Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it were up to safety experts, we'd all be in five-poinz harness car seats with side protection.

This is not true. Five points harnesses are safest for babies and young children. There is no evidence that a car seat is safer for older kids. In fact, some studies indicate that having a seatbelt that works as intended attached to a car is safer than a five point harness attached to a car seat.

Sure, 5 point harnesses aren't safer at all. That's why race car drivers wear a lap belt only.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it were up to safety experts, we'd all be in five-poinz harness car seats with side protection.

This is not true. Five points harnesses are safest for babies and young children. There is no evidence that a car seat is safer for older kids. In fact, some studies indicate that having a seatbelt that works as intended attached to a car is safer than a five point harness attached to a car seat.

Airline pilots, fighter jet pilots and race car drivers also wear five point harness seats. They are superior to what we use in cars.

But the choice isn’t five point harness in car v regular seat belt in car. The choice is five point harness in a car seat v seatbelt in a car. Those are very different things with very different outcomes, mostly due to the car seat installation and ability to withstand staying attached to the car appropriately with a larger child.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a high back booster. My petite younger DD needed one until the end of 4th grade.

What? No!

She was tiny and our pediatrician insisted on it. Can I see your medical license?

Strange. Our pediatrician never mentioned car seats. I’m assuming you asked your pediatrician? Seems like a leading question. Regardless, parents can do what they choose but if they insist on car seats too long they will not be able to carpool and for me that is a dealbreaker.

My Pediatrician asks about car seats, guns, and the like at every well check up. I am pretty sure it is common practice for his office. My sons original Pediatrician, in a different office, asked the same questions. So that is two more anecdotal data points.

So my kid won't car pool with you because my kid belongs in a booster. It is a basic safety issue. God forbid you are in a car accident with a car full of kids who should be in boosters and are not. The likelihood that one or more of those kids suffers more serious injuries because the seat belt did not fit them properly is high.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it were up to safety experts, we'd all be in five-poinz harness car seats with side protection.

This is not true. Five points harnesses are safest for babies and young children. There is no evidence that a car seat is safer for older kids. In fact, some studies indicate that having a seatbelt that works as intended attached to a car is safer than a five point harness attached to a car seat.

Airline pilots, fighter jet pilots and race car drivers also wear five point harness seats. They are superior to what we use in cars.

Anonymous wrote:When do most transition from car seat to booster? My big 5YO is happy in his car seat and we don’t have any plans to switch.

We transitioned when DS outgrew each seat. He has always been in the 99th percentile for height and weight so he has transitioned younger then many others. He is 7 and uses a high back booster. He will stay in the booster until he is at least 4'9", which is the recommendation of a our Pediatrician and most safety organizations. I suspect that will be sooner then many kids because he is larger then most kids but he until the seat belt fits him correctly, he will use a booster.

This is not an ego thing for the kid or the parent. It is a safety issue. Kids need to be a specific height and weight and able to sit without too much squirming so that the seat belt rests over the shoulder and down and not sit on or close to the neck. If you move a child out of the booster too soon and the seat belt is resting on the neck or close to the neck, your child is at a much higher risk of serious injury in a car accident.

I know of friends and co-workers whose children where in a booster until MS because they were on the smaller size.

If your child is under the recommended height, ie even close to my kid in height, they will ride in a booster in my car. No booster, no driving. We have an extra, the one we use for travel.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a high back booster. My petite younger DD needed one until the end of 4th grade.

What? No!

She was tiny and our pediatrician insisted on it. Can I see your medical license?

Strange. Our pediatrician never mentioned car seats. I’m assuming you asked your pediatrician? Seems like a leading question. Regardless, parents can do what they choose but if they insist on car seats too long they will not be able to carpool and for me that is a dealbreaker.

God forbid I should not be able to cart your kids around!

Whoever said their ped doesn't ask about car seats- change peds! That's a standard question these days...

Anonymous wrote:Being in a 5 point harness is considerably safer than being in a seat belt. If my kid would cooperate, I would keep her in one for as long as possible.

You can grow out of carseats height wise.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it were up to safety experts, we'd all be in five-poinz harness car seats with side protection.

This is not true. Five points harnesses are safest for babies and young children. There is no evidence that a car seat is safer for older kids. In fact, some studies indicate that having a seatbelt that works as intended attached to a car is safer than a five point harness attached to a car seat.

This. Small 10 year olds might need a booster. They shouldn't be in a convertible car seat.

There is a poster in the ES Forum who goes crazy about car seats for her 10 yr old. There was a pos about driving a small group of 10-yr olds to bday party at the movies and the poster was like "no way would I allow that. Car seats!".

Anonymous wrote:When do most transition from car seat to booster? My big 5YO is happy in his car seat and we don’t have any plans to switch.

Usually when they have to do a drop off at school. So kindergarten or first.

When do most transition from car seat to booster? My big 5YO is happy in his car seat and we don’t have any plans to switch.

Anonymous wrote:The child either has a developmental problem or the parents are super crazy.

Or you're super crazy?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it were up to safety experts, we'd all be in five-poinz harness car seats with side protection.

This is not true. Five points harnesses are safest for babies and young children. There is no evidence that a car seat is safer for older kids. In fact, some studies indicate that having a seatbelt that works as intended attached to a car is safer than a five point harness attached to a car seat.

Can you cite your source please?

The child either has a developmental problem or the parents are super crazy.