Carpools and carseats -- WWYD?

mamarazzi

I'm taking my neighbor's kid and one of the kids she watches for daycare to preschool 3x a week.  I just found out that my neighbor puts both of them in backless boosters...and they're not even three yet.

I couldn't find anything on our state's website regarding laws governing proper carseat usage.  The only thing it said was that "childcare providers must transport children in appropriate harnessing devices."  However, I thought the standard for backless boosters was 4yrs and 40lbs.

I'm not terribly comfortable using those seats for kids under the limit in general, but I'm wondering if I need to make sure the mom of the daycare charge approves of the seat.  If my neighbor provides it for her child, then I guess so be it, but I don't want to be liable for her daycare child.

WDYT?

jettagurl

Well, I couldn't transport anyone else due to the lack of room in my car.  But as a parent, my child would not ride without the appropriate restraint, nor would I transport a child not in the appropriate restraint.  So if the child is under 3, they would be in a FF harness in my car.  If I couldn't provide that, I wouldn't be doing the transport/carpool.   

 

Ciarrai

Do you know what types of boosters they're using?  Most backless boosters appear to be certified for children over 4 and over 40lbs.  If they aren't that, they aren't meeting the requirements of the seat.  Even the high-backed boosters are made for children 30lbs and larger and I believe most of them say 3 years old.

As to the law, it really depends on the state what type of carseat is allowed for what ages.  But IMHO, it's your car so your rules.  You're not comfortable transporting them in anything less than a 5 pt harness.  They provide that or they don't ride in your car.

*Lu-Lu*

Ciarrai:

Do you know what types of boosters they're using?  Most backless boosters appear to be certified for children over 4 and over 40lbs.  If they aren't that, they aren't meeting the requirements of the seat.  Even the high-backed boosters are made for children 30lbs and larger and I believe most of them say 3 years old.

As to the law, it really depends on the state what type of carseat is allowed for what ages.  But IMHO, it's your car so your rules.  You're not comfortable transporting them in anything less than a 5 pt harness.  They provide that or they don't ride in your car.

It's your car and you're responsible for the children you transport in it. I would not be comfortable allowing those children to ride in my car without being in a 5 pt harness. 

 

libra31

I would not allow a child to be in a booster in my car prior to 4yrs and 40lb.  I would find out the law in your state and the weight/age limits for the specific booster that you are using. 

DandelionMom

I don't agree to carpools until the kids are old enough/big enough for a booster. 

AnnapolisLari

No way would I transport a young child in a booster. I frankly wouldn't transport someone else's kid. I would be afraid of the liability-- we live in such a litigious society.

penguingrrl

Your car your rules.  I would not be okay with a child that young being in a booster, so I would be clear on that.  I'd be okay with the carpool provided all parents are in agreement on it, but I would not let a child under 4 in my car in a booster seat.

Angela814

I think I would talk to the parents. You mentioned before that they know you will be driving their children. I'd hope they'd want to know what kind of carseat you'd be using. Maybe they have an extra or can leave their current carseat at daycare for you to use.

UGAbride

I'm not on that often, and I remember you posting a while back about this...so is the daycare provider watching your son on Fridays (or whatever you needed from her??).  I hope so, since it sounds like you are helping her out.  I think you wanted to cut back on preschool days? 

Anyway, to answer your question, no way would I transport kids that young in a booster.  I would keep looking for "official" guidelines on what age/weight for boosters and let them know that if the kids don't meet that, then you can't take them without a 5 point carseat.