WWYD? Booster or harness?

Harness or booster?

  • Harness

    Votes: 23 88.5%
  • Booster

    Votes: 2 7.7%
  • Clickey box

    Votes: 1 3.8%

  • Total voters
    26

glockchick

New member
Child is 4 years 11 months old and 40 lbs. Assume normal tone and the self control of a typical almost 5 year old boy. :p
 
ADS

tiggercat

New member
It would really depend on the child for me. Ideally, I'd harness another 5lb or so. Also depends if it means you need to buy a new seat to keep harnessing.

Sent from my iPod touch using Car-Seat.Org
 

zactayaus

Well-known member
If it was me I'd harness but I tend to like to keep my kids in harnesses longer then most I guess. My oldest (now 22yo) was harnessed till he was 6yo and in the 1st grade. My middle two (now 14 and 9yo) were both harnessed to 7 1/2yo. I plan on keeping my youngest harnessed to 6 or 7yo as well.:)
 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob
Staff member
I prefer kids not be boostered full time until 5.5-7, a typical range for really being able to sit properly all the time, even when tired, etc. But my answer does depend some on feasibility- is a harness that fits already owned? Etc.
 

Baylor

New member
If I had a seat to harness, I would use it most of the time and start booster process. If you need a new seat, I would buy a hbb for full time use. I would not buy a new harnessed seat for an almost 5 yr old.
 

hrice

New member
Harness. I'm a harness forever kind of gal though.

I agree with KetchupQueen. 5.5 is the very earliest I'm ok with boostering. 7 is more in my comfort zone for full time.
 

Phineasmama

New member
DD1 was definitely not ready for full time at that age. I was just beginning to train her, and she wouldn't sit still for any length of time. She's turning 6 in two weeks and is now boostered full time, but there has been a huge change in the past year.
 

gsdguenter

Well-known member
I'd say harness unless all the have is a booster. When you say typical almost 5 yr old boy, that leads me to believe wiggly and impulsive.
 

glockchick

New member
I already have seats for either. In fact, I have 2 FR 85s and 2 BLVD 70s so I can harness both him and Kaleigh in both vehicles I have. He has 2 clicks left on the BLVDs so it'll be a while before he outgrows them.

The main reason to booster is that he's boostered full time with his dad so he fights me about sitting in a "baby" seat. I know, bad reason. If I keep his 6 1/2 year old sister harnessed as well, he doesn't fight as much, but if she's in a booster than he thinks he should be too.

Obviously, I'm not really comfortable with boostering him (or his sister really, she has the impulse control of a gnat). But I keep thinking maybe I should booster them with me on shorter trips and keep reminding them to sit right and maybe that will carry over to when they're with dad and they'll be safer in his car. He has them 1/2 the time.

Then again, watching them like a hawk and driving at the same time isn't the easiest thing and distracts me from the road a lot.
 

tiggercat

New member
I already have seats for either. In fact, I have 2 FR 85s and 2 BLVD 70s so I can harness both him and Kaleigh in both vehicles I have. He has 2 clicks left on the BLVDs so it'll be a while before he outgrows them.

The main reason to booster is that he's boostered full time with his dad so he fights me about sitting in a "baby" seat. I know, bad reason. If I keep his 6 1/2 year old sister harnessed as well, he doesn't fight as much, but if she's in a booster than he thinks he should be too.

Obviously, I'm not really comfortable with boostering him (or his sister really, she has the impulse control of a gnat). But I keep thinking maybe I should booster them with me on shorter trips and keep reminding them to sit right and maybe that will carry over to when they're with dad and they'll be safer in his car. He has them 1/2 the time.

Then again, watching them like a hawk and driving at the same time isn't the easiest thing and distracts me from the road a lot.

Ah, now I understand. Similar situations in my home (though not CRS related, usually).
I think I would still keep them harnessed most of the time, with some occasional practice runs where you can reinforce good booster riding.
While I get the idea of trying to booster train them so they do better with him, I think reducing their safety 50% of the time with you in the hopes that it will improve behaviour with him (when he isn't going to be reinforcing it directly) isn't really a great trade off.

Sent from my iPod touch using Car-Seat.Org
 

MommyShannon

New member
I like the animations in this video for showing the difference in crashes without being too disturbing for kids. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhLDyAmZbPU&sns=em"]Keeping children safe in crashes: Booster seats - YouTube[/ame]
Maybe it would help show them why its important. Just don't let them see its for 4-8 year olds.
 

KaysKidz

Senior Community Member
My twins are 5yrs and 7mo. One is boostered. And one is harnessed. I tried boostering them both and needless to say, one got a brand spankin new seat yesterday. He's happy as a clam. And much safer.
 

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