2007-03-30 05:50:50 · 6 answers · asked by baby 2 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
Legal limits are bare minimums. The guideline is a MINIMUM of over 4 years AND over 40 pounds. Every "step up" in car seat maturity is a step down in safety. Rear facing is safer than forward facing, 5 point harness is safer than a booster, a booster is safer than the car's seat belt.
Most kids really aren't ready for a booster seat at 4yrs/40lbs. To ride safely in a booster seat your child should be able to sit properly in the booster for the ENTIRE ride, EVERY time. No slouching, bending over, putting the shoulder belt behind his back, slumping when he falls asleep. Safest practice is to keep your child in a 5 point harness/carseat as long as possible.
5 point harnesses with higher weight limits and higher harness slots (for height) are:
Britax Regent - highest harness slots, max weight 80lbs
Cosco Apex65 - harnesses to 65 pounds then converts to a belt positioning booster until 100 pounds
Sunshine Kids Radian65 - 65 pound max
Britax Marathon - 65 pound max
I have my 46lb 4 year old in a Britax Regent - he is very comfortable and when we were in a major side impact accident last year he was really safe (we replaced his seat after the accident). I worry that if he had been in a booster at the time of impact and had happened to be leaning forward to pick up a toy or a box he would have been gravely injured since his seat was at the point of impact.
2007-03-30 21:12:46 · answer #1 · answered by amom 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This can vary according to both the state laws in your area and with the specific booster seat. My booster seat has height and weight guidelines printed on a chart included with the seat. The child must be within the guidelines in order to be able to safely sit in the seat. Check the guidelines for the seat you want to put your child in. For my daughter, she met the height requirement by the time she was 4, but didn't meet the minimum weight until she was about 5years, 2 months. She's in her booster now, and very happy.
2007-03-30 13:04:17 · answer #2 · answered by Snoopy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This depends on what state you live. I live in Michigan and here an infant can face forward after they are 2 years old AND 20 lbs. A todler must have a five point harness seat until 40 lbs AND 4 years old, then any child must have a booster seat until 60 lbs.
But like I said it depends on where you live, maybe contact your local healty department they can give you the parameters.
2007-03-30 13:03:29 · answer #3 · answered by ambergarlets 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This keeps changing - but last I knew for California it was 6 years old OR 60 pounds. Your best resource (believe it!) is your local maternity/children's hospital, as they cannot discharge a child without proof of "legal" carseat....
2007-03-30 12:58:24 · answer #4 · answered by tracymoo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was thinking it was based more on the height and weight instead of age. but I'm sure different States have different rules.
2007-03-30 13:56:10 · answer #5 · answered by Fordman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
4 ft. or 40 lbs. Both is ideal.
2007-03-30 13:02:20 · answer #6 · answered by Rebecca A 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋