DS is ready for a high back booster right?

[mrshandy]

So we just got a new car (yay!). Now we have two cars that our own (before we had one car and my H's work truck which he used for commuting). We had been getting by with 3 car seats previously (all convertible). Now I think we need a 4th. Don't want to spend a ton.

DS is 4.5, probably like 42 inches. For some reason it makes me anxious thinking about him riding in one. It seems early, he still fits in his convertible fine, but I imagine maybe in a year and half he won't. Are they less safe?

One of the car seats will expire in February 2016 so I guess we'll have to get another car seat when this happens.

I'm all over the place here. Thanks for listening. Any thoughts?

[mrshandy]

Apr 28, 2015 10:17:53 GMT -5 @fivedogs said:

It depends on his maturity, not really size (although there are minimums for boosters). It is absolutely less safe if they can't sit correctly 100% of the time (no leaning forward to pick up a toy, no leaning to the side, no slouching under the lap belt, so slumping while sleeping). For a kid who can sit correctly 100% of the time, there are no real-world data saying that a 5yo in a booster is less safe than one who is harnessed. Most kids are not ready for a booster until at least age 5, and some not until 6 or 7. I would not put a 4.5 yo in a booster as his primary seat.

However, the good news is that there are great options ("combination seats") that have a harness and then convert to a booster when the child is more mature. CSFTL has a great list (below).

By February 2016, he could very well be ready for a booster full time, or you could get another combination seat.

csftl.org/harness-or-booster-when-to-make-the-switch/

csftl.org/recommended-seats/#combination

Thanks! It probably won't be his primary seat. It will be in my car which is the back up one. I was thrown off since my SIL/BIL have my niece in one and she's the same age as DS.

[hermione]

Wow - 30lbs! That's crazy! We hit that at 18 months. I mean obviously she wasn't at their age requirement but still!

[penguingrrl]

Apr 28, 2015 12:15:36 GMT -5 hermione said:

Wow - 30lbs! That's crazy! We hit that at 18 months. I mean obviously she wasn't at their age requirement but still!

That's written in a confusing way on boxes. Many people take that to mean their 30 lb 3 year old is fine in a booster, which isn't true. But if you have a 6-7 year old who is still under 40 lbs but will stay buckled and in position they are safe in a booster rated down to 30 lbs since they have the skeletal development of a 6-7 year old. Not a concern for my kids (we have the opposite problem of them outgrowing even larger convertible seats too early) but some classmates of my oldest are in 2nd grade but are petite and are still safe in a booster.

[hopecounts]

in my state it wouldnt be legal.
you have to have a 5 pt restraint until at least 5.
Safety wise I'd leave him in a 5 pt for now.

[mrshandy]

Apr 28, 2015 10:41:14 GMT -5 @fivedogs said:

Apr 28, 2015 10:26:23 GMT -5 mrshandy said:

Thanks! It probably won't be his primary seat. It will be in my car which is the back up one. I was thrown off since my SIL/BIL have my niece in one and she's the same age as DS.

Yeah, unfortunately, the minimum age on some boosters is 3 (and minimum weight can be 30 lbs).  There are way too many kids who are in boosters too early.

Thanks so much for your input. DS probably isn't ready. So any thoughts on this one?

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ISS2L1W/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00ISS2L1W&linkCode=as2&tag=carseaforth0b-20

[hopecounts]

Apr 28, 2015 13:10:54 GMT -5 mrshandy said:

Apr 28, 2015 10:41:14 GMT -5 @fivedogs said:

Yeah, unfortunately, the minimum age on some boosters is 3 (and minimum weight can be 30 lbs).  There are way too many kids who are in boosters too early.

Thanks so much for your input. DS probably isn't ready. So any thoughts on this one?

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ISS2L1W/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00ISS2L1W&linkCode=as2&tag=carseaforth0b-20

This is the carseat my ILs got for their car, pretty easy install DD seems comfortable enough when she rides in it. 
ETA: DD is 4.5 33 lbs and 41 inches and still has some room to grow in it, 2 positions to go before outgrowing the harness height.