My rising first grader is still in hers. She sometimes says she is ready for a booster, but for now she still fits, I'm keeping her in. The HBB isn't that different, so what's the point in switching until she outgrows it?

DS is headed to K. We use a Britax Frontier with the harness. No plans to stop anytime soon.

Rising 1st grader, 6 1/4 years, 44 lbs, 49 1/2": still in the convertible 5 point. Even if he gets some teasing (thought I doubt he will), he's weathered teasing for his own lingering "little kid" behaviors (i.e. thumb sucking). Safety first. But if anyone has booster seat recommendations , TIA.

Anonymous wrote:Nope. My average DD is going into second grade and is still in a convertible seat.

When did you buy the new one? It hasn't experied?

No we waited till after six. I do not care what other parents do.

We kept K son in 5 point harness. Now I have a 5yo and 7yo and they are both in the same convertible car seats (Diono Radians) but they no longer use the 5 point harness and use car buckes instead.

Moved daughter to booster in pre-K when friends noted her "baby seat." Boosters are super cheap.

Anonymous wrote:My rising 1st grader is in a 5 pt, he's 51 lbs and 48". He has 2 younger siblings in convertibles and we don't have a 3rd row, so all 3 are across. It's really difficult to access the seatbelt, so he'll stay in a 5 pt as long as possible.

Like other said, why bother switching earlier than you need to? It's just another thing to have to buy. I do think that boosters are easier for switching between cars though

This. My child moved into a booster the summer before 1st grade (almost 7) in our SUV with a 3rd row, but continues to be in a 5 point in our 3-across compact car. And probably will be for quite some time, as I haven't even been able to find a booster that would fit, let alone one where she could easily access the belt.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 40 pound dd still is. Her doctor actually said at her annual appointment yesterday after asking what she rides in that she could probably switch to a booster. I asked if there was any reason to since the car seat fits and is rated to 55 or 65 pounds. She kind of hemmed and hawed but no real answer, which seemed odd.

The reason to switch is because it's easier to get in and out of, especially in the Kiss and Ride line, and is equal in terms of safety.

I didn't find that to be true. My daughter knew how to buckle and unbuckle her car seat (Radian) quickly. She is not any faster with getting the belt on her booster.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, they are mostly all in high back boosters, some in backless boosters. At 5 or 6, a 5 point harness isn't safer than a high back booster anyway.

Not necessarily true. Depends on child's size and whether they can and do use the booster properly.

No, mine wasn't in K (last year.) She wasn't the only one in a car seat, some of her similarly small friends were as well.

It was literally never an issue of anyone making fun. No one saw at the kiss and ride line, and no one asked at play dates.

She's in a booster now, but she complains constantly that it's not as comfy as her car seat.

Do not let other people make you feel guilty about your child being safely harnessed.

FWIW we are in Fairfax County, so idk where these "real world" people are.

^ We bought a seat belt stalk extender to bring the seat belt buckle up, so that DC could reach it in a booster. Something to consider, when you switch.

My rising 1st grader is in a 5 pt, he's 51 lbs and 48". He has 2 younger siblings in convertibles and we don't have a 3rd row, so all 3 are across. It's really difficult to access the seatbelt, so he'll stay in a 5 pt as long as possible.

Like other said, why bother switching earlier than you need to? It's just another thing to have to buy. I do think that boosters are easier for switching between cars though

My K DD will be in a convertible seat. She is small for her age.

My rising K'er is still in a convertible car seat. He's barely 40 lbs. and fits just fine still. i could not care less whether some other kid thinks it's babyish.