MOOKS: When did you/will you ditch the booster? (S/O)

[h]

This came up in the car seat/air travel thread. I feel like I have a good handle on carseat rules and recs for younger kids, but I am kind of at a loss about how long to use a booster.

My oldest turned 8 in August. He is a pretty big kid--about 95% for height and 80% for weight (55 inches and 69 lbs.). He still rides in a backless booster, but he complains about it and insists that he is the only kid in his class that still uses one, despite being one of the tallest. When other kids in his class carpool with us, I give them boosters (we always have extra bubblebums), and they all insist that they never use boosters. Last weekend I carpooled a kid who tried to tell me he didn't need a seatbelt because his parents never make him wear one!

Am I being crazy mom to make my 8 yo ride in a booster? Did you quit using one at 8? Do the seatbelt test (and if so, how old and tall were they when they "passed")? Something else?

[frlcb]

My 7.5 year old son is still in a 5 pt harness so we will move him to a booster soon, but definitely by his 8th birthday - BUT that is not because we are crazy car seat people, it is because he is short, like in the 7% for height (he is around 46") and only 43 or so lbs. He won't be tall enough for a long time, sadly. If he was I would stop at 8.

[anna7602]

We plan to ditch it at age 8, per state law. Based on DD's height percentiles so far (consistently above 90th percentile), I think she's on track to be around the recommended height by then, too. As it is, we already go without for most cab rides, but this is more a function of not having any way to get the booster back home later (to school in the am on inclement days, for example).

[Deleted]

My 9 year old is still in a backless booster and will be until she's 4'9". She's still like 4-5 inches shy of that. So I expect she will be in a booster for a good year or 2.

She has some friends who are no longer in boosters and in talking to their moms it would seem that they don't actually know what the recommendations are, they are always surprised when I tell them 4'9". Some of her friends are much much taller than her so I suspect that there are some over 4'9" already. I know the pediatrician stopped asking us about car seat use when she was probably 7, or maybe earlier.

[ECB]

Yeah, our state law is "8 or 80" so DS has another good year to go. Then we'll consider it. He's tall, though, and may be fine.

Have you researched your state law on this? If there is one?

In the end, though, I would just stick with "my car/ my rules" for your DS AND his friends.

[schrodinger]

SDs are both still in boosters at 11 and almost 9. Neither pass the 5 step test and both are small for their age (SD1 is 2% for height and less for weight).

[savan]

My 8 1/2 year old is still in a backless booster. I won't ditch it until it is safe for him to ride without. Right now he is still too short for the belt to lay correctly without it. I don't anticipate him being tall enough for at least another year.

[frlcb]

Oct 13, 2015 10:13:01 GMT -5 ECB said:

Yeah, our state law is "8 or 80" so DS has another good year to go. Then we'll consider it. He's tall, though, and may be fine.

Have you researched your state law on this? If there is one?

In the end, though, I would just stick with "my car/ my rules" for your DS AND his friends.

Wow, you must have some super tall kids in your state

[krisim]

I'm curious to see what others plan to do. My six year old is still in a 5 point harness so we haven't made it to the booster seat stage yet.

[glitzy07]

My SS is 9 and I believe he stopped using the booster sometime between 8 and 9 years old. Our state law is 8yo or 4'9" tall. He was both of those things at that point, but he's also a pretty tall kid.

[darnkatz]

My seven year old is still in a booster, and I can't see her being out of it in a year. My nephew just got out of a booster a year ago, and he turned 11 in August. It really depends on when she passes the 5-step test and meets height requirements - I believe they are supposed to be 4'9.



We have the Bubblebum booster for carpool situations. It's inflatable and can easily be put into her backpack.

[jeaniebueller]

The rules I get when it comes to younger kids, but even with that five point test, I still feel so confused.

[monsterz]

Until 8 years old or 4'9" per state law. My guess is he will be 8 before he is 4'9".

[Deleted]

My DS1 meets the requirements in our state he's 8. However; even being big for his age he doesn't pass the 5 step test. It's the shoulder strap that is to close to his neck. So for the time being he's in a backless booster. He doesn't complain, I can't speak for the other kids with carpooling since I can't tell you the last time I drove a friend of his in my car.

DH gives me a harder time then DS1 does about the booster seat. But I just look at my husband and I'm like even at 5 3 myself I could probably use a booster seat since the seatbelt is annoying as hell for me.

[pinkdutchtulips]

I think in CA it's either 9 yo or 4'9" whichever comes first ... at the rate DD is growing she'll hit 4'9" LONG before she turns 9.

[penguingrrl]

I moved my oldest out of the booster in my 3rd row when the seatbelt fit better without the booster than with it (it was pushing the lap belt so low the belt wasn't touching her hips at all).In my middle row she is nowhere near 5 stepping so she uses a booster there still (and a high back for trips late at night because she sleeps better in it).

For carpooling I follow state law, which is 8. Many of the 6 and 7 year olds I have driven gave me a hard time since "my mom said I don't need that anymore." I just say that in my car they need it.

[pooh8402]

In my state, it's 8 years old and 4'9", so then.

[hocus2]

I feel like my kids will be in boosters for a long time. Right now we're still in a 5 pt harness for both kids unless we're carpooling. I plan on converting my older kids seat to a high-back booster when she's 6 in December.

[formerlyak]

Oct 13, 2015 11:06:41 GMT -5 pinkdutchtulips said:

I think in CA it's either 9 yo or 4'9" whichever comes first ... at the rate DD is growing she'll hit 4'9" LONG before she turns 9.

CA is 8. It was a BIG thing last year when DS and all his friends turned 8.

To answer the question, I ditched the booster on DS' 8th birthday. Most of his friends were already 8 and were already out of their boosters. I kept one of the no back boosters in my trunk for the few friends whose parents still preferred they use one. But they are all either 9 now or are about to turn 9 and I don't think any are still in boosters.

[formerlyak]

I should also say this is the first time I've seen that 5 point test, but my 9 year old would pass and he is only 50th percentile for height. He's 4'4" or 4'5" and about 78 lbs. I think you can only use height as a guide, because it will also depend on how your car seats are shaped, where your belt is positioned (according to this, I don't pass the 5 point test in the driver's seat of my car because of where the shoulder belt hits me) and kid proportions.

[CloudBee]

I love Volvo's booster feature. I wish all back seats had those.

[penguingrrl]

Oct 13, 2015 12:52:59 GMT -5 @fivedogs said:

Oct 13, 2015 11:40:39 GMT -5 formerlyak said:

I should also say this is the first time I've seen that 5 point test, but my 9 year old would pass and he is only 50th percentile for height. He's 4'4" or 4'5" and about 78 lbs. I think you can only use height as a guide, because it will also depend on how your car seats are shaped, where your belt is positioned (according to this, I don't pass the 5 point test in the driver's seat of my car because of where the shoulder belt hits me) and kid proportions.

It's not just (torso) height.  The 5-step test includes the feet on the floor/back against the vehicle seat/knees bending at the edge of the seat because kids who can't do that will slouch down and the seatbelt will no longer be in the right position (lap belt will go up to their abdomen and shoulder belt will be in front of their face/above their head.  As pp said, the fit can vary between cars.  I have no idea what your 9yo looks like or what his proportions are, but for the majority of kids, they don't fit correctly until they are around 4'9".  However, the 5-step test is designed to account for differences in car/kid proportions so that a 4'8" who fits all the criteria can be differentiated from the 4'9 kid whose feet don't touch the floor in that particular vehicle.

As always, a CPST can give in-person guidance for all passenger restraint questions.  

And these principles don't apply to adults because of differences in skeletal structure.  

csftl.org/booster-seat-myths/


Myth #8: I’m a short adult, I must need a booster still



FALSE! Short adults still have adult bones. This means your iliac crest has formed and will do a better job at keeping your lap belt down on your pelvis, even if you aren’t the average 5’4″ adult woman. It’s important to always wear your seat belt properly, tight and low on the lap and across the shoulder; not behind your back or under your arm. Even though Admin Laurel meets the height and weight limits of the Diono Cambria, she doesn’t need to use it!

The different spots in different cars thing is amazing lol! My daughter fits better without a booster in a few spots, but at a bit under 5'1" I just barely 5-step in the captain's chair in my Sienna. I honestly think at 4'9" my kids won't pass there and they'll have to use a booster in that spot still (much to their chagrin, I already have an 8 year old who won't sit in that seat if we're local for fear of being called a baby.

[frlcb]

Oct 13, 2015 10:45:30 GMT -5 minniemouse said:

Oct 13, 2015 10:13:01 GMT -5 ECB said:

Yeah, our state law is "8 or 80" so DS has another good year to go. Then we'll consider it. He's tall, though, and may be fine.

Have you researched your state law on this? If there is one?

In the end, though, I would just stick with "my car/ my rules" for your DS AND his friends.

At first I read this as 80 inches. Then i realized, wait! I'm only 62 inches. Haha.

Wait, I read it as 80 inches too. Is it not?

[h]

Oct 13, 2015 10:13:01 GMT -5 ECB said:

Yeah, our state law is "8 or 80" so DS has another good year to go. Then we'll consider it. He's tall, though, and may be fine.

Have you researched your state law on this? If there is one?

In the end, though, I would just stick with "my car/ my rules" for your DS AND his friends.

My state law is 8 yo or 4'9". My oldest and most of his friends are over 8 yo, so they are legal without boosters. I still make my kid and other kids his age who ride in my car use boosters for safety reasons, though. I am just trying to figure out how much longer I should keep that up.

As to my own kid, I think I will wait until he is 4'9" (which will likely happen around 9 yo if he stays around 95% for height) and then do the seatbelt test. That is less than a year away anyway.

I am amazed that there are many 4'9" 8 yo. DS1 is the tallest kid in his class, and he is not quite there at 8. That's a tall kid!

[frlcb]

Oct 13, 2015 13:04:12 GMT -5 minniemouse said:

Oct 13, 2015 13:03:23 GMT -5 frlcb said:

Wait, I read it as 80 inches too. Is it not?

80 inches is like 6'6. lol. I think they mean 80 lbs.
edit- 6'8 inch. My math was off.

Aha, that makes more sense. I just thought it was a mistype because 80" is like almost no one. 

[penguingrrl]

Oct 13, 2015 13:01:50 GMT -5 @fivedogs said:

Oct 13, 2015 12:59:26 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

The different spots in different cars thing is amazing lol! My daughter fits better without a booster in a few spots, but at a bit under 5'1" I just barely 5-step in the captain's chair in my Sienna. I honestly think at 4'9" my kids won't pass there and they'll have to use a booster in that spot still (much to their chagrin, I already have an 8 year old who won't sit in that seat if we're local for fear of being called a baby.

I can totally see this happening in the captain's chairs in DH's vehicle.  They feel huge to me.  

That makes sense. The fit in my captain's chairs is identical to the front seat in my Sienna, and I also barely fit right in those. Cars are definitely made for people larger than myself. I suspect that even my huge kids won't 5-step in that seat before 10-11.

[ECB]

Oct 13, 2015 13:03:23 GMT -5 frlcb said:

Oct 13, 2015 10:45:30 GMT -5 minniemouse said:

Wait, I read it as 80 inches too. Is it not?

Sorry.  Wasn't clear.  As others cleared up - it's 8 years old or 80 lbs.  Everyone who I've ever talked to about it just says "It's 8 or 80".  Maryland speak...

[roxysoxy]

The law in my state is 8 years old or 80 pounds. My 8 year old is still in a backless booster and will be until the seatbelt fits her properly without the booster. She is 4'6" now and she definitely needs to grow some before the seatbelt fits her. My daughter hates that she's still in a booster and often complains about how babyish it is. Only one of her friends is still in a booster. 

[rootbeerfloat]

DS is 8.75, but 52-53 lbs. State law is 8 or 80 lbs.

He rides in a highback booster in my car and a backless booster in H's car. (DD does the same.) When we travel, we take backless boosters for both of them.

If we are transporting a third person in the back seat, he rides without a booster since he technically can. Or if he is riding with friends, he just uses the seatbelt.

I don't know when he will be completely booster-free.