When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

I was dropping DS off at school today because we missed the bus. He is 5 and is still in the high back 5 point harness. I noticed one kid jump out of front seat who looked like maybe a 5th grader. Then I noticed what looked like a 3rd grader getting out of a booster seat. He just looked way too big to be in that but I'm sure he is still within the height and weight range for it. I just started thinking that if my mom made me ride around in a booster at that age I would have been mortified. I know the safety recommendations are for like 80 lbs and 48" or something like that but is that REALLY necessary? My friend just told me her son is small and is still in a booster in 9th grade. That seems humiliating. I'm just wondering what the norm is.

Re: When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

DD is on the smaller side, and she was in a 5 point booster until about 3rd grade. She's in 5th, and still in a backless booster in one of our cars. The seatbelt fits properly in the other cars.
Safety far outweighs embarrassment, IMO. Even with that, DD has never said anything about not wanting to be in a booster. It is what it is.
I actually go beyond the minimum recommendations for safety. The recommendations are what the government says the minimum requirements are, but I'm not relying on "government minimums" for DC's safety.

Re: When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

Posted by GoldenRod

DD is on the smaller side, and she was in a 5 point booster until about 3rd grade. She's in 5th, and still in a backless booster in one of our cars. The seatbelt fits properly in the other cars.
Safety far outweighs embarrassment, IMO. Even with that, DD has never said anything about not wanting to be in a booster. It is what it is.
I actually go beyond the minimum recommendations for safety. The recommendations are what the government says the minimum requirements are, but I'm not relying on "government minimums" for DC's safety.

Message edited 4/3/2017 11:33:19 AM.

Re: When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

Age 9 for both my girls. My son is still 6, and in a high back booster with seatbelt (we recently switched from the 5 point).

I respectfully disagree with what your friend is doing... I would never never never make my high schooler sit in a booster. My oldest will be 12 in September and starting 7th grade and she's nowhere near 80 lbs; I would not even suggest she sit in a booster.

Re: When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

My son was in his carseat last year in second grade. In third grade (8yrs old) he is in a high back booster. He is small and skinny for his age. He may be in it in fourth grade at age 9.

To be honest when I was younger in the mid 80's, I didn't even have a booster or carseat at age 5. I feel like it was different back then, I don't think it abnormal for kids to be in boosters.

My stepson got out of his booster at age 9. He was tall and didn't need it anymore. My son is a lot smaller for his age.

at the 9th grade??

Re: When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

We just switched my son to a backless booster around 2 months ago - he's 6.5. Until then, he was in the 5-point harness still. His shoulders were getting too wide for the seat, so I knew it was time to switch it. He'll be in that booster until he can sit in the seat without the seatbelt hitting him in the neck improperly.

Re: When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

Posted by NervousNell

Posted by GoldenRod

DD is on the smaller side, and she was in a 5 point booster until about 3rd grade. She's in 5th, and still in a backless booster in one of our cars. The seatbelt fits properly in the other cars.
Safety far outweighs embarrassment, IMO. Even with that, DD has never said anything about not wanting to be in a booster. It is what it is.
I actually go beyond the minimum recommendations for safety. The recommendations are what the government says the minimum requirements are, but I'm not relying on "government minimums" for DC's safety.

(for what it's worth, she hasn't said anything about it yet. I think they she's still a bit young to even notice or care about stuff like that.)

Re: When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

Posted by Sash

at the 9th grade??

Re: When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

Posted by FirstMate

Posted by Sash

at the 9th grade??

I'm all about to each their own but I really thought that is a bit overkill. I wonder if my expression matched what I was thinking.

This is what I envisioned:
"Mom, I'm going to catch a ride with Johnny's older brother to high school today."
"Okay, honey! Don't forget to bring your booster seat!" Then he squishes in the back middle with his Graco booster seat.

When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

My 3rd grader just moved from a high back booster (not a 5 pt harness) to a backless one. He's definitely not too big for it and it keeps the seatbelt where it should be on his shoulder. I think 8 is the minimum age required to ride in the back without a booster anyway.

Re: When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

At DS' 8yr visit, ped said no more booster (which I didn't love.) I still had him sit in one on longer car rides but now at 9 I wouldn't even think to have him sit in one.

DD is almost 7 and has been in a backless booster for a while, as are all of her friends. She is tall and the seatbelt fits her fine.

This is one of those things where the norm I read about on here does not match the norm with people I know IRL.

When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

my DS is 6 and in kindergarten. he's still in a high back booster, using the 5 point harness. his seat is one that you can also use with the seatbelt... i'm thinking maybe this summer we'll start using the seatbelt instead of the harness. he is small for his age, so i'm in no rush- and he's not complaining about it either.
to me its like whats the rush? he can buckle the harness himself now... so its not like its extra work for me, and it keeps him safer... why rush him out of it?
but by 9th grade?? yeah... thats almost old enough to be DRIVING the car- no need for a booster then!

Message edited 4/3/2017 2:35:37 PM.

Re: When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

DS is small for his age (8 years old and 48") and recently moved from a 5 pt harness to a high back booster with a seatbelt. He'll be in some type of booster for a long time. Safety trumps embarrassment although it hasn't been an issue at this point. Most of his friends that I know of are still in a booster.

Re: When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

DD moved out of her high back booster when she was 8 years old. She's now 9 1/2 and sits in a regular (no back) booster. Many of her friends (4th grade) no longer use boosters, and some even sit in the front seat which is just plain insane.
My daughter does complain on occasion, but it's non-negotiable for me, so I just ignore her.

Re: When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

Posted by FirstMate

I'm all about to each their own but I really thought that is a bit overkill. I wonder if my expression matched what I was thinking.

This is what I envisioned:
"Mom, I'm going to catch a ride with Johnny's older brother to high school today."
"Okay, honey! Don't forget to bring your booster seat!" Then he squishes in the back middle with his Graco booster seat.

Re: When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

DD is 9. In my car she uses a high back booster. In DH's car she uses a regular booster. I have been car shopping over the last month. Some cars that I test drove the seat belt fits DD without need for a booster seat, in others it does not. She will be in a booster until she can use a seat belt without it cutting across her neck.

Re: When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

My DD is 8.5 years old (3rd grade) and she's still in the high back booster, she thinks nothing of it. She'd probably be fine with just the booster but since she doesn't complain, we've left the high back. DS is 4, he's still in his 5 point harness carseat.

I'm in NO rush to move them out of either. They are safe and content so I just leave it alone. lol

ETA - I would NEVER put a 9th grader in a booster. OMG! That is mortifying. I have grown adult friends who are 5' or less, they aren't in boosters. LOL At some point it's okay to let it go.

Message edited 4/4/2017 9:40:49 AM.

Re: When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

I can't even imagine having a 9th grader in a booster.

My DD is in 4th grade, and just a couple of months ago, I took her out of the no back booster. Many of her friends were also in booster seats up until this year.

I can't even tell you how many 3, 4, 5th graders I see in the front seat when I'm in the drop off lane. I guess their parents don't GAS about them. Yes that is harsh, but I would never let my kids sit in the front seat at that age. There is absolutely no need.

Re: When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

Re: When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

The recommendations are 4'9", not 48" and/or 90lbs. Most 3rd graders are still in backless boosters, at least to my knowledge.

Re: When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

Re: When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

Message edited 4/4/2017 12:26:49 PM.

When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

DS is 6 and is in a 5 point harness and he will stay there for at least another 4-5 years. We will start using the seat belt eventually, but for now the harness is working fine.

I never understood why parents are in a rush to have their kids out of the seats. I picked up one of DS's friends one time and he told me that he didn't need to sit in a booster anymore, that thye just use the seat belts in their car. Well, I told him in our car every kid under 10 is in a seat, so hop on into the other booster (DD's seat).

Message edited 4/4/2017 2:40:06 PM.

Re: When did you take your kid out of the booster seat?

Message edited 4/4/2017 2:46:40 PM.