What age did you switch to booster seat?

ddembinska · March 2014

My toddler is about to be 4 years old. I live in Virginia, and I don't see any specific requirements for age or weight. He's about 45 lbs, and pretty tall. Good size kid. His seat converts to a booster. (he has a nautilus 3in1 seat.) What age did you switch?

mysticl · March 2014

Are you on Facebook? There is a great group there called Car Seats for the Littles and they can help you determine when it's the right time for your child to switch to a booster. If you aren't on Facebook you can check out their blog carseatsforthelittles.org or thecarseatlady.com

Personally, I most likely will not be switching till my son outgrows his convertible and it front faces to 65 pounds.

JENandJEH · March 2014

My oldest has been in a booster for 2 weeks and he will be 6 in 2 weeks. The bare minimum is 4 years and 40 lbs but it has more to do with maturity once they hit the bare minimum. Is the child mature enough to sit properly in their seat 100% of the time without leaning over for a toy, pulling on/playing with the belt, turning their body around in the seat to look for a noise or look at things out of the window, not fall forward when they fall asleep, etc.

Like PP said, check out the group Car Seats for the Littles and look at their documents. I kept DS1 harnessed WAY longer than many of his friends because I wanted to make sure he was ready to be in charge of his own safety in the car vs. me being the one in charge/responsible for his safety in the car. I know at 4 he was no where near ready to sit with just the seatbelt so we waited and reevaluated when he was starting to show more maturity. We started by booster training for very short trips to the store and constantly reminded him of the rules before we left the house. If he broke a rule, he knew he would be put back into his harnessed seat ASAP.

Spin313 · March 2014

I think many states have moved to the 4 years and 40 pounds guideline. That's how old DS was when we moved to a Britax Frontier (5pt harness).

sunnyday016 · March 2014

We booster trained her for short rides in DH's car and grandparents car around 4.5. BUT she is a very mature kid and does sit properly for the whole ride. She is still harnessed in our main vehicle, and will be as long as possible (she's in the Nautilus).

yeah. · March 2014

Mine is 5, and big enough but she's still in a harness. It's safer.

sugarbear0524 · March 2014

Don't rely on your state's minimums. In many cases, they fall short of what the safety experts recommend. Check out a web site like safekids.org and check the height/weight limits on your car seat. Don't rush to the next seat.

ncbelle · March 2014

My 5 year old is still in a 5 point harness. Unless your child is going to sit properly 100% of the time (and I don't know any 4 year olds who will!) a 5 point harness is MUCH safer.

sunnyday016 · March 2014

yeah. said:

Mine is 5, and big enough but she's still in a harness. It's safer.

The 5 point harness is no safer than the seat belt for kids that sit properly 100% of the time. But that's the kicker. Most kids won't sit properly until they are 5-6 years old, some don't achieve that maturity until 7 or later.

alake · March 2014

I booster train around five, but don't make the full time switch until seven. (I have small kids)
My six year old is barely 40 pounds. She rear faced until 4 months ago (at her request)
I use boosters from five on while traveling. Done a booster for 2 trips to Europe for my six year old and back and fourth to Canada.

Angela814 · March 2014

DD1 switched to a HBB at 5 years. DD2 will be 4 years in July and is still rfing. We'll switch her ffing when she hits 40 lbs (she's 38.2 now), and I anticipate moving her to a HBB around 5-6 years.

Astrabacus · March 2014

In Sweden, you keep a child under 4 in a rear facing seat, sometimes up until they are 6, because that is actually the safest thing to do, then they have a high backed booster until they are 10.