Ugh, DS is going to hate me (car seats)

august06mom · March 2012

His friend's mom is going to drive him to karate tomorrow. They're the same age, but apparently she doesn't make him (her son) ride in a booster, even though he's a tiny, tiny kid. She expressed surprise when I told her DS still rides in a booster.

I know DS is going to come home complaining that he looked like a baby in front of friend, and is not going to want to ride in a booster anymore. Blech. Not looking forward to that conversation at all.

shouldbworkin · March 2012

We all have to have the conversation at some point. DS was mad I made him sit in one with a back on it still (he's small too). I just explained that different families have different rules, my job is to keep DS as safe as possible and I have different rules for that than his cousins/friends. After I repeated it a few times, he finally gave up.

Lovemyflightmedic18 · March 2012

Just remember that you are doing what's best for him. My 6 year old just switched to a high back booster a month ago.

RobinSparkles214 · March 2012

My DS has said little comments here and there. Only when he sees other kids from his class getting into a car and not being in a car seat. I just flat out tell him that I'm following the law, and he's the safest in his seat if we were to get in an accident. Being very blunt seems to stop any questioning. Good luck!

mathteacher · March 2012

If it makes you feel any better, my 8 year old still uses a car seat. She is short and it helps the seat belt hit her correctly. To me there is no point in not using a car seat either. She is too young to ride in the front seat (air bag) and her younger sister still uses a car seat, so it isn't like she could sit in a different spot if she didn't have a car seat. I told her if you are going to be sitting in the same place no matter what, why not be as safe as possible? She took the reasoning pretty well.

Chapter79 · March 2012

You aren't the only one
Mine is 6 and actually in a 5 point harness carseat still. She's only 34 pounds, I feel safest with her in there. She's never really mentioned it, although I know a lot of her friends have moved out of their carseats (I can see when they're dropped off at school).. but oh well, right?

I don't even think she notices that most of her friends aren't in one, she just knows it's the rule for her. I'm sure someday she'll notice..

shopgirl78 · March 2012

We have that convo too. DD's BFF who is 7.5 doesn't alway ride in one and then her other BFF is 8. Tx law is age 8 or 4'9.

I just tell her "the law is age 8 and any money that I have to pay to the police officers/judge for tickets/you not riding in one, is money that I cannot use for toys and other fun stuff." She has been cool with that...and its not a lie.

cbidt*sgirl · March 2012

DS will hate you for lots of reasons over time. At least you'll be hated for doing the right thing

My DS1 (same age as yours) still rides in a 5 point harness and it's not going to change any time soon.

peekaboo716 · March 2012

I am actually dreading the day when DS rides with one of his friends and notices their seat is different than his. DS is in a Britax Frontier with the shoulder belt. Most of his friends are in backless boosters.

Arnegard · March 2012

My oldest is almost a year older than your DS and she has riden with friends who are still in a 5 point. She has riden in her friends car, in a 5 point.

Oddly enough it appears that my DD is more rare than her friends being in a booster vs. a 5 point.

mollynpatrick · March 2012

cbidt*sgirl:

DS will hate you for lots of reasons over time. At least you'll be hated for doing the right thing

My DS1 (same age as yours) still rides in a 5 point harness and it's not going to change any time soon.

Ditto this except I think my DS might be a few months younger than yours.

FormerlyAK · March 2012

What state do you live in that a kid under 6 can legally ride in a car not in a booster? I thought we had the least strict laws with 6 years old or 60 pounds, until they changes to 8/80 in January.

When they changed the laws, most of the moms of ds' friends went and got a spare booster to keep in their trunk so they have one on hand if they have to drive another kid somewhere.

I guess I'm just surprised at the other mom's reaction.

Angela814 · March 2012

FormerlyAK:
What state do you live in that a kid under 6 can legally ride in a car not in a booster? I thought we had the least strict laws with 6 years old or 60 pounds, until they changes to 8/80 in January.
When they changed the laws, most of the moms of ds' friends went and got a spare booster to keep in their trunk so they have one on hand if they have to drive another kid somewhere.
I guess I'm just surprised at the other mom's reaction.

I am too. The law here is 8 years or over 4'8" to ride without a booster.

shopgirl78 · March 2012

I know AL is 6 years old. It's my home state and DD's friends no longer use them. I just explained the law difference in each state.

I am pretty sure FL is lower like age 5. DD did ride without a booster in cab @ WDW.

soontobemomma · March 2012

my dd is 5.5, 50 pounds and 48 inches and she's in a 5 point Frontier. She's the biggest in her class, and one of only 2 that are harnessed. Pre-k. Although none of the other kids seem to care/tease her. Guess that will change next year.

4Speedy · March 2012

I drove on a field trip last week and was pretty surprised when one girl walked out without a booster (they all carry their own seats out to the curb). It is a kindy class and she is still only 5. She wasn't at all happy when I pulled out the extra booster I had in the trunk and made her use it in my car. I was surprised the school didn't make her bring a booster for the field trip since our state law is "8 years old AND at LEAST 54 inches.". She is either of those.

The girl said she never uses a booster which really surprised me since her dad is an ER doctor.

august06mom · March 2012

The law in our state is a booster until 8, but I rarely see it followed.

emiliemadison · March 2012

4Speedy:
I drove on a field trip last week and was pretty surprised when one girl walked out without a booster (they all carry their own seats out to the curb). It is a kindy class and she is still only 5. She wasn't at all happy when I pulled out the extra booster I had in the trunk and made her use it in my car. I was surprised the school didn't make her bring a booster for the field trip since our state law is "8 years old AND at LEAST 54 inches.". She is either of those.
The girl said she never uses a booster which really surprised me since her dad is an ER doctor.

Wait, the school lets parents drive other people's kids on field trips?? THAT is shocking to me.

RobinSparkles214 · March 2012

emiliemadison:
4Speedy:

I drove on a field trip last week and was pretty surprised when one girl walked out without a booster (they all carry their own seats out to the curb). It is a kindy class and she is still only 5. She wasn't at all happy when I pulled out the extra booster I had in the trunk and made her use it in my car. I was surprised the school didn't make her bring a booster for the field trip since our state law is "8 years old AND at LEAST 54 inches.". She is either of those.

The girl said she never uses a booster which really surprised me since her dad is an ER doctor.

Wait, the school lets parents drive other people's kids on field trips?? THAT is shocking to me.

My DS's preschool has parents drive for field trips, it makes me very uncomfortable. He has been on exactly one field trip.

EXL311 · March 2012

DS (7) and DD (5.5) are both still in highbacked five point booster seats. DS just recently passed the 40 pound mark. I don't plan on switching him to the regular booster until he passes the limits for the five point. Luckily he hasn't asked much about it or noticed that other kids don't still ride in a seat like him.

Lisa102304 · March 2012

My 6 year old (43 lbs) is still in a 5 pt harness. Not changing that any time soon. She has seen other kids, and asks abt it - I just say what PPs have said.

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