Am I being over-protective?

PlacentaMama

New member
DS is 8 1/2, 55 lbs, 4' 5". We are in Cali & if Im understanding the new law right he has to be 49" before he can ride w/out a booster, right? But is it overkill to have him in a highjack booster, rather than a backless one?
 
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Kac

Ambassador - CPS Technician
No, you are not being over protective. You are doing your job as a parent to keep your child as safe as possible. Way to go! :)

I'm not sure of the new California law, but as long as you have a headrest in his seating position, a no back booster is an appropriate choice for him. Once he does surpass what the law specifies, he needs to be in a booster until he can pass the five step test.

http://www.carseat.org/Boosters/630.htm
 

Kac

Ambassador - CPS Technician
If he struggles with sitting in place, a high back booster might be a better bet because the shoulder guides will keep the belt in position, and with the sides, it doesn't allow as much wiggle room.

Not ridiculous at all when the leading cause of death in children are car accidents. I'd rather be considered over-protective or any other name than risk losing a child in a crash. :twocents:
 

mommyfrog

Active member
Is it 49 inches or 4 foot 9 inches? 4'9" is the guideline of when most kids would fit the seat belt without a booster.
 

PlacentaMama

New member
Is it 49 inches or 4 foot 9 inches? 4'9" is the guideline of when most kids would fit the seat belt without a booster.

He's 45".

ETA: Wait...now that I've had coffee, I think he's actually 4' 5" since his older brother is tall enough for seat belt only & he's just a few inches shorter.
 

PlacentaMama

New member
If he struggles with sitting in place, a high back booster might be a better bet because the shoulder guides will keep the belt in position, and with the sides, it doesn't allow as much wiggle room.

Not ridiculous at all when the leading cause of death in children are car accidents. I'd rather be considered over-protective or any other name than risk losing a child in a crash. :twocents:

I think I'm going to insist on the highback booster. Just makes sense & unfortunately we've been rear-ended at a complete stop at stop-signs TWICE within the past 2 years! Injuries would have been much worse had my then 5-year-old not been in a 5-point-harness & my older 2 in highback boosters!
 

christineka

New member
I believe the high back booster to be safer than backless, so I keep my kids in hbbs as long as possible or until age 12. So far, the oldest moved to a backless at 12 and not because she'd outgrown the hbb either.

My kids, however are short. Make sure your ds fits in the hbb. The belt guide must be above his shoulder.
 

Brianna

New member
I think I'm going to insist on the highback booster. Just makes sense & unfortunately we've been rear-ended at a complete stop at stop-signs TWICE within the past 2 years! Injuries would have been much worse had my then 5-year-old not been in a 5-point-harness & my older 2 in highback boosters!

Have you replaced the seats that were in the vehicle?
 

LISmama810

Admin - CPS Technician
PlacentaMama said:
DS is 8 1/2, 55 lbs, 4' 5". We are in Cali & if Im understanding the new law right he has to be 49" before he can ride w/out a booster, right? But is it overkill to have him in a highjack booster, rather than a backless one?

At 8 years old, he can legally ride without a booster, but ONLY if the belt fits properly. In fact, even at 4'9", the belt has to fit properly to be legal. It's fine print in the law, but it's there.

"Proper fit" means that the lap belt sits low on the hips and the shoulder belt crosses the middle of the shoulder.

It's not until age 10 that 51% of kids it properly without a booster.

I prefer a high-back as long as the child fits, but a backless is fine, too, as long as there is head support and it positions the belt correctly.
 

Carrie_R

Ambassador - CPS Technician
My 9.5 yo charge rides in a hbb, so no, I don't think it's overkill. I would be comfortable with your son in a backless sometimes - like for a ride with friends - but if he's anything like my charges, the sides are helpful for longer rides (esp if they are car sleepers.) This allows them to lean back and relax! It also serves as an excellent physical reminder to help them stay in position.
 

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