or younger in the back seat becasue it's the safest.

HTH, Good Luck!

Hi there my son was out of a car seat at about 3 to 4 years old and then put into a booster seat,he is now 8 yrs old and is no longer in a booster seat either,he could still be if we wanted him to but we feel hes old enough for just the regular seat belt from the car.He weighs 60 lbs,so really its what ever you feel comfortable with, Good Luck.

My son is 7 & is still in a booster seat. I wish I didn't have to worry about it but one thing you have to look at is how the seat belt fits on them. Without the booster, the beslt fits just above my sons chest. In order for them to be pretected properly, the belt must fit across the chest, not above the chest b/c if there were an accident & the seat belt was not laying properly it will isntantly snap the neck. Yes, that is visual, but the truth & that is why I am SO strict about it with my kids. We moved from Washington State & everyone followed the laws & here it seems noone pays attention. None of my kids friends have used boosters here in Florida & in Washington, everyone did. When we got here we wanted to know the laws & here is what the Sheriffs department says about it. This way you know what you should do legally, which in turn is to protect our kids:

Sheriffs Office
Florida law requires children under 5 years of age to be properly restrained no matter where they are seated in the vehicle. Children through age 3 must be secured in a separate carrier (child safety seat) or in a vehicle manufacturer's integrated child safety seat. For children ages 4 - 5, a separate carrier, an integrated child safety seat, or a safety belt may be used. If a safety belt does not fit the child correctly, a booster set should be used to correctly position the lap and shoulder belts once they outgrow forward facing child safety seats (generally at about 40 pounds and 4 years old). Children from approximately 40-80 pounds and under 4'9" in height should ride in a booster seat

My son will be 6 next month. He is still in a booster seat. I believe the recommendation is booster until 80 pounds. It has to do with height & weight. Your local police station or highway patrol can tell you if you need to continue.
C.
WAHM

From what I understand its not an age thing or weight its a height thing, which makes sense when you think about the seat belt straps and it hitting the neck. The height max is 4'9, once they are taller than that you do not need a boster seat anymore. Seems kinda tall, and I have never seen a kid older than 6 in a booster seat, my daughter is only 4 but I plan on keeping her in one until she is that height.

You need to follow the guidelines for the specific seat you are using. When my oldest daughter, who is 9 yrs old now, outgrew her booster seat, I bought her one of those booster seats that she sits on but she can use the shoulder strap with. Her seat is not actually fastened to the back seat like her other booster seat was. Yes, most of them go up to 100 lbs BUT the height is equally important. Usually it is up to 100 lbs or the height restriction, whichever comes first. My 6 year old is still in her car seat but she is still not up to the height that would allow us to use the shoulder strap. Her seat is still tethered to the car. Read your manual for the car seat and if still in doubt, call the manufacturer yourself. I say the car seat is the safest place and I wouldn't stop using it unless they have fully outgrown it.

If he is over 40 lbs he can go in a booster. The one that has no back but you use the seat belt. He needs that until he is 4'9" and 100 lbs by law.

I think it's a State Law that you can look up with FHP, the age/weight that you can buckle up (in the back seat! - it's safest) Good luck

there are laws that govern that usually by size and weight
calland ask a cop

Hi Robin,
I would get rid of the car seat and get him a backless booster seat. Based on the state recommendations in FL, it sounds like he is ready for that. You should use the booster seat until he is 4'9" and 80 lbs (usually around 8-10 years old, I think). My kids got the short genes form DH's side, so I a sure they will be older than that...lol.

a 5-pt harness is the SAFEST
i have my 5.5 yr old in a 5-pt harness! I splurge and pay for BRITAX brand- the way I look at it is that I do not have money for a Volvo (very safe car) so why not put my CHILD in a 'volvo' which I say is a Britax carseat! I also believe in extended rear-facing in a Britax Marathon- my 2.5 yr old is still rear-facing! it's the SAFEST!
and, it's not how safe a driver YOU are- it's all the OTHER crazies out there!!!

please research all you can! keep your precious cargo SAFE!!!
please look at the VIDEOS on this site:
http://www.kyledavidmiller.org/pages/4211/Car_Seat_Safety...