Brigala
CPST Instructor
I don't want to add too much fuel to the fire here, but just getting back to the original question, in some states here in the US a child must weigh 40 lbs in order to graduate to a booster. So if the OP lives in such a state OR if the OP is traveling to such a state, she will need to follow one of Wendy's suggestions for something like a Maestro or a Ride Safer Travel Vest (version 2) in order to be in compliance with the local laws.
I realize that harnessing older, lightweight kids in places where it's legal to move them to boosters is a controversial topic on this board, but I don't think it's really our place to make a parent second-guess a decision to keep a child harnessed to 40 lbs. There are many, many boosters on the market that have a 40 lb minimum, a few states that require it, and the entire Transport Canada system that has determined that they will not certify boosters for children smaller than 40 lbs. It is a perfectly reasonable and safe option for a parent to decide to follow that guideline whether or not the parent is legally required to do so.
I realize that harnessing older, lightweight kids in places where it's legal to move them to boosters is a controversial topic on this board, but I don't think it's really our place to make a parent second-guess a decision to keep a child harnessed to 40 lbs. There are many, many boosters on the market that have a 40 lb minimum, a few states that require it, and the entire Transport Canada system that has determined that they will not certify boosters for children smaller than 40 lbs. It is a perfectly reasonable and safe option for a parent to decide to follow that guideline whether or not the parent is legally required to do so.
