At What Age Does a Child Go from Car Seat to Booster Seat in the Car?

Please please please go to YouTube and search "5 point carseat" and watch the first video posted by KCMillerfamily it is VERY informative. Please do not make any decisions or buy a booster seat before you watch this video.

There is a great website called www.carseatlady.com (or it might be www.thecarseatlady.com). It gives you all info about car seats and transitions. I think the child needs to be at least 40 pounds. Five point harness is always safest, so better to use that as long as you can.

I believe the legal minimum is 4 years AND 40 lbs. HOWEVER, it's recommended to leave them in a 5 point harnessing seat until they outgrow the height or weight limits (for us, that will be 49 inches or 70 lbs). I will harness until at least 6-7, personally. I will also be rear facing until the baby hits 40 lbs or 49 inches (the limits for rear facing in my seat) or 4 years old, whichever comes first. A young child is 75% less likely to die if rear facing because their necks are still immature.

The AAP also recommends using a booster until 8-12 years, and at least until the child is 4'9".

The BARE MINIMUM for a booster seat is 4yrs AND 40lbs, however a child is safer in a harnessed car seat as long as possible.

A forward facing harnessed car seat is outgrown when one of three things happens; the child goes over the weight limit, the tops of the ears become level with the seat back top, or the shoulders go over the top harness slot. If even one of these things happens, the child has outgrown the seat and needs to be moved to a new age/size appropriate seat, be that a high back booster for the over 4 crowd or a higher harness weight car seat for the under 4 crowd.

When fitting a booster, make sure your child is over age 4 and over 40lbs. Make sure the lap belt sits low on the childs hips. If its up on the childs belly, in a crash your child would likely suffer internal injuries, called seatbelt syndrome. Basically if the lap belt is up on the belly there is nothing stopping the belt from cutting your child in half until it hits the spine. The lap belt should sit down on the hip bones, which is why kids shouldn't be in a booster until over age 4.... babies and young childrens hip bones are rounded and the belt cannot stay in place properly in a crash. Hips don't square off like an adults until around age 8/9. Which is why kids need a booster beyond that age.

ANYWAY, if your kid is under 4 and under 40lbs, buy a higher harness weight seat like the Graco Nautilus until he's old enough, big enough, and mature enough for a booster seat. If you choose a booster for your over 4yr old, make sure the lap belt fits low on the hips. If it doesn't, buy a higher harness weight seat until the lap belt can fit properly.

In my state it's age 4 AND 40 lbs. My 5 year old is still in his regular car seat because it still fits him. Look at the upper limits of height and weight for your 5-point harness seat and as long as your child is over age 4 and under those limits, continue to use the seat because it's safer. If you child outgrows her seat before she turns 4, buy another seat that has a 5-point harness and converts to a high-back booster - if she is younger than 4, do not put her in a booster just because she hits 40 lbs. It's not just about size, it's about maturity and development of the spine and neck. If your child is over 4 and outgrows her seat, then switch to a booster.

It's near age 4 but the weight and height are the determiner and each seat is slightly different. My son was small, so he was 6 before he went to the booster when he was younger (he's 13 now).

I bought a Radian with my new LO that will take us to 85 pounds.

there is not a specific age. there are requirements for height and weight on the boosters that you must follow. i would also want to make sure they were old enough to not unbuckle themselves while you are driving.

Depends on the seat they are using now, and it goes mostly by height/weight. Different seats accommodate varying heights/weights, and if your child has exceeded the limit on their current seat, time to get a booster (assuming you are not referring to an infant carrier when you say car seat)

Most places post the specs with the seats. I believe a booster seat requires the child to be 30 or 35 lbs. Our girls were closer to 3 1/2-4 yrs old before they were able to fit in them. You can call the State Police and ask them. They don't mind when you do that.

Current safest recommendations are staying in the 5 point restraint as long as possible. There are now car seats that go up to 65 lbs.

There is NO age guideline from one style of car seat to the next... it's whatever is appropriate for height and weight which varies wildly.

Most of the responses (but not all) are talking about switching from a carseat (of any type; infant, convertable, high backed booster, no back booster, 5 point, shoulderstrap, etc.) to NOTHING. Which isn't (if I'm reading correctly) is what you asked. What you asked appears to be when one switches *styles* of carseats? Yes?

Looking up NJ law... a child must be in a carseat or booster until age 8 or 80lbs. There is NOTHING in the law that states what age and style. Very purposely. Some 2 year olds are 40+ lbs and 3.5 feet tall... other 2 yo's are 20lbs and 2.5 feet tall. Young children grow at VASTLY different rates both in weight and height. NOTHING is safest for all, just safest for most. If you have a petit child, or a large child... the same rules do not apply as for an average child.

One changes styles of carseats when a child has outgrown them
- over the weight limit
- head over the back of the seat
- shoulders above the highest slot holes (at ALL... getting in an accident can cause the spine to snap if they're over the highest holes)

I've always been told the minimum is 4 and 40 lbs but harnessing longer is safer. My 4 yr old is harnessed in a graco nautilus and will be for at least another year if not longer.

When they have completely out grown the 5 point harness on their car seat.

I would not booster before age 6. But I don't plan to booster until 8.
And keep them boostered to 10 to 12, when they actually fit a regular belt.

usually they have to be 4'9" tall to sit in a booster seat so that the seatbelt is properly aligned.

Each state has their own laws also. My state(WA) just changed its laws to where a child has to be rear facing until the age of two and has to be in a booster until like 59 inches or 40 lbs or something like that.u can always google state carseat requirements for ur state. Other then that I agree with the other moms that it goes by height and weight for the seats.

Check with your state DMV, but most states require that a child is in a car seat until 4 years and 40 pounds and a booster seat until some age after. NYS is until 8 years old while other states are 6 or 7.