What age did you stop using a carseat

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 17 year old is still in a 5 pt harness. So am I actually. It's really just the safest option you know.

Do you keep him rear-facing?

Of course, and before you ask me don't his legs get cramped, NO, he sits with them crossed Indian style and is very happy. He's also extremely bright and can point out all sorts of objects to me that he sees through the rear windshield.

Do you have a mirror on the back seat headrest so you can make sure he's ok and see if he's smiling?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 17 year old is still in a 5 pt harness. So am I actually. It's really just the safest option you know.

Do you keep him rear-facing?

Of course, and before you ask me don't his legs get cramped, NO, he sits with them crossed Indian style and is very happy. He's also extremely bright and can point out all sorts of objects to me that he sees through the rear windshield.

Do you have a mirror on the back seat headrest so you can make sure he's ok and see if he's smiling?

It must be nice that his arms are a little longer so you can hand him snacks or toys more easily when he starts getting fussy.

[Anonymous]

It depends on the child and their size. We RF till 3-4, harness till 5-6 and then seat belt booster till 7-8.

[Anonymous]

8 year old is in a high back booster in our main vehicle, but is otherwise out of car seats altogether.

[Anonymous]

Out of everything at age 8.

Car seats until about 4ish then a booster until 8.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. When do you stop using carseats period? I don't know what a 5pt, high point, baby back rib is. When can your child sit his ass on the seat and use a seatbelt?

Whenever they're mature enough to sit correctly in a seatbelt without fidgeting and whenever said seatbelt hits them in the right places on their body. A badly-fitted seatbelt can actually kill or severely damage organs, esp. if it's fitted over the belly and not the hips/thighs. I would guess 10-12 for a nuerotypical child?

There is a 5 step test to see if your child is ready to ditch the booster. Here is the link (it's the from the carseat lady). It will be different for a child in different cars (as some seats sit lower to the ground etc...

Link: http://thecarseatlady.wordpress.com/boosters/5-step-test/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 17 year old is still in a 5 pt harness. So am I actually. It's really just the safest option you know.

Do you keep him rear-facing?

Of course, and before you ask me don't his legs get cramped, NO, he sits with them crossed Indian style and is very happy. He's also extremely bright and can point out all sorts of objects to me that he sees through the rear windshield.

You must be SO proud! Way to go, mom.

[Anonymous]

There are laws. Here are Maryland's: http://www.carseatlaws.com/maryland-car-seat-laws

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 17 year old is still in a 5 pt harness. So am I actually. It's really just the safest option you know.

Love!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are laws. Here are Maryland's: http://www.carseatlaws.com/maryland-car-seat-laws

These are effing hilarious! I mean, I'm sorry, but what exactly are my "child restraint" options for a 16 year old? And how does MD pretend to enforce this? Do they actually pull over cars with passengers who appear too young/too small to ride in the front seat? Give. Me. A. Break. Everyone wants their child to be safe, but the hysteria just kills me.

[Anonymous]

We're getting ready to switch my 4.5-year-old to a booster because she's starting to get uncomfortable with the straps in her carseat and keeps pulling them down while I'm driving, which is unsafe.

[Anonymous]

^^Also, do they deny sixteen year olds who they deem to be too short/skinny/whatever a license? Is there a height/weight requirement in addition to an age requirement? Are very petite adult women denied the right to drive in MD?

[Anonymous]

I am so short I should probably be in a booster. But then my feet wouldn't be able to reach the gas pedal.

I like the poster that posted the safety seat laws. That's where OP should have started. Not so many helpful responses in DCUM (admittedly mine included).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. When do you stop using carseats period? I don't know what a 5pt, high point, baby back rib is. When can your child sit his ass on the seat and use a seatbelt?

Not many things on DCUM make me actually laugh out loud... but this definitely did! Thank you

[Anonymous]

My 5 year old is in a 5 point harness. He's not even 40 lbs yet. He will stay in it until he's outgrown the seat.