I am torn about if I should take my 4 year old out of her car seat?

My daughter just turned 4 in Feb she is 43 lbs I have her in the Britax Marathon seat up to 65 pound weight limit with the 5 point harness I have a few Questions

1 . Is she big enough to move to a booster seat with the lap belt ?
2 . Is it safer to keep her where she is because the actual 5 point harness is the safest restraint?
3. What are the laws in new york state ?
4 If you have a child around this age when did you move them to a booster? Which one ? If your 5 point harness seat went up to 65 lbs would you have kept them in it ?
And help would be great thanks
Additional Details
She is not trying to get out but I don't know if it is needed anymore? and it can be a pain to get her and the other kids all in and out of the seats but if it is truly safer than of course it is worth the extra work

ketchupklf

1. She meets the *minimums* experts recommend for a booster seat (4yrs and 40 pounds)... but they always give a 'minimum' suggestion and a 'best practices' suggestion. Best practices is to leave them in a 5 point harness *as long as possible*. Even adult race car drivers use a 5 point harness... because it is *always* safer in a collision. Who wants their child to be 'minimally' safe? (It *is* clear that you don't... so yes, I'd keep her harnessed.)

2. Yes... absolutely. And why would you pay for the pricy extended harness seat if you weren't going to use that protection? Convinence is nice, yes... but think of it as getting your money's worth instead and it may help as you do up aaaall the buckles. I'm preggo with #5 so I do understand it is a hassle... but it *is* worth it.

3. Don't know... and I wouldn't care. The laws of Physics are much more important than the laws of the state. And what is safest (best practices recommendations) nearly *always* goes further than what is legally allowed.

4. I have 4 kids. My 13 yr old moved up to a booster... um... 4 or 5 yrs? Too long ago to be sure... but sooner than I'd do it now. I knew a lot less then and my harnessed seat only went to 40 pounds. My current 6 yr old is tiny and still in a 5 point harness at 43 pounds... she will be till she hits 65 pounds no matter what her age. My current 4.5 yr old is exactly the same (much bigger kid)... 43 pounds and staying harnessed to 65 pounds. My current 3yr old is another tiny one... just 28 pounds and still in a *rearfacing* carseat. Just like harnesses it is safest to rearface as long as possible... he'll probably rearface till 4 yrs old just like my current 6yr old did.

One more help for you... I'll come right back with a webpage on the 'whys' of extended harnessing if I can find it as quickly as I hope. :)

ETA: Oh... one more quick note. Booster seats are *never* designed to used with just a lap belt anymore. If you do put her in a booster she'll need to be in a spot with a lap and shoulder belt. Lap belts are really only safe to use to install carseats with a full harness built in.

Cassie d

i am wondering why you are wanting to move her? I ask because my 2 youngest boys started trying to to get out of their 5 point harness at that age and I felt they would be safer in a booster rather then spending the entire car ride struggling to get out. If she is happy in her seat i suggest leaving her unless you think it would be safer to mover her.

Dave Herron

Here is the answer I gave to another, similar question.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (the crash test dummy folks) says that children should remain in forward facing child protective seats as long as possible because they provide the greatest protection. Only when your child outgrows the child seat, should she be moved to a booster seat. She should remain in the booster seat until she is at least 4'9" tall.
For information on child seats including the top rated seats visit the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety at: http://www.iihs.org/research/topics/child_restraints/default.html

For information on New York's seat belt and child restraint laws, visit: http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/broch/c-1.htm

UCANTCME

This is all that I could find.

You can safely switch your child to a booster seat if she's at least 4 years old and she weighs 40 pounds or more or has grown too tall for her car seat (when her shoulders are higher than the top set of harness-strap slots in the car seat's back).

Whatever you do, don't move your child to a booster seat simply because she's had her fourth birthday. Car seats are the safest option, so keep using yours as long as it fits. You'll also need to check the car seat law in your state (you can use the Child Safety Laws tool at the National Safe Kids Campaign site to look up local regulations).

http://www.safekids.org/

priness

oh yes ,if she is 4 she is ready for booster seat for sure,i put my son in it at 4 too..at 65 pounds i prob change her seat 4 sure

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: