All the car seat experts (google car seat blog and car seat lady) seem to concede that there’s no PROVEN safety benefit to harnessing (vs HBB) for kids over 5 who meet height/weight requirements AND will reliably sit properly and not fall asleep. That doesn’t apply to all 5 yos, but probably most 6 yos and the vast majority of 7 yos. But there’s likely nothing wrong with harnessing either. It’s kind of an open question, but as long as the above requirements are met, at this time, there’s no strong evidence that one is superior to the other.

Right after 7, she’d outgrown it by height. So Mid first grade. 4 year old is still in his.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I switched mine at 5 and 4 out of the 5 point harness to the high back booster. A big reason to switch was that my kids could not unbuckle the Radian 5 point harness and I was worried about that, from a safety perspective. Seat belts work well, if they fit properly.

Huh? Why do they need to be able to unbuckle it?

I switched mine from a radian to a high back booster at the start of kindergarten (5 years, 9 months) in part so that he could unbuckle for the occasional drop off.

4/40lb for short trips. Probably a year or so later for longer car rides, especially if they were round trips with the car. Not having to manage a huge car seat was a life changer.

We switched to a high back booster just before she turned 6.

My 6 year old 90% for height is in a five point harness. No plans for changing.

8.

5 is the absolute minimum age where this is safe.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I switched mine at 5 and 4 out of the 5 point harness to the high back booster. A big reason to switch was that my kids could not unbuckle the Radian 5 point harness and I was worried about that, from a safety perspective. Seat belts work well, if they fit properly.

Huh? Why do they need to be able to unbuckle it?

Although it's against the rules, sometimes the would go in the car and buckle themselves in while playing. Or, if we were in a car accident, I'd like them to be able to get out.

4 .5 because we started carpooling to prek. It was easier to use boosters rather than install seats. As long as kid sits still they are equally safe.

Anonymous wrote:I switched mine at 5 and 4 out of the 5 point harness to the high back booster. A big reason to switch was that my kids could not unbuckle the Radian 5 point harness and I was worried about that, from a safety perspective. Seat belts work well, if they fit properly.

Huh? Why do they need to be able to unbuckle it?

I switched mine at 5 and 4 out of the 5 point harness to the high back booster. A big reason to switch was that my kids could not unbuckle the Radian 5 point harness and I was worried about that, from a safety perspective. Seat belts work well, if they fit properly.

Anonymous wrote:My 50 lb 6 1/2 year old is still in hers. I don’t see any reason to change. Am I missing something?

That’s why I’m asking. I know there is a difference between this and rear facing a kindergartener. I’m trying to find out what’s normal. My son seems so young and small. I can’t imagine him being secure in the seat.

Switched at 5.5. Around 45lbs and just about over the shoulder height limit.

Same as the above, I have a child who is almost 7 in one. About 4’1” and 50+ pounds.

My 50 lb 6 1/2 year old is still in hers. I don’t see any reason to change. Am I missing something?