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Kids ages 4 and up re: car seat

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Lillykat
going along for the ride...

Member since 5/05

16253 total posts

Name:

Re: Kids ages 4 and up re: car seat

DD#1 is still in her Recaro. She will be 5 end of June. She is 37 lbs and 41 inches.

What is the height/weight recommendation for a high back booster? I can't see her changing anytime soon - BUT she is the only child in her 4 year program not in a booster.

Posted 3/20/12 10:29 AM
 

05mommy09
Family of 5!

Member since 5/05

15364 total posts

Name:
<3 Mommy <3

Re: Kids ages 4 and up re: car seat

DS is 6; and in the nautilus with the 5pt harness.... It goes up to 65lbs; and honestly Im planning to keep him in there until thenChat Icon

He is 46lbs right now; and hasnt even ASKED to get out of his buckles...(5pt harness)

Posted 3/21/12 10:02 AM
 

doublestroller
LIF Adult

Member since 7/08

1179 total posts

Name:

Re: Kids ages 4 and up re: car seat

both my kiddos switched to a graco nautilus using the 5 point harness at 3. at 4 i switched my older DD to the high back with a belt option. i plan to make the switch to the belt with DD#2 at 4 as well.

Posted 3/21/12 10:49 AM
 

CunningOne
***

Member since 5/05

26975 total posts

Name:

Re: Kids ages 4 and up re: car seat

Both my kids went to a Graco Highback booster seat (seat belt) when they were 4.5 years old.

Posted 3/21/12 2:58 PM
 

jessicamd
LIF Infant

Member since 8/06

367 total posts

Name:
Jessica

Re: Kids ages 4 and up re: car seat

Posted by jerseypanda

My DC will be in a 5 point harness as long as the weight limits of the seats will let me keep them in it.



Same here - DS friend teased him about his "baby seat" (Britax Frontier), but I won't switch him until I have to.

Posted 3/21/12 6:08 PM
 

Faithx2
All good things in 2016!!

Member since 8/05

20181 total posts

Name:

Re: Kids ages 4 and up re: car seat

I just wanted to point out that the Nautilus says 65lbs HOWEVER my DD was too tall to keep using the 5 point at 51 lbs. At the highest setting it was pullin too tight. Maybe for a skinny kid it's ok but not my 6 yr old. I converted because it didn't fit not because I just wanted too.

Posted 3/22/12 11:39 AM
 

tara73
carseat nerd

Member since 11/09

3669 total posts

Name:
Buttercup

Re: Kids ages 4 and up re: car seat

Posted by OneOfEach

I just wanted to point out that the Nautilus says 65lbs HOWEVER my DD was too tall to keep using the 5 point at 51 lbs. At the highest setting it was pullin too tight. Maybe for a skinny kid it's ok but not my 6 yr old. I converted because it didn't fit not because I just wanted too.



Yes, seats are commonly outgrown by height before weight.

If the child's shoulders are above where the harness comes out of the shell and you can't move the straps higher or if the tips of the ears are above the shell of the seat, the seat is outgrown even if they haven't hit the max weight.

Boostering is for big kids, maturity is a big part of it. A child who can't sit still or falls asleep in the car often isn't a good candidate for boostering. A child who has poor impulse control is not a good candidate. They should be mature enough to not play with the belt or unbuckle it, not move the shoulder portion behind their backs or under their arms etc.

I usually recommend beginning booster training to my parents of 5 and 6 year olds who meet the maturity level and minimum size required. Training is getting kids adjusted to this new found "freedom" by using the booster on short trips (think 10 mins or so). Remember, since birth they've been restrained by a 5 pt harness that doesn't move and suddenly they're in a 3 pt seat belt that allows them much more movement. Even the best kid is going to test that out!

It is one thing for a grown adult to be out of position in a crash but a smaller body can be hurt severely if they're out of position. So, this is where fit comes in. All boosters are NOT created equal and you should try them for fit. (I also recommend high back boosters for younger kids, and low back for older kids who are closer to meeting the 5 step test to an adult seatbelt, think ages 7-11)

Shoulder belt should lay flat across the shoulder, not the neck.

Lap belt should lay across the upper thigh/lower hip, not across the abdomen.

The child should be seated so his/her bum is against the back of the seat, no slouching

If you are using a low back booster, make sure there is a head rest in that position if the child's ears are even with the top of the back of the seat.

If the vehicle position chosen has only a lap belt then you should not use a booster and should use a harness in that position.


That all said, there is nothing wrong with keeping your child harnessed until they outgrow it. It is recommended to harness until they outgrow the seat. I know it's easy to look and say "but he's the only kid" but part of our jobs as parents is teaching our children that just because kid A is doing something doesn't mean they should, right? So, don't worry about what anyone else is doing, if you're more comfortable harnessing a 6 year old who fits then that's fine :)

Posted 3/23/12 11:32 AM
 

mypumpkin
It's a beautiful day! :)

Member since 7/08

2296 total posts

Name:
Dee

Re: Kids ages 4 and up re: car seat

I was just wondering this myself. My ds is almost 4.5 and I am going to try to keep him in his 5pt as long as possible. He is 36lbs and 41inches so he is still pretty small.

Posted 3/23/12 3:37 PM
 

itsbabytime
LIF Adult

Member since 11/05

9644 total posts

Name:
Me

Re: Kids ages 4 and up re: car seat

My 4.5 yr old DS is still in his Britax Marathon. Honestly, he doesn't have an issue with it so I feel safe keeping him in it. The only thing that I worry about is that these things have a 5 yr max right? So if I got mine the year he was born at my shower - it's going to expire soon? Or, does the time start running once you start using it only? TIA to any that might know the answer!

Posted 3/25/12 9:54 AM
 

dm24angel
Happiness

Member since 5/05

34581 total posts

Name:
Donna

Re: Kids ages 4 and up re: car seat

Noah will be 5 in early June and is still in the convertible Marathon. But he is also super small, height and weight. He wants a booster , but I'm waiting till next yr.

Posted 3/25/12 12:46 PM
 

dawnygirl25
Growing up soo fast..

Member since 1/06

14917 total posts

Name:
Dawn

Re: Kids ages 4 and up re: car seat

Posted by itsbabytime

My 4.5 yr old DS is still in his Britax Marathon. Honestly, he doesn't have an issue with it so I feel safe keeping him in it. The only thing that I worry about is that these things have a 5 yr max right? So if I got mine the year he was born at my shower - it's going to expire soon? Or, does the time start running once you start using it only? TIA to any that might know the answer!



It starts from manufacturers date. Usually there is a date stamped on the side.

Posted 3/25/12 4:15 PM
 

sunny
Life is good!

Member since 5/05

8369 total posts

Name:
Stephanie

Re: Kids ages 4 and up re: car seat

Posted by 05mommy09

DS is 6; and in the nautilus with the 5pt harness.... It goes up to 65lbs; and honestly Im planning to keep him in there until thenChat Icon

He is 46lbs right now; and hasnt even ASKED to get out of his buckles...(5pt harness)



Same with DD, but she is 6 and about 38 lbs.

Posted 3/28/12 6:21 PM
 

InShock
life is good

Member since 10/06

9258 total posts

Name:

Re: Kids ages 4 and up re: car seat

Posted by OneOfEach

I just wanted to point out that the Nautilus says 65lbs HOWEVER my DD was too tall to keep using the 5 point at 51 lbs. At the highest setting it was pullin too tight. Maybe for a skinny kid it's ok but not my 6 yr old. I converted because it didn't fit not because I just wanted too.



My DD will definitely outgrow the 5-pt harness based on height before weight, too. Right now she is 4 1/2 (5 at the end of June) and the straps are just at her shoulder height. I'm thinking by Sept I'll be forced to switch to the high back booster.

Posted 3/30/12 8:54 AM
 

pharmcat2000
Mom of 2 + 1

Member since 10/05

7395 total posts

Name:
Catherine

Re: Kids ages 4 and up re: car seat

My DD will be 6 this month. She is in a regular carseat most of the time, in my car. We have a high back booster in DH's car but honestly, I'm really not happy with it. I just don't feel she is secure enough. Every time I'm in BRU I'm tempted to get a new carseat, but how do I do that to her?

Posted 4/4/12 12:43 PM
 

ABCiverson
<3 my family

Member since 1/06

7465 total posts

Name:
Amanda

Re: Kids ages 4 and up re: car seat

My 4.5 year old and 5.5 year old are both still in a 5 point harness and will be for a while longer. My 5.5 year old is the only kid that is still in one in her kindergarten class. She doesn't care and I know she is sooo much safer so I won't switch any time soon.

Posted 4/10/12 1:27 AM
 

cgdg61606
Little Brother Christopher

Member since 2/07

6815 total posts

Name:
Christine

Re: Kids ages 4 and up re: car seat

Thomas is turning 5 next week and he is in the Graco Nautilus with the 5 point harness. He is on the small side and I plan to keep him in the harness for a while.

Posted 4/12/12 2:16 PM
 

Janice
Sweet Jessie Quinn

Member since 5/05

27567 total posts

Name:
Janice

Re: Kids ages 4 and up re: car seat

4 he switched...no 5 pt.

Posted 4/12/12 4:31 PM
 
Pages: 1 [2]
 

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