My child is 57 inches and 76 pounds.

they could be better

Anonymous wrote:Don't race car drivers wear 5-point harnesses too?

Exactly. And jet fighter pilots. They are more safe. And more expensive. You have a hard enough time getting the car industry to put a locking clip on the floor for rear facing seats--The poster who says 5 point harnesses are dangerous is clueless. The industry won't give you maximum safety--they'll provide reasonable safety--that's the legal standard. You can pay extra to have your car retro fitted with 5 point harnesses. And of course you cd by your kid this type of booster seat--if you cd get him to sit in it, that's another issue

Anonymous wrote:

Your 5 year old should NOT be in a 5 pt harness. It is dangerous.

And you're basing this statement on ... what facts, exactly?

really depends on the booster. I have the regent from Britax. It is a 5 point harness/booster. I will keep my kids in these until they can not fit. It is not up to them. It is the safest way for children to travel if the seat is made for the weight. You can not possibly think it would not be safer than a seatbelt.

Don't race car drivers wear 5-point harnesses too?

Of course the harness is safer when height and weight appropriate. The reason your kids graduate from the 5 pt is because they get heavy.

Here's the physics: at some point, your child weighs enough that they need the limited forward motion of the seatbelt to slow down in a crash - just like you. Remember, you and your kid are going just as fast as the car.

If 5 pt harnesses were better for all weights, we'd all wear them.

OP here. The seats are Sunshine kids radian seats and they are supposed to be safe for kids up to 65 pounds or 80 pounds, and 4'4", with the five point harness. I just have no idea at what age kids "typically" reach those two points, or if it would be just plain cruel to expect him to sit in one after a certain age. I do think tests show that the 5 point harness is much safer than using the car seatbelts -- as long as the height and weight are ok.

Not the PP, but see 19:48.

Your 5 year old should NOT be in a 5 pt harness. It is dangerous.

And you're basing this statement on ... what facts, exactly?

PP here - forgot to add that my 6.75 y.o. is 65 lbs. but he is tall for his age.

Check the details on the seat. Most convertible boosters only rate the 5 pt harness to around the 40-60 lbs range and then you switch to using the seatbelt w/ the booster. This could be important if the 5 pt straps are only load tested to that weight.

Huh? Your kid should be in a seatbelt LONG before 10.

Your 5 year old should NOT be in a 5 pt harness. It is dangerous.

If your kid is big now, spring for the money. If not, don't.

My eyes are tired, so you may want to read the chart for yourself to be sure: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/growthcharts/set1clinical/cj41l021.pdf

Median is about 55 inches and 72 pounds, acc to CDC.

Chances that he'll sit in a 5-point harness when he's 10? My guess would be 0%.

I know there's a huge range, but can you tell me the average height and weight of a ten year old boy? I'm buying a booster seat for my 5 year old, and trying to decide if I should spend the extra $30 for one that goes to 80 pounds versus 65 pounds. The height cut off is 4'4" for both. How likely is it that he'll be over 4'4" and/or over 65 pounds by the time he is 10, when the seats would expire? (And how likely is it I can still get him to sit in a 5 point harness seat by that age?) Thanks!!!