Just a poll: Carseats or seatbelt for your 5 yr old.?

Question

I am asking just for interest: I have a 5yr old that is in kindergarten, She is in a booster seat and when i pick her up I pull over and buckle her in before i leave the parking lot. I have noticed alot of the kidnergarteners at her school are not in booster seats or other child safety seats .. and the parents let them buckle themselves or do not buckle them at all.. some of these kids are smaller than my 3 yr old...As far as mine go I do not believe my 5 yr old is old enough to buckle herself.... don't you think it is alot of responsibility to put on a 5 yr old to buckle themselves... and irresposnible of the parent for not securing them in a child safety seat? Thats my opinion whats yours?

In Tx a child is requried to be in a booster until they are 4"9.... plan on keeping mine in one until they reach that height... I agree with the poster on erring on the side of caution...

Not saying that a five year old is not capable of buckleing a seat belt( I guess I should have stated that better in the original question) but don't you think you should at least check to make sure it is properly secured before you pull out onto a major highway or any road... could have gotten something in the female end of the buckle that blocks it from securing all the way... anything is possible with kids... mine have actually put conis in the reciever end of the seatbelt and it would not work properly .. moved them to the 3 rd seat till I got the restraint fixed..

I drive an Excursion... but even though it is a large SUV I still feel that the added safety of the boster for her is best....

Denise S. I do not think I am being presumtious.... I just stated my thoughts on the issue and asked others about their opinion... I did do some research and is state law where I live that the child must be 4'9 or at least 80 lbs..so if you would like to call me presumtious for obeying the law and feel that others should do this as well where a child is concerned.. but I will say I do think a parent is gravely irresponsible if they do not restrain their child in the car at all.. and would not have a problem stating that to them if the opprotunity arose... sorry for having an opinion.. but I do respect part of yours.. thanks for the input

Answer 1

As a recent transplant to TX, I was SHOCKED at how many kids' parents are lax on the "buckle-up" LAW! My daughter attends a nice school in the suburbs of Houston, and I constantly see children and younger siblings climbing all over in the SUVS!!!!
I actually pull-over too, and it pisses other parents off who are trying to get out of the parent-pick up line (even though they can pass me). That's so infuriating to me. I just ignore them- but I had NEVER seen it so prevalent in FL.
Who cares what everyone else is doing; buckle them up yourself! It's the law, and you'll never forgive yourself if they get hurt. My daughter is 6 and we still check the job she does, buckling herself in (she uses a full-back booster). I love her too much to care what the Joneses are or AREN'T doing.

Answer 2

The answer depends on your child's size and age, the kind of vehicle you drive, and the law in your state (check the Child Safety Laws tool at the National Safe Kids Campaign site to learn more about car seat laws in your area http://www.usa.safekids.org/skbu/cps/index.html). Laws aside, kids aren't ready to make the switch from a booster seat to seat belts until they're at least 4 feet 9 inches tall and can pass the five-step test below — typically between ages 8 and 10.

Why the wait? Because a booster seat protects a child better than seat belts alone, and, in the event of a collision, an ill-fitting adult seat belt can actually cause injury instead of preventing it. If the lap belt rests on your child's tummy (which it's likely to do without a booster), for instance, he could suffer stomach, liver, or spleen damage. And if the shoulder belt rests against his neck rather than his chest, he may try to move it under his arm (where it could crack his ribs and damage internal organs) or behind his back (where it offers no protection at all against head, neck, or spinal injuries).

To judge whether your child is ready to ride with a seat belt alone, test the fit of your vehicle's belts from time to time. Buckle your child into the back seat without a booster seat, and consider the following:

• Does he sit all the way back against the car's seat?

• Do his knees bend comfortably at the edge of the seat?

• Does the lap belt naturally rest below his belly, touching the top of his thighs?

• Is the shoulder belt centered across his shoulder and chest?

• Can he stay seated like this for the whole trip?

If you answer no to any of these questions, your child still needs to use a booster seat (some are designed for kids weighing up to 100 pounds).

Personally a 5 year old should be able to buckle their own seat belt. My 4 year old grand daughter has been able to do it for quite some time.

Answer 3

I think the child should at least be starting to know how to buckle themselves, but the parent should still check it to make sure they did it right. I don't, however, think it is a "a lot of responsibility" for the child. It's a very simple thing.
As for the other parents, yes it's sad, I see that all the time where I live too, including parents who let their 5 year olds sit in the front seat with no booster. They will certainly regret it when their kid goes flying through the windshield.

Answer 4

When my children reached the proper weight and age guidelines, I let them use the seatbelt. In Ohio, we don't have a booster seat law. I also allow them to buckle up themselves....which everyone is required to do (and it's only legally required in the front seat). I don't think it's irresponsible of a parent to allow their children to sit in the backseat with a seatbelt on that they buckled themselves. If your state requires a booster seat for children over the age of 4, then what's next? Not allowing them to ride in a vehicle at all because of the possible risk? It's just one of my pet peeves. Certainly I want my children to be safe, but we make laws saying people have to wear their seatbelts (which again, we all do) and then we don't make a law saying motorcyclists have to wear a helmet! Just ridiculous.

Answer 5

In our state (Virginia) it is the law that a child be in a booster seat until they are 8 or 80 lbs... The way my youngest is he'd be in a booster until he's 30 because he is just now breaking 50 lbs at 7 and a half

Answer 6

I have 4 children. My oldest buckles her youngest sister into her carseat when we go anywhere. I checked the first while she was doing it, but now I know she is capable, and if she does it incorrectly my 3 year old will let me know. When I pick up my 3 oldest, they're responsible for putting themselves in their boosters and getting buckled. I don't think its irresponsible at all. They started helping me when they were young, and they all know exactly what I expect. I think its presumptious of you to assume that other parents are irresponsible.

Answer 7

From reading everyone else's "input" it really depends where you live I guess. In Ontario Canada children must be in a 5 point harness until they are 40 lbs, in a booster seat until they are 80lbs.
I was in a serious car accident this past summer and I am sure glad my children where properly restrained and in the correct car seat or things would have been a lot more serious. We all basically escaped with no injuries.
I would check with your local fire department they often have car seat clinics and they are very helpful

Answer 8

My Daughter was so Tiny that when she interned Kindergarten she was still in a car seat,Literally.I think kids should know hot to buckle there self in a seat belt,I think they should do this there self,Repetition is a Great thing for them to do,If they buckle there safety belt everyday,They just might save there own life as a teenager .They was taught that every time you get in a vehicle you strap your self in,There is nothing wrong with making sure it is properly on but they do need to do this them self.

Answer 9

Don't rely on her to buckle her own seatbelt. Keep her in the booster seat for at least another 3-5 months.

Just keep buckling it for her until you think she is ready to do it on her own, or when she says something like "Mommy let me try this time" or "I can do it Mommy" ;D

Hope I helped ;]

Answer 10

Hey my kids are 10 and 12 and I make SURE they are in those seat belts. As well as any friends we transport around. Kids under a certain wheight need to be in a booster seat. After that a seat belt. It is so important to keep them restrained whenever they are in a vechile. It litterally makes the difference between life and death in case of an accident!! ALL PARENTS, take 1 minute of your time to make sure your kids are safe and secure!! Seat belt them in!!!