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Mommies of older kids...

monicarosegamonicarosega
in 2nd Trimester
When did you start using a booster seat in the car instead of a full-on car seat? My guy is 35 pounds and 39 inches, which is big enough, according to the seat specifications, and he will surely grow a little in the next 4 months before baby gets here.  We are thinking about switching him to the booster when our new LO arrives so that he fits better behind the driver side (He's in the middle now).  Looking at laws for my state, I see that 4 years and 40 pounds is what is suggested, but I can't find anything that says specifically what he needs to be. I know carseats are the safest option up until a certain height/weight but is it OK to switch them to a booster before they officially grow out of the car seat?  When did your LO go into a booster?
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Re: Mommies of older kids...

  • madhatter2003madhatter2003

    My DD is still in a 5 pt harness. She doesn't sit well enough to stay 'in' the regular seat belt without slouching, etc.  Plus she can undo a regular buckle but not her harness one.

    Here the law is 4 anyway, but I'd move him to the side but keep him in his seat for now.....we have the Graco Nautilus behind the driver seat in my civic with no problems and it converts to a booster later.

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  • Lisa FrankLisa Frank member

    The law here is also 4 years for a booster seat.

    I guess I don't see how he's going to fit better behind the driver's side in a booster vs. the car seat. My DS is behind the passenger seat and has been both rear-facing and forward facing in that position in a Britax Boulevard.  He has no issues with his feet or space or any of that. Even if he were behind me, he wouldn't have any issue and I'm a pretty tall person. 

    Personally, I'd keep him in the 5pt. harness for as long as you can.  

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  • ckolak:-)ckolak:-)

    I would keep him in the convertible seat until the baby needs it, honestly. I wouldn't switch him yet.

    ETA: My nephew switched over when he turned 4 or shortly before, but he's pretty tall for his age. 

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  • helm74helm74
    I honestly don't remember on my daughter it was too long ago, I don't think it was even the law she use one then.  With my son we moved him when he was too tall for a 5 point harness.  He wasn't 4 but he's very tall for his age and it just didn't fit anymore.  The law saying 4 years is meant as a general requirement based on the size of the average child and not all will fit into that criteria.
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  • MammaBear81MammaBear81 member
    popping over from the two under two board... We just switched DS1 into a booster seat about a month ago, and he just turned 5 in September.  He is about 45 pounds and 44 inches and could have switched to a booster over a year ago, but I've seen too many of those car crash videos to move my kids up to the next seat until they absolutely have to.  I would have bought a bigger 5pt harness, but I just  can't fit another large carseat in my car :(
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  • shaysmom05shaysmom05 member

    DD outgrew her harness and high back booster by the time she was 3 1/2. We've had her in a regular booster since then. (She was pretty big for her age.) She's now 5 years old. (A little over 4 ft tall and over 55 lbs) She still has a little way to go before she goes without the booster.

    I would keep LO in the harness/ high back booster until height and weight are at least met. Also, you want to make sure they won't try to stand up, unbuckle themself, etc. before switching over. Sometimes it's a trial and error thing. We sat DD in a regular booster (while the vehicle wasn't moving) and made her sit there for a while to see if she would get so bored she would try to get out. She did really well, so we felt ok with trying it out on the road. We've had no issues thus far.

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  • AlirebcoAlirebco

    My niece is going to be 5 in March and is still in her Marathon.  She's very tall and has been wearing 5t and 6t clothes already. 

    It is much safer to keep kids in a 5 point harness.  That is why they make carseats with such high weight limits and height limits these days.  

    And yes, a lot of those youtube videos that bring you to tears have to do with kids being in boosters before it's the right time.  Awful.  

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