Mark

At what age and height/weight is it safe to move a child from a car seat to a booster seat? I cannot remember what all the safety advocates have mentioned so I figured I would ask here first. This might be different legally for each state but I know that the car seats and booster seats all have something on them about when the right time is.

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PhilBilly

Trina?

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There's a test on this site http://www.safety-council.org/info/c...chor-Rea-61002


Rear-Facing Infant Seat
Birth to 10 kg (22 lb.)

• An infant-only seat offers the best fit for young babies. When your child is over the height OR weight limit of the infant-only seat, you can use an infant/child seat in the rear-facing position.
• Make sure the harness is snug, (only one finger should fit between the harness and the baby's collar bone). The chest clip should be positioned at armpit level.
• When tightening the vehicle seat belt, push the infant seat down and into the upholstery, and pull the belt as tight as possible. There should be very little movement.

WARNING: Never place a rear-facing child restraint in a seat equipped with an air bag.
Forward-Facing Child Seat
10 - 18 kg (22 - 40 lb.)

• When your child weighs 10 kg and can pull to a stand independently use a forward-facing seat. Before this, the neck and back muscles and bone structure are not strong enough to withstand crash forces.
• Make sure the harness is snug, so that only one finger can fit between the harness and the child's collar bones. The chest clip should be positioned at armpit level.
• When tightening the vehicle seat belt, kneel in the child restraint to push it down and into the upholstery, and pull the belt as tight as possible. There should be very little movement.
• All forward-facing child seats must be anchored to the vehicle frame with a tether strap. Check your vehicle owner's manual or your dealership for tether anchor locations.

Booster Seat
18 kg (40 lb.) or over

• The child must weigh 18 kg before moving to a booster seat. If the mid-point of your child's ears is over the back of the child restraint but he/she is not yet 18 kg, use a combination child seat/booster.
• A booster seat raises the child to fit the adult seat-belt properly.
• A booster that uses a lap/shoulder belt provides the best protection for your child.
• Use a booster until your child is over the manufacturer's upper weight limit or height limit, or the mid-point of the ears is above the top of the high back booster or the vehicle seat.

Seat-Belt
1.45 m (4 ft. 9 in.), or 36 kg (80 lb.), or 8 years of age (Also check your provincial or territorial regulations as this regulation differs from one to the next).

• When your child has outgrown the booster seat, start using the lap/shoulder belt on its own.
• The key to using a seat-belt safely is positioning. The lap belt should be worn low on the hips, touching the upper thighs, to prevent abdominal injuries or spinal damage. The shoulder belt should be worn over the shoulder and across the chest.
• The child should sit fully upright, with back against the vehicle seat. To prevent slouching, the legs should be long enough to bend over the front of the vehicle seat. This will prevent the lap belt from riding up over the abdomen. To fit most shoulder belts, the child should have a sitting height of at least 63 cm (25 in.)

Test Yourself

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Mango

When Should Child Move to Booster Seat?



http://life.familyeducation.com/safe...ing/42217.html

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Kaytee

me personally, not till she is outgrowing he Marathon. Might be awhile lol

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Fallon

I moved Debralyn at 45lb

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SAH mommy to Debralyn 10-21-02 and Bubba (Logan) 3-19-07
Madeline 07-10-09

Mark

Thanks for all the valuable information. Our son weighs 35 pounds so he is just under the recommended weight requirement. I asked because now that he is wearing heavier clothes (for the winter) it is harder to get him restrained. I need to take a look at the car seat he is using and if it won't adjust any further then I may need to get a new one. His safety is the most important thing though so I would never put him in a booster seat if he was not ready for it. That's the reason for this thread.

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Kaytee

sounds good Mark. I would get him a new car seat if he doesn't fit right. He is the same age as Nichole isn't he? Or close to it. I would be afraid of him not having the muscle strength for a regular seat belt yet.
Also you probably already know but make sure you are taking off his winter coat before restraining him.

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Trina

CPS Techs recommend kids stay in a harnessed car seat until at least 4 yrs. and 40 lbs.. Longer is even better, especially if the child is wiggly and not mature enough to sit properly in a booster seat.

Traditional car seats only harness up to 40 lbs. but there are now many car seats that harness past 40 lbs.. Also keep in mind that if a child's shoulders are above the top harness slots he/she has outgrown the seat even if he/she has yet to meet the weight limit.

Regarding winter wear - Puffy, thick coats are not recommended in car seats. The puffy insulation compresses during a crash, which equals a loose harness. My kids wear winter coats with Thinsulate or some other thin, warm insulation.

Kim

Yes, when we got our baby seat installed the CPS Tech said no baby snowsuits, she should wear her regular clothes then once she is properly fastened we can put as many blankets on her as we want to. Which makes sense but I had never thought of that before.