boosters - age vs. weight (o/t AB thread)

[jerenaud]

A kind of off topic to the thread about the booster law in Alberta-

My oldest will be 6 in September and weighs about 37 -38 pounds without shoes etc. on. She's harnessed at home and still has a few inches of growing room in her radian.

However, we're looking at buying carseats to leave at Grandma and Grandpa's, in Ontario. (this stems from my other thread, about West Jet and not being allowed to use more than one car seat on the plane). Given that she'll be 6 +3 months at our next visit, and nearly 7 at the visit after that, is a booster a possibility, or not at all until she's 40 pounds?

I'm not even asking about legalities, because I doubt that a police officer is going to weigh her at the side of the road. I'm not asking about maturity, because I do think that at 6+ she could handle using a high backed booster on occasion. My question is about the physics - is there a higher risk of a 38 pound 6 year old submarining than there is of a 41 pound 3 year old submarining?

(She'll remained harnessed at home until she outgrows the harness height, or if I need to hand down carseats to the baby, but neither one will be before she's 7 1/2)

Thanks for any insights,

Erica

[QuassEE]

So you're going to be in Ontario in December, and your child will be *over* 6 years of age, but questionably 40lbs at that point? Are you weighing her clothed? ;) If she can sit properly, a booster would be a good option for a child over the age of 6. My guess would be that dressed for Ontario, and given almost another 1/2 a year you might be surprised and she'll hit 40lbs. If not, the legal answer is that she must still be harnessed.

If you're planning on leaving a seat there--do you visit often? If you leave a harnessed seat there, you can always use it for your younger child on your next visit and buy a cheapie backless booster at that point, for your older child. If you can travel with your Radian for your youngest, you can always have Grandma and Grandpa pick up a cheap Scenera to use for the youngest (putting the oldest in the Radian) once you're in Ontario, as well. A good option if you don't reach the 40lb mark and not too pricey, either.

-Nicole.

[jerenaud]

Yes, she'll be over 6 at our December visit. Yes, the 37 - 38 pounds is clothed - she's gained *maybe* a pound in the past year, so I'm not counting on her having hit 40 pounds then. I guess I'm also not understanding what makes 40 pounds the magical number - is 39 pounds far less safe than 41 pounds, or do other factors (such as age and height) figure into it?

Normally I do fly with carseats - at least one, usually two, even if the 2nd has to be gate checked. However, this trip will be an odd one, involving several legs and a disney trip, and we won't be taking the carseats.

I understand that I could buy a harnessed seat to pass down, but *if* the baby is a lap baby on that flight (still being discussed) then we'll need for her to have a carseat in ON as well. It doesn't seem to make sense to buy *3* harnessed seats to have in ON.

That's why I'm trying to understand if a 39 pound 6 year old is less safe in a booster than is a 41 pound 3 year old. I think that the 41 pound child is legal and the 39 pound child isn't (except in AB!) but is there a significant difference in safety? Other than the obvious step down in safety of using a booster seat, but that is going to come at some point, whether she's 6 or 8 at that point.

Thanks for any thoughts,

Erica

[QuassEE]

In my experience--maturity and height are more important factors than weight. The reason we have the 40lb minimum on our boosters here is to discourage people from putting younger children in boosters. Generally, there's a correlation between weight and age....but sometimes there are children who are still very light at an older age.

One of the grade 7s in our school here just hit 40lbs this year. She has been too tall for any available harnessed seat on the market for at least 2-3 years. At least you're not in that position, right?

Ultimately, you're the parent. It's really up to you what you do. We cannot encourage you to do something illegal. If the law were perfect, it would take a number of factors into account but it doesn't, and it isn't.

Side note--I would really encourage purchasing a seat for your baby. It's hard enough to travel as it is, but kids tend to behave quite a bit better when they're in their carseats on the airplane. It's also a huge added safety bonus in the event of turbulence.

-Nicole.

[jerenaud]

Thanks for the replies :) I appreciate the comment on maturity and height with regards to boosters - that's along the lines of what I'm looking for. I completely understand that no one can advise me to break the law. I'm not looking for permission to consider a booster, I'm just trying to make an informed decision. And part of that process is understanding what it is that is dangerous about an <40 pound child using a booster.

And regarding the plane - I believe that you've posted on my other thread, about using carseats on the plane. I would normally choose to have all 3 children harnessed on the plane and have had the baby harnessed on both the domestic flights she's been on so far (though admit to having her as a 7 week old lap baby to hawaii). I do understand that it's a safer choice, both in terms of turbulance and behaviour and in having a useable carseat at the other end. I don't generally travel with a lap baby but am considering it for one trip.

So, maybe I need to rephrase my question. What I'm looking for is information on why there is a 40 pound minimum on boosters. Is it truly a weight issue, or is there a correlated maturity issue, such as when we talk about the pelvic bones supporting a seatbelt?
Thank you!

Erica



In my experience--maturity and height are more important factors than weight. The reason we have the 40lb minimum on our boosters here is to discourage people from putting younger children in boosters. Generally, there's a correlation between weight and age....but sometimes there are children who are still very light at an older age.

One of the grade 7s in our school here just hit 40lbs this year. She has been too tall for any available harnessed seat on the market for at least 2-3 years. At least you're not in that position, right?

Ultimately, you're the parent. It's really up to you what you do. We cannot encourage you to do something illegal. If the law were perfect, it would take a number of factors into account but it doesn't, and it isn't.

Side note--I would really encourage purchasing a seat for your baby. It's hard enough to travel as it is, but kids tend to behave quite a bit better when they're in their carseats on the airplane. It's also a huge added safety bonus in the event of turbulence.

-Nicole.

[QuassEE]

It's the correlation between weight and age, I would say. It also has a lot to do with needing something quantitative versus qualitative (such as we use for the 5-step test to use the seatbelt) and weight is easily measurable. Furthermore, the minimums on boosters are 30lbs in the United States and this results in 2 and 3 year olds being in boosters. Forty is a step up from that.

Physical development also relates to weight, but moreso to age (as you suspected).. A 6 year old that's 40lbs is more developed physically than a 3 year old who is 50lbs. But as with everything, there needs to be some sort of criteria and exceptions are difficult to account for in such a situation.

-Nicole.

[jerenaud]

Thanks again :)

I guess that I was hoping for something qualitative to help with the decision. It just doesn't make sense to me that at 40 pounds she'd be significantly safer than she was at 39. And no, I'm not in a rush to move her to a booster, she'll be harnessed at home for quite awhile yet. As you pointed out earlier, at least there are high harness seats available!

Erica