Booster Seats
By sedel1027
@sedel1027 (17846)
Cupertino, California
September 27, 2006 7:45pm CST
after a certian age kids are not required to be placed in car seats, but boosters seats are not mandatory. If you have kids that fall into this age bracket, do you have them in booster seats?
My ex and I fight about this all of the time. He thinks my son, who is 7, is a "big boy" and doesn't need a booster seat, I disagree. Since the law isn't mandatory, he doesn't use a booster seat and there isn't a thing I can do about it.
2 people like this
20 responses
@Sheila_Abram (1908)
• United States
12 Oct 06
What purpose does booster seats after the age of seven? Will it keep them safer? Just asking.
@4monsters4me (2569)
• United States
13 Oct 06
Yes, using a booster will keep a child safer if they are not tall enough to use a car seat belt correctly. The belt should tighten across the hips, not over the belly and should run across the chest and over the shoulder and shouldn't rub on the neck.
I don't think most 7 year olds would be tall enough. It is VERY unsafe to put the shoulder part of the belt behind you. The seatbelt will only work if both the lap and shoulder belt are positioned correctly. Most states in the US now have laws to either 6 years or 8 years; or to 60 or 80lbs but really it is more about the height. Even short adults (under 5') would benifit from some kind of booster and many do use a pillow or something to raise themselves up to a proper height.
@1alyssa (758)
• United States
28 Sep 06
i personally thing seven is too old i would be afraid of the other kids at school seeing him in a car seat because thats what they'll call it and make fun of him i know that you are trying to do what is right but seven is kind of old
@4monsters4me (2569)
• United States
12 Oct 06
That is just silly--safety is much more important then what the other kids will think. If it is that much of a worry there are boosters that are just little seats you sit on. They can not be seen from outside. All they do is raise the child up to the proper height for the car belt to be positioned correctly.
@4monsters4me (2569)
• United States
12 Oct 06
I'd like to add a story for those that don't think a booster is needed after 5 years old. I was once watching a show on the Discovery channel (one of those real ER shows). Well the episode centered around a guy and his son that were in a car accident. The boy was about 8 and legally buckled into the backseat using just the car belt--just like he was "supposed to be". They were in an accident. It wasn't that bad. The dad walked away with minor injuries from hitting the steering wheel.
But his son had his arm ripped off. He slid under the lap belt and his arm caught on the sholder strap part and was ripped right out of the socket. He came into the ER screaming at the top of his lungs because his arm was hanging by just a little skin.
The EMT said that if he had been in a booster seat he would have been uninjured. He was just not tall enough to fit into the belt correctly. I watched that show years ago but the images of that boy screaming over his arm have never left me. My children will be in boosters until I feel they are tall enought to fit into the seat belt and if they don't like it they won't ride in the car.
1 person likes this
@kerryq2705 (8672)
• United States
13 Oct 06
My kids arent old enough for booster seats yet but when they grow out of their car seats i'm going to put them in booster seats. i think its very important and is the safest thing. Even though it isnt mandatory I will still have them in booster seats so they are safe and i know they are safe.
1 person likes this
@blames70 (68)
• United States
13 Oct 06
my 5yo son is 31 pounds and the size of a typical 3yo...he uses a booster seat and will until he 'fits' the seat, as well...reccommendation in our area is 4 years or 40 pounds...to me, that is way before they will 'fit' the seat...and he will use one until his safety isn't a concern...
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
13 Oct 06
Four does seem really young to be out of a booster. Does law enforcement enforce the rules for booster seats where you live?
@lilbabyru (101)
• United States
13 Nov 06
in the state of new jersey you have to be 8 years old...or weigh 80 pounds not to be in a booster seat
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
13 Oct 06
What if you had an 8 year old that was short? You wouldn't even consider using a booster seat? If you buy the actual booster seats, they can't be seen unless you open the car door.
@4monsters4me (2569)
• United States
12 Oct 06
That isn't true. In many states it is a low to have your child in a booster until they are 8 or 80lbs. And it isn't safe for a 4 or 5 year old to use just a car seat belt. In an accident they could slip under the belt of be seriosuly injured from where the belt lays across their belly or chest or neck. It is much safer to use a booster seat. All 4 of my children are in boosters or carseats. My oldest is 6. Her best friend is 7 and still in a booster seat because she is just as small as my daughter.
@Lackingstyle (7509)
•
28 Sep 06
It's now manditory in England to have a booster seat until they're 12 or 4 foot, whichever comes first. My nephews have always been in them, although the law has some impractical aspects which could mean either buying a bigger car since a family of 5 (including parents) could no longer have a 'family trip' a parent would have to stay home, although it contradicts itself by declaring 'short journey's are okay'
The basic concept is a great idea, the law brought in is useless.
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
13 Oct 06
Maybe they will modify the law so that it will be helpful. I would imagine that most families of 5 probably have a minivan (or something comprable) that would accomodate all the seats so hopefully they would always be using a booster. The famil would almost have to have to a large car because even if they had an infant while the other two were older, they wouldn't all fit in the back seat comfortably with a rear facing car seat.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
7 Nov 06
I think booster seat should be used especially if the child is smaller age seven but i also think they should make bigger booster seat because my sister whom is 5 and 80 pounds has a snug fit in one and finds it unconfortable. But i think your wishes that your child be put in a booster seat be concidered. Because it will give you more peace of mind..Maybe he does it to find favor with child? Does your child fight you on the booster seat issue? Or it could be he doesn't like the taking it in and out of hte car maybe if he had one of his own in his car. Well i hope you get your problem solved..God Bless
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
7 Nov 06
I think he is lazy and just doesn't want to put out the money for a boost seat. My son could care less. He likes the booster seat because it allows him to sit higher in the seat and see more things.
@4monsters4me (2569)
• United States
12 Oct 06
I agree with you. He should be in a booster if he isn't the right height. In our state the law is 8 years or 80lbs before they can be out of a booster. My 6 year old is still in a booster with the harness straps because she isn't even 40lbs yet. She will use some sort of booster until she is tall enough to fit into the car belt.
I heard they are trying to change laws and recommendations to not include weight but to use height instead. Last I heard they are saying 4'9" is how tall you need to be to use a car seat belt safely.
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
13 Oct 06
I think that is a great idea to consider height. More kids would be in boosters until an older age. I wish the federal government would make the recommendations so the law would be the same for each state.
@nanette1978 (389)
• United States
7 Nov 06
I put my daughter in one. It uses the cars actual seatbelt though, it lets her sit up a little higher. She has no complaints!
@Helpmeout (230)
• United States
13 Oct 06
I did use booster seats for my children when they were at that age. They are older now (ages 14 to 18)
@Tanya8 (1733)
• Canada
22 Oct 06
I'm sorry that your ex won't support you. Can you work on convincing your child that it's in his best interest?
The arm story was very scary, but another concern is having internal organs crushed in a crash. If a child is not tall enough for the seatbelt to sit across the hips, it could mean the difference between living or dying after an accident.
I know my 7 year old is often pressured by people not to bother with a booster (my parents are the worst offenders), and I've made her understand what could happen. I've taught her that in an emergency, she can wrap up her coat or a towel to raise her hips to the right height.
The fact that my daughter makes such a big deal about booster seat saftey, has driven my parents to finally accept that it's not worth arguing with her. They now use the boosters, if they want to take the kids anywhere.
If you can get your son on-side, it might be a big help.
@4monsters4me (2569)
• United States
24 Oct 06
Good for you daughter for standing her ground and subcoming to the pressures. I hope I can teach my kids that well. My oldest is 6 and so far hasn't said anything about having to be in a carseat (she still uses the 5pt harness in her booster seat). In fact when we get in my younger daughter demands to know if everyone is buckled up and will go on and on until Daddy buckles up to. She always says "Buckle up so we can be safe." like they say on Dora. She will cry if he doesn't buckle up before we get out onto the street.
@krishna183 (2284)
• India
28 Sep 06
i am heraing about booster seats for the very first time in my life .. what are they ?
@MINDY0882 (2302)
• United States
28 Sep 06
most go by there weight and height my youngest is 6 and still in one but my 9 year old isnt in one, I think they go up to like 80 pounds on most seats
@BELMCstar (1341)
• Australia
28 Sep 06
I have a daughter who is 4 and in a proper booster seat for her age.
My other children who were 5 & 7 at the time were in a booster seat for a while.
However, when we got our new car it was high enough off the ground for them to see what was going on.
It depends on the height of the child and the type of car you have.
Maybe your son would like to have a booster seat for comfort. Ask him for his opinion.
@keljad (69)
• Australia
13 Oct 06
Good to see that you left a man that is more worried about big boy stuff than saftey I have two girls and they will be in a booster seat until their feet hit the ground. . No it is not manditory but if you love them you will protect them and do what you think. ask your ex how he will feel carrying his big boy coffin when he goes thru the windscreen.
