Hearing the siren song of the booster...

glockchick

New member
Caleb's harnessed seat wasn't installed last night and I had to run up to the school and get my oldest from wrestling so I let him sit in Kaleigh's PWSGL for the 5 minute drive. He's 4 years, 10 months old and 40 lbs. He was on the lowest head rest setting.

It was SO much easier to let him get in the booster and not have to dig for harness straps or wait for him to buckle his harness (he's in that "I can do it!" stage) which is really nice at 9 pm when everyone is tired and it's cold out.

He fits the seat ok and the school is only about a mile away. I know I can't trust him to sit right the whole time on a drive longer than that, but dang it's tempting. I have to remind Kaleigh (6 yrs 3 months old) to sit right at least 3 times on a 10 minute drive to gymnastics. :rolleyes: I should re-harness her for that too, but again the booster is so much easier because she can buckle and unbuckle herself and can't/won't in a harness and we're always in a hurry.

They both ride in boosters at their dad's house every other week and have since before Caleb was 4. :( Caleb is getting very vocal about how he wants to ride in a booster and not a baby seat. I'm sure the terminology came from his dad. :rolleyes:

WWYD? Keep em both harnessed for the ride to gymnastics? Booster Kaleigh and harness Caleb? Booster 'em both and use it as an opportunity to teach them to sit properly since they do ride in boosters every other week for a week with their dad? Catch there is that it distracts me from driving because I'm constantly glancing in the rear view to make sure they're sitting right. :rolleyes: Ideally, I could sit by them while someone else drove, but I'm a single mom. Nothing is ideal around here. ;)
 
ADS

Baylor

New member
If they are already doing it in dh's car, I would let him ride when possible and teach him well. Make him responsible for how much time he spends in it. My ds will be 5 in feb and he is doing great. I still harness him 90% of the time.

And he only boosters with me. So I can watch him. But I think it is a good opportunity.
 

rosey2007

Active member
I started booster training my oldest around 5.5 years old and then full time booster at 6. Personally I think I would wait until at least 5 to booster training depending on the maturity of the child.
 

glockchick

New member
I'd prefer he stay harnessed until 6, but he's already in a booster half the time with his dad anyway. If it was just me, I'd keep both youngest kids harnessed cause neither of them sit still worth a darn. ;)

So basically the question is do I do best practice when they're with me or let them ride in boosters and hope my training helps some for when they're with their dad as well?
 

amyd

New member
My oldest is the same age and size and he does great in the PWSG. He rides in it full-time in DH's car (only around town, mostly just a couple miles to school). I'm going to keep him harnessed in my car at least until 5.
 

KaysKidz

Senior Community Member
FWIW, my boys ride better for my DH then me. I guess it's that whole mom vs dad thing...Dads just have 'the tone'. I only have the brakes. ;) And yes, I've used them to prove my point when they get out of position. They are both riding much nicer lately. They are 5.5.
 

agave

New member
Booster both with the threat of reharnessing if they need reminders to sit right so if your 4 yr old sits right and 6 yr old gets squirmy she gets harnessed while little brother is boostered, I'd bet she learns to sit still the first time that happens.
 

bnsnyde

New member
My 6-year-old has to be reminded to sit properly, more than I'd like. I keep saying I'll take his seat out! I don't want him to think harnessing is bad. I've got the 5-year-old already asking about boosters. :)

Actually the 6-year-old still rides harnessed in a Radian in Nana's car. I swear this seat will NEVER be outgrown, lol. If he can go to 53 inches, if I follow the manual, well, then he'll be like 8! And it's pink.
 

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