I know he's tall/heavy enough, but would you use a backless booster for a child this size (he'll be 6 in March)? Currently he's in a large booster that LATCHes in and had a 5 point harness. With baby #4 on the way, I really need my second row seat to fold forward for access to the rear 2 seats. With the current seat installed, I can't fold the seat forward. I know, bad reason to skimp on safety, but I see lots of my friends with lighter/shorter kids in backless boosters. Maybe I'm just too protective... Thanks.
In a few weeks, I will have 4 kids - two in the middle seats and 2 in the back seats - my car only seats 6. So I have to have the removeable booster seat in the middle row at the door so I can easily move it to fold the seat forward for access to the back. So the infant and 6 year old will be in the middle/door row and the 2 and 4 year old in the back. I will look into the boosters with back, though that will still somewhat prohibit the seat from folding forward. But as long as it's not clipped into the seat via LATCH, it will be OK. Thanks!
It isn't possible to be too protective of a child's life when it comes to car safety-now if you had them wearing a mask in public in July-that's a bit extreme. What ever it take s to buy and use the safest seat-do it.
A.:
CONGRATS!!! We soooo wanted for kids!!! God blessed us with two. Sometimes - I think they are 4!!!!
You are not skimping on safety. He's 62lbs and tall - now what matters is HOW the seat belt hits him. Under VA law - restraints are required to age 8. http://www.vahealth.org/Injury/safetyseat/laws.htm
If he sits in a backless booster and the seat belt does NOT cut into his neck but flows across his chest - then he is safe. If it does not - then you need to maintain the back-booster.
Go to a local inspection site and get legally correct knowledgeable information for the sake of all of your children!
www.seatcheck.org
we have a graco nautilus for my 3 1/2 yr old and plan to leave him in the harness to the max weight which I'm sure will be at least until 6. My oldest is 9 and did use a backless booster until last year and he is very tall he technicall does not need a booster by law but the seat belt does not fit him right without it and until this past year he would not keep the belt where it needed to be unless he was in the high back booster. What about something like a graco turbo booster where you have to option to use it backless later or put your older two that are 6 and 4 should be able to buckle/unbuckle by themselves you shouldn't have to climb back there to help them if you still have your 4 yr old in a harness she may require some minimal assistance from her big brother and I'd put the two younger ones in the second row but that's just me.
At almost 6 he can ride in a booster seat. But make it a high back booster. His body is still immature, and a high back provides side impact protection and also belt guides. Its best to move to a high back not only for support, but to train him to ride properly in the belt only.
He's about 10lbs heavier and 4" shorter than my 5.5yr old who is in a Britax Regent full time. He rides in a booster if I need more people in my van and he needs to move back to the third row. He does just fine in it, and your son will too. But please stick with a high back booster as a no back just isn't appropriate.
I agree with TJ. I plan to keep my son in a 5 point harness for as long as I can. It is the safest measure.
Yes.
My child will be 6 in March - 47" height and 45 lbs weight. We still use the 5 point harness, but we only have one child so no space issues. He had not met the weight requirements when we moved from the convertible car seat so we invested in two seats - Britax Frontier and Graco Nautilus 3 in 1. We have a backless booster for when we travel.
I think he's definitely fine with a backless booster seat...but it may vary depending on your state's laws. My daughter is 7 and doesn't weigh nearly as much as your son and she's been using a backless booster for over a year.
We only used the Latch, 5 point harness seats until age 4. Then boosters with a back until they met the height and weight limits to go without.
I'd still buy one WITH the back, as we use our backs on long car rides/road trips so the kids have added head and neck support for napping.
I hope that helps
Definitely he can be in a backless booster.
Not sure what the laws are in VA, but in MD he's 6" away from not needing a booster at all. My guy was in a backless booster by that height (but about 8 lbs. lighter!) and is now sitting in the car seat. The main determiner is how the seatbelt fits your child. See how the belt falls across your child's shoulder and chest without the seat back, and if it fits properly, you're good to go!
My daughter is the same height and weight and I plan to keep her in her britax frontier 5 point for the full 85 lbs! It is the safest, which is what really matters. Can you put him in the back row then, so you can put baby in the middle and not have to reach to the back?
Backless boosters work just fine for a child your size. By making your car work better you're also making sure that your baby and son are safe. Safety doesn't have to be difficult. Do what works.
