How old for a backless all the time?

todzwife

New member
I'm curious what everyone's thoughts are on backless boosters.

How old/big do you like your kids to be before being in a backless all the time?
 
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An Aurora

Senior Community Member
Totally depends on the child, and level of parental comfort. My full time booster rider sleeps in the car frequently, so obviously a backless booster is not an option yet. I would say around 7 or so most kids can ride in a backless.

Posted by a robot and susceptible to unrelated and potentially inappropriate AutoCorrects.
 

christineka

New member
I believe sip is important, so I prefer not to go backless until the high back is outgrown. I'd recommend high back until a kid is 8 years old. Of course, that is just what I'd prefer. Really, the minimum is 4 and 40 pounds.
 

mlohry

New member
We went backless at 8. Yesterday was the 1st time I regretted it. When my poor son wanted to sleep and couldn't find somewhere to lay his head. He is totally not a car sleeper, but we drove 5 hours in the night and kept falling asleep. 1st time we had a issue since he's been in it for 6 mos.
 

carseatcoach

Carseat Crankypants
Assuming proper use and a physically/developmentally typical child, I'd say 7 out of necessity (tight three-across, extremely tall child) and 8-9 for preference or convenience.
 

melniemi

New member
My almost 11 yo just switched to a backless. My almost 10 yo prefers his parkway, though I gave him the option of a backless in our new car since it has side airbags.
 

Kat_Momof3

New member
well, a backless all the time for me is preferably only after a child fits one well, can even sleep sitting properly in one, and is at least 8yrs old.

However, if they aren't complaining, I say keep them in a highback (but then, my kids are car sleepers) Ruthie could easily be in her Recaro Vivo until age 9-10 or maybe even older (who knows)

I do know that it's very likely that she will not have outgrown it when it expires in 2013... if she hasn't, I will likely consider letting her go backless, but I'll probably prefer her in a highback until it's outgrown, and get her another highback that is tall if I can afford to.
 

luckyclov

New member
DS1 will be 9 in October and I'm considering letting him ride in a backless fulltime around then. However, he doesn't sleep often in the vehicle, we have side curtain airbags, he sits center, headrests are adequate, and he stays positioned properly. Without those factors also involved, I wouldn't be considering. Those are my personal preferences. Every parent is different, every child is different, every situation is different.
 

sirrahn

Active member
My boys were both about 9. 8y/o DD1 still sleeps in the car and loves her old style parkway so she may stay in a highback longer. She does ride in a backless in other people's cars though.
 

smileybrea

CPS Technician
We are in a slightly different situation due to ADHD but my 7.5yr old is just now going into a booster but that aside, he won't be going into a backless until he outgrows it. I think SIP is important so I will use it until I no longer can :) Thankfully we've discussed car seat safety a lot so he is perfectly content with whatever he needs to be in to be safe.
 

Mom2FiveGirls

Active member
DD1 was 9, DD2 was 8 (we couldn't find a HBB to work with our 3 across situation). My personal minimum for my kids is 8. I have a feeling DD3 might be in one longer than her big sisters because she still sleeps in the van a lot.
 

katiesmommy

Active member
It really depends on the child and the car. If we still have our current car I will not consider a backless till the highback is outgrown, and my kid is short, so I'm guessing that would be around 12 for her. Hopefully by that time we will have a better safer vehicle.
 

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