Backless booster seat

[Anonymous]

What age/ height did you stop using a booster seat for your child? My 4’5 nine year old protests using hers everyday and it’s gettting exhausting. Ok to remove it?

[Anonymous]

4’9” is the recommended height.

[Anonymous]

4'9" is the recommended height, as mentioned above, but there will be some squishiness based on whether your kid has a longer or shorter torso. You just want the belt to fit nicely without the booster. Until it does, putting your kid in the car with a belt across their neck isn't safe. I say this as someone who was 4'9" or less until I was 14 who is not a car seat stickler.

They make booster seats specifically designed for short older kids. Maybe one of those would be useful?

[Anonymous]

Yes I have told my 9 year old (who is 4th grade) that until she is 4'9" she will be using it most of the time. It's hard because some of her friends are riding in the front seat, despite being several inches shorter than her. I hear about those kids ALL the time. So I explain risk and how it works and how some families are ok with more risk, but that this is a very easy way to make her safer that is really VERY easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What age/ height did you stop using a booster seat for your child? My 4’5 nine year old protests using hers everyday and it’s gettting exhausting. Ok to remove it?

I stopped at age 9. Height wasn't a factor.

[Anonymous]

Yes it doesn’t help my cause that her friends are riding in the front seat!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:4'9" is the recommended height, as mentioned above, but there will be some squishiness based on whether your kid has a longer or shorter torso. You just want the belt to fit nicely without the booster. Until it does, putting your kid in the car with a belt across their neck isn't safe. I say this as someone who was 4'9" or less until I was 14 who is not a car seat stickler.

They make booster seats specifically designed for short older kids. Maybe one of those would be useful?

+1. My DC is two inches taller than OP's and the seatbelt still doesn't fit correctly in any seats except a few middle seats (because the seatbelt comes from the back of the cushion, not the side or roof). They make cushions for short drivers that don't look like booster seats but add a few inches of height. They should be firm and attach to the seat, so they don't compress or slide out of position in an accident. That may be a good compromise.

[Anonymous]

All cars are different as far as height of the belt in the back.
If your 9yo can sit comfortably with the belt on her shoulder then you can stop using it. If it’s on her neck though if she’s trying to put it behind her because it’s not comfortable then you need to keep the booster.
Mine was in a booster thru 4th grade as well, I’m a former EMT who’s seen enough car accidents this was non negotiable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:4'9" is the recommended height, as mentioned above, but there will be some squishiness based on whether your kid has a longer or shorter torso. You just want the belt to fit nicely without the booster. Until it does, putting your kid in the car with a belt across their neck isn't safe. I say this as someone who was 4'9" or less until I was 14 who is not a car seat stickler.

They make booster seats specifically designed for short older kids. Maybe one of those would be useful?

+1. My DC is two inches taller than OP's and the seatbelt still doesn't fit correctly in any seats except a few middle seats (because the seatbelt comes from the back of the cushion, not the side or roof). They make cushions for short drivers that don't look like booster seats but add a few inches of height. They should be firm and attach to the seat, so they don't compress or slide out of position in an accident. That may be a good compromise.

Frankly, I could use one of those (5'2"). My petite 11yo (4'5") still sits in a backless booster when it's just us. If we're carpooling, she doesn't. Her 8yo sister is still in a backless booster with no complaints (so far).

[Anonymous]

My 10 year old is 4’ 5” as well and we just recently let her quit using it. I made my other kids wait until 4’ 9” but her siblings were her height at 7 and 8 and never really minded. Her knees do meet the edges of the seat and the shoulder belt guide in our car is adjustable so it fits her pretty well anyway.

[Anonymous]

I had a college friend who died our sophomore year in a car accident in large part because her seatbelt was not positioned properly and she was very short (around 4’11).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:4'9" is the recommended height, as mentioned above, but there will be some squishiness based on whether your kid has a longer or shorter torso. You just want the belt to fit nicely without the booster. Until it does, putting your kid in the car with a belt across their neck isn't safe. I say this as someone who was 4'9" or less until I was 14 who is not a car seat stickler.

They make booster seats specifically designed for short older kids. Maybe one of those would be useful?

+1. My DC is two inches taller than OP's and the seatbelt still doesn't fit correctly in any seats except a few middle seats (because the seatbelt comes from the back of the cushion, not the side or roof). They make cushions for short drivers that don't look like booster seats but add a few inches of height. They should be firm and attach to the seat, so they don't compress or slide out of position in an accident. That may be a good compromise.

Frankly, I could use one of those (5'2"). My petite 11yo (4'5") still sits in a backless booster when it's just us. If we're carpooling, she doesn't. Her 8yo sister is still in a backless booster with no complaints (so far).

Poster who was 4'9" until I was 14, currently 5'0". I'm borderline on needing a cushion like that too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes it doesn’t help my cause that her friends are riding in the front seat!

My 9yo is really tall but I told her she’s not sitting up front for 5 years. She sees younger kids riding up front, which is not safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes it doesn’t help my cause that her friends are riding in the front seat!

My 9yo is really tall but I told her she’s not sitting up front for 5 years. She sees younger kids riding up front, which is not safe.

5 years?

Most parents I know allow it by 12.

[Anonymous]

My understanding is that 12 or 13 is the age where it’s safe to ride up front. Not matter how tall a 9 or 10 yo is, it’s not safe due to the airbag.