Outgrowing the Booster Seat

Updated on November 14, 2011
V.M. asks from Conneaut, OH
10 answers

My son is short for his age het just turned 8 last month. I'm looking online for carseat regulations in my state. It looks like once they hit 8 they don't need to be in a booster so first question, is that really true??? Has anyone kept a kid in a booster past age 8??? I think i probably will until the summer unless he gets some incredible growth spurt, but just wondered if i'm being overly cautious.

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So What Happened?

thanks! safety first, it's hubby that is pushing to be done. too bad, he is staying in it for a whike longer

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J.G.

answers from Cleveland on

Ohio newest is 8 yrs old, 80 # and 4ft 9 in... so if he hasn't hit the mile stones of the law - he still needs to be in the booster seat. My daughter is 7 1/2 and only 53# - so she will most likely be in a booster past her 8th birthday.

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S.F.

answers from Madison on

My daughter recently turned 8. She is 52" tall and 58 lbs. Our pediatrician said it's recommended to stay in one until age 8 and 80 lbs. She's no where near 80 lbs. She has a backless booster seat that she uses. I know most of her friends don't use boosters anymore. I figure we have the seat, she might as well use it.

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C.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

I have a big 6 year old. She is 4'1" and over 60 lbs. I read (but I don't know where) they should be able to sit all the way back against the seat and their knees should bend at the edge of the seat. She does not qualify.

It makes sense that one's legs should not shove into the back rest of the front seat if they were thrown forward with a sudden stop. A booster would allow their knees to bend down.

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K.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

I have also heard 8 years old and 4'9" is when you can put them in the car without any sort of booster seat.

In my opinion, if your son isn't complaining about being in a booster and he isn't 4'9" yet, there is no reason to take him out.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.N.

answers from Cleveland on

I also used the leg bend rule with my daughter. She was out of a booster, but when the law changed I actually got it back out and we used it till she turned 8 and her knees bent at the edge of the seat. legally it's 8 years but the recommendation is different than the law.

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T.J.

answers from Seattle on

The saying I've heard is 8 years old and 4'9". But I'd do it longer if it was safest.

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L.J.

answers from Louisville on

There's something you can use on the seatbelt to help shorter kids not have the seat belt digging into their necks. Look for something like that when you take away his booster. You don't want his neck to get hurt in case you stomp on your brake.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.M.

answers from Houston on

IMO you can never be overly cautious ;p

1 mom found this helpful

R.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

http://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhprograms/hprr/cpsafe/childboos...

Is this what you read? It appears that your son is now officially allowed to use just a seat belt, there's no height requirement along with the age requirement of 8 years.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

He is too old for a booster seat. The seat belt should fit him now, if it doesn't fit across him correctly then I guess you can keep him in it longer but do not expect anyone else to transport him with it. Not only will it humiliate him to his friends but they won't use it most likely. I stopped using ours the day they turned 6. That applied to us at that time and I worry that our boy will go nuts once he is out of his 5 point harness. He was in a booster but kept getting out while I was driving. Now he has out grown it but I cannot afford to go buy one for extended use. I realize a lot of moms go beyond the requirements but I don't. I just do the minimum.

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