Would you booster a 4yr in THIS situaton?

NannyMom

Well-known member
Sofi is 4.5, but only 34 pounds. I'd like to try her in a booster, but not until 40 pounds. She probably won't be heavy enough until closer to 6. Her friend Alex weighs 40 pounds, and is like 1 month younger. I know he rides in a nbb in 1 of their cars. I know his parents wouldn't care what seat he uses in MY car, because they totally trust me.

I have a HBB sitting next to Sofi that I use every afternoon. I will soon be driving Alex every Mon/Wed/Fri. I'm not asking "would you put this 40 pound 4yr in a HBB", I'm asking "Would you put a child the same age as your child in a booster, when your child is over a year away from being able to use one? So, let's just assume the other child is mature enough to use it (because in reality if he isn't mature enough, he won't ride).
 
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lorismurph

Senior Community Member
My oldest went to a booster at 4. He did great! As long as he sits fine, I'd be okay with it. Now to explain to your own 4yo, that could be difficult. She can understand that she doesn't weigh enough but she still may want to try the booster.
 

NannyMom

Well-known member
My oldest went to a booster at 4. He did great! As long as he sits fine, I'd be okay with it. Now to explain to your own 4yo, that could be difficult. She can understand that she doesn't weigh enough but she still may want to try the booster.

That's where I'm running into the problem. How to explain it to Sofi. I don't want to mention she doesn't weigh enough. Because, that's not really something to get into a girl's head, KWIM. But it's not like I can say "Alex is bigger" because to her, they are the same size....same age, height (within an inch or so).

What I'd been doing when I had this situation months ago was I kept 2 extra seats installed in the 3rd row. Sofi and Alex would ride in the 3rd row, HBB would go in the trunk. Second row would have Sofi's seat, and TJ's seat (alex's Baby bro. I traded for a SR32 because it is so easy in/out and gets replaced by a nbb every afternoon for an 8yr).
 

babyherder

Well-known member
If you have an extra seat, I'd harness both of them. If not, Alex gets the booster and Sofi gets her car seat. You have to decide what reason you give her but I might tell her the weight thing. Don't treat it like a big deal. She's a normal weight for her and Alex is a normal weight for him. People weight different amounts and that's ok. I think if you're ok with Sofi's weight, you help start her on a path of being ok with it. But if you don't want to bring weight into it (and I totally understand not wanting to) I don't think there's anything wrong with "because I said so."
 

wvmommy007

New member
Maybe just tell her that a booster is his regular seat with his parents?

"Alex rides in a booster with his parents, so he will ride in one with us. Your regular seat is a "whatever" so you'll ride in that until Mommy says it's ok to ride in a booster (perhaps with an age requirement, instead of weight)."

Or harness them both, if you can and would rather.
 

emandbri

Well-known member
Since you have plenty of harnessed seats, I would harness him. 4 year olds are very concerned with fairness.
 

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