Six-year olds & booster seats..... What do you do?
May 29th, 2004, 09:58 AM
#1
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Six-year olds & booster seats..... What do you do?
My granddaughter is six years old, weigh 53 lbs., and I insist that she sit in a booster seat in the back seat, per all the recommendations. I know about statistics, what you SHOULD do, and why. Problem: her Mom allows her to sit in a regular seat-belt in the back, and of course, she wants to do it with me. Years ago, my son stretched out in the backseat, with pillow and blanket, no seat-belt............ That's what *everybody* did.
Just wondering, when you're traveling today with young kids, how lax are you about these things on, say, an all-day drive? Do you ever give into the begging, and *let them loose* to lie down in the back-seat, or do you stick strictly to what you know you should do? And on most school buses, am I right in thinking there are no seat-belts?
Just wondering, when you're traveling today with young kids, how lax are you about these things on, say, an all-day drive? Do you ever give into the begging, and *let them loose* to lie down in the back-seat, or do you stick strictly to what you know you should do? And on most school buses, am I right in thinking there are no seat-belts?
May 29th, 2004, 10:18 AM
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Bonnie, what state do you live in? Reason I ask as I believe some states insist on up to 8 years or 60 pounds for a car seat.
I don't let my adult (23, 21 years old) stepchildren or my 16 year old stepchild ride in my car in the back seat without buckling up.
I don't let my adult (23, 21 years old) stepchildren or my 16 year old stepchild ride in my car in the back seat without buckling up.
May 29th, 2004, 10:22 AM
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As far as lying down in the back seat, there was a tragic accident in our town.A car full of kids went on a joy ride. They were literally within 50 feet of getting back safely when the car spun on wet pavement. A boy who was stretched across the laps of his friends in the back seat was killed by being thrown into the car door. And the other poster is correct--some states require a booster seat until age 7+.
May 29th, 2004, 10:37 AM
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There is a big difference between lying down unrestrained in the back seat and the issue of booster seat-versus-seat belt alone.
Check the laws in whatever states you will be driving through, use that as your ammunition ("Grandma doesn't want to get a ticket" probably will work far better than going to war with Mom)
Check the laws in whatever states you will be driving through, use that as your ammunition ("Grandma doesn't want to get a ticket" probably will work far better than going to war with Mom)
May 29th, 2004, 11:03 AM
#7
In California, the law requires using a booster seat until the child is 6yrs old or weighs 60lbs. So, technically, you'd be OK, so long as the seat belt was used.
You might suggest to your granddaughter that she'd see more out of the windows if she was sitting higher up on the booster seat.
Most school buses do not have seat belts. There is great discussion about that, but at the moment they don't have them...except special education buses.
Nobody sits in my car without a seat belt, child or adult. I just don't start the engine until they're fastened. As you will be driving your car, you get to make the rules.
You might suggest to your granddaughter that she'd see more out of the windows if she was sitting higher up on the booster seat.
Most school buses do not have seat belts. There is great discussion about that, but at the moment they don't have them...except special education buses.
Nobody sits in my car without a seat belt, child or adult. I just don't start the engine until they're fastened. As you will be driving your car, you get to make the rules.
May 29th, 2004, 11:16 AM
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Oh, I have no problem being a strict Granny! Just wondered if you all stuck to your guns all the time...
And I always just answer, "Grannies and Mommies do things differently sometimes. You're with Granny now....... you'll just have to put up with me!"............ which always makes her break into a smile, 'cause she knows I love her such KABOODLES!!!
And I always just answer, "Grannies and Mommies do things differently sometimes. You're with Granny now....... you'll just have to put up with me!"............ which always makes her break into a smile, 'cause she knows I love her such KABOODLES!!!
May 29th, 2004, 12:48 PM
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Good answer Bonnie Broad--that's what I usually tell the kids when DH let's them "get away" with something (he's a marshmellow)and I won't!
Absolutely make your granddaughter sit in a booster seat--she is too precious to take a chance. We don't need boosters anymore, but we won't start the car until all belts are fastened. This year on Mother's Day we were 2 blocks from our house on a very quiet street and one of those huge pick up trucks driving toward us started drifting into our lane. I was literally bracing for the head-on collision when he pulled hard to the right and took out a mailbox and hit a lamp post. It terrified the kids, but it was also a good lesson about wearing their seatbelts.
It's a law here in Florida. some states will only ticket you for being unbelted if they stop you for another violation. Here they can ticket you solely for not wearing your seatbelt.
Booster seats have gotten so much nicer over the years. The ones that are like the booster seats in restaurants look so uncomfortable. I suggest that you try to find one that is well padded and with a full back (and then give her one for her birthday or Christmas--LOL!). My youngest loved his--he could see out the window when he sat in it. Your grandaughter is lucky to have a grandmother that cares enough to ask!
Absolutely make your granddaughter sit in a booster seat--she is too precious to take a chance. We don't need boosters anymore, but we won't start the car until all belts are fastened. This year on Mother's Day we were 2 blocks from our house on a very quiet street and one of those huge pick up trucks driving toward us started drifting into our lane. I was literally bracing for the head-on collision when he pulled hard to the right and took out a mailbox and hit a lamp post. It terrified the kids, but it was also a good lesson about wearing their seatbelts.
It's a law here in Florida. some states will only ticket you for being unbelted if they stop you for another violation. Here they can ticket you solely for not wearing your seatbelt.
Booster seats have gotten so much nicer over the years. The ones that are like the booster seats in restaurants look so uncomfortable. I suggest that you try to find one that is well padded and with a full back (and then give her one for her birthday or Christmas--LOL!). My youngest loved his--he could see out the window when he sat in it. Your grandaughter is lucky to have a grandmother that cares enough to ask!
May 29th, 2004, 01:00 PM
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Jayne, she does have TWO very nice, comfy ones, and I INSIST that she be in one in my car, that it be brought on the plane, if necessary. But, you know, that's all a Granny can do......... (And I have that Granny's disease that is pretty prevalent..... a severely bitten tongue at times...
)
)
May 29th, 2004, 01:09 PM
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Your granddaughter's life is much more important than her comfort. I used to stop my car and pull over to the side of the road if my children DARED to unbuckel their car seats or seat belts. That having been said, it really does depend on the size of your granddaughter. Often, laws don't take a child's size or physical maturity into consideration. Use your best judgemnet to decide whether she still needs a booster, but never, ever let her ride without a car seat!
May 29th, 2004, 05:52 PM
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Hi -- my thoughts are your granddaughter should still be in a booster for her own safety. (Perhaps you could print all these replies out and give them to her mother.) I've got 7-year-old twins, and they are always in boosters in the car. They've got nice padded ones, with cupholders. I fondly remember lying down in the back of the car on long trips, but my kids don't get to. We just stop more often, I suppose.
May 29th, 2004, 07:56 PM
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Probably because they've almost always had to ride in infant seats, car seats, and now booster seats (exceptions being rides in taxis on vacation and the like), my kids don't ever ask to get out of them, even on long rides.
The argument that they can see out the windows better has worked well for us, because it's definitely true.
With our oldest, who is 8 yo and over the maximum weight (and age) requirement for booster seats in our seat, but NOT out of the range of booster seat usage as advised by the American Academy of Pediatricians (am I anal about safety stuff? Yes), we asked our pediatrician to talk to our son about why it was much safer for him to continue to be in a booster seat (though most of his friends aren't). That safety discussion swayed any thoughts my son had about not being in a booster seat.
The argument that they can see out the windows better has worked well for us, because it's definitely true.
With our oldest, who is 8 yo and over the maximum weight (and age) requirement for booster seats in our seat, but NOT out of the range of booster seat usage as advised by the American Academy of Pediatricians (am I anal about safety stuff? Yes), we asked our pediatrician to talk to our son about why it was much safer for him to continue to be in a booster seat (though most of his friends aren't). That safety discussion swayed any thoughts my son had about not being in a booster seat.
