Booster seats, DS's dad moved him into one. Is it safe?

lilmommalcw

I was talking to my DS & he said that his dad got him a "big boy booster seat". If it's a booster seat that you use with the car seatbelt, I think I am having a panic attack. I don't want to get all worked up over nothing before I bring it up to his dad, so I want to get the information correct.

My son is 4, weighs about 36 pounds. He still fits perfectly fine in his carseat, with plenty of room to grow. The only reason I can think of for my sons dad trading him into a booster is because he won't have to move the carseat back and forth between him & his other car, & the booster seat was cheaper to buy.  Even just looking at booster seats they look completely unsecure compared to his big boy carseat. 

 Any links/info backing up my theory that my son is to small for a booster seat? Or am I freaking out over nothing

m_and_m

In a word, NO. It's not safe. The law is the BARE minimum, and has pretty much nothing to do with safety, but he doesn't even fit the 4 years/40 pounds minimum limit (unless you're in FL? apparently they have almost no laws about this sort of thing).

https://thestir.cafemom.com/big_kid/109817/few_booster_seats_are_safe

michigan momma

IMO, I feel that kids shoud be in 5 points as long as possible. My 6 yr old is 42lbs and still is in her 5 point. I would rather be safe then sorry... as parents we have enough guilt about everything else...haha.

penguingrrl

If he's 4 and it's a seat rated to 30 lbs (many high back boosters are rated to 30 lbs and up) then it's probably  technically legal. But, I don't plan on putting DD1 in a booster until she outgrows her seat. She will likely be on the younger side because she's tall and all torso, but I wouldn't be comfortable with someone moving DD to a booster before she outgrows her seat just because it's easier to deal with than a harnessed carseat is.

mabma80

How tall is he?  My son is 4 (5 in Sept.) and 42 lbs. and 43" tall.  We have him in a Graco Nautilus carseat that goes from harness, to high-back booster w/seatbelt, to a small booster seat.  He is currently using it as a high-back booster with the cars seatbelt.  He's perfectly fine.  

I do believe every booster and carseat has requirements written on them that the child has to meet (at least one requirement) in order for them to use it.  I would read it (usually on the side of the seat) and see if he meets some of them. If not, then you'll have to tell his dad that he needs to be put in a different seat.

 

howleyshell

Please share with him this story:

My friend had her almost 5 yr old in a seat belted booster.

He sat behind her.  I sat in the front seat and watched him wiggle down under the seat belt until his butt was on the floor and his neck was where the lap belt went across the seat.

She had ZERO idea he'd done this and judging by how adept he was at making it happen it was not the first time he'd done it.

Had we be in an accident at that moment he likely would have been decapitated.

There's more than weight and height to consider.  Even if he's big enough there's no reason to move him into a booster this soon.

My almost 5 yr old is still in a 5 point and will be for a while.

I know it's difficult to broach these kinds of things with a bio parent when you're not together.  I'd try not to throw a lot of accusations at him but rather see if you can find out his motivation.   I hope you can find a solution without a brawl - even if it means ponying up for another 5 point seat yourself to make sure he's safe.

GL! 

m_and_m

mabma80:

I do believe every booster and carseat has requirements written on them that the child has to meet (at least one requirement) in order for them to use it. 

This in incorrect. They need to meet ALL requirements, and even then it does not mean they are as safe as they can be, or even safe at all.

franciscaz

I wouldn't let my son do it next year but I think in NM it is legal. 

jlw2505

How tall is your DS?  Booster seat safety has way more to do with the height of the child and how mature they are - if they can sit the correct way the entire time they are in the booster seat.  Weight is not as important as height - the shoulder strap has to fit correctly - on the shoulder, not on the neck.  Technically he is old enough but there is way more than age that makes this safe or not.  I hope he is at least using a high back booster seat - without the back - no way is that safe in any way unless you have a really, really, really tall 4 year old.

lmdbww

The AAP rec for boosters and backless boosters w/the seatbelt is at least 4'9" tall and between the ages of 8-12.

 

So no, I would say that's not right.

Halo79RN

lmdbww:

The AAP rec for boosters and backless boosters w/the seatbelt is at least 4'9" tall and between the ages of 8-12.

 

So no, I would say that's not right.

that's that a seatbelt positioning booster is recommended until at least 4'9" and until sometime between the ages of 8 and 12.  

most states who have specific laws on this state either the height (I think in IL they state 4'9" and in NY they state until age 9).  

many state laws state per the seat instruction.  I'd ask about the seat's requirements.  some do start at 30lb.  I'm hesitant now with a 5 y/o who is 36lb.  she'll probably get a booster by Aug.  she's begging for one since all of her friends have them now.  she's definitely tall enough now.  researching now.  

Halo79RN

jlw2505:

How tall is your DS?  Booster seat safety has way more to do with the height of the child and how mature they are - if they can sit the correct way the entire time they are in the booster seat.  Weight is not as important as height - the shoulder strap has to fit correctly - on the shoulder, not on the neck.  Technically he is old enough but there is way more than age that makes this safe or not.  I hope he is at least using a high back booster seat - without the back - no way is that safe in any way unless you have a really, really, really tall 4 year old.

this.  

mbritto4

My DD is 3.5 and 40in/40lb and I wouldn't let my ILs buy just a seat belt booster for when they take DD for a few days next week.  We'll be moving my Britax 5 point booster over to their car. 

shopgirl78

My DD moved to a booster for her afterschool program at 4 & 40 lbs.  I was fine with that she doesn't ride by 2 miles and technically, your not suppose to have "carseats" in buses anyway...it was a short bus--for the afterschool program.  Now in K, she rides the big afterschool bus with no seat.  It's pretty typical around her for 4 year olds to be in a booster.  

I moved DD in my car at 4.5.  She liked her booster on the bus and wanted one for the car (I think she also liked pink), her carseat was gray.  

If your son didn't ride with his father a lot (once a month), I think I would be okay. Most guys prefer those for conveince. 

Most boosters say 30 lbs although I can't find it anywhere else most people on the bump say 40 lbs.  Most importantly, I'd make sure he was mature enough to stay seated in it... 

jillybean222

I think it is 4 years and at least 40 pounds in RI but I haven't really looked into it.  I will keep DD in her Marathon as long as I can even though it will be very time consuming getting 3 kids in and out of the car   I had a smaller SUV and considered moving her to a booster but then sucked it up and bought a huge gas guzzling SUV instead so I could fit 3 carseats across one row.  Safety first!  

WaitingOnTwoPinkLines

SD will be 6 on the 31st. She's still in a 5-point harness & will be until she outgrows it.

The spine is not fully formed & protective until age 6. Until then, children are at-risk of internal decapitation if improperly restrained.

Unless your son is able to sit properly in a booster 100% of the time AND meets the requirements of the seat, it isn't safe. If he does, then it's "safe", though not without risk.

Kyle David Miller died 2 days before my SD was born. He was 3 & in a high-back booster when his parent's van rolled over. He was killed instantly. https://www.kyledavidmiller.org/ 

PhilsWife07

I'd say, no, it's not safe. There's such a thing as booster training. Riding in a booster seat is not the same as riding in a harnessed seat. The child has to be mature enough to sit properly positioned at all times and must be under the supervision of an adult in the car to make sure that's what's happening. It's not an overnight thing for most kids. As your son has not had any training in riding in a belt positioning booster seat, I'd say it's not safe. Also, it sounds as though his father is doing this for his own convenience and not the safety of the child so I'd highly doubt he would make it a priority to make sure your son is riding correctly in the seat at all times.