How do you handle carpooling with older kids (9+)?

Angela814

New member
We're going to be driving some of my 10 year old's friends to the roller skating rink for her birthday party. Last year, when she turned 9, she was still in a booster, so I just put all 3 girls in a booster. They figured out who would sit in which booster based on their heights. :) This year, she doesn't need a booster in the vehicle we'll be driving, but she's the tallest of her friends at 4'11". How do you handle deciding who needs to use a booster? I can guarantee all but maybe one girl is booster free in her parents' vehicles and not one parent has asked about boosters. Do you check each child for belt fit? Just put anyone under 4'9" in a booster? I have 6 nbbs and 7 girls including my daughter.
 
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christineka

New member
I have the opposite situation, where my kids are in boosters much longer than I make their peers sit in one in my vehicle. I think I'd line the kids up to a 4'9" ruler and anyone shorter sits in a booster. I usually just look at the kid and figure if they are around 4'9" I won't bother. They all quit riding in boosters by their 8th birthday anyway.
 

aeormsby

New member
It's tough, does your vehicle have spots that kids fit in better? My DD is 10.5 and some of her friends haven't used boosters in years, some have no problem using one if I say to. But our 3rd row has 2 spots that are easy for even smaller kids to 5-step so I put other kids there and DD knows she needs the booster in other spots. I tried DD in the 2nd row last weekend and she pretty much 5-steps there also so I'd be OK with it in a pinch if needed (and she's not 4'-9" yet, more like 4'-6")

If you have spots in your vehicle that you know are worse I'd just put boosters there and tell the kids the seatbelts in those seats don't fit kids right and they need the boosters.
 

bnsnyde

New member
My son is now 9 so I am in the same boat.
He is 4'11", too. He uses an Incognito.
His friends are mostly shorter but some are taller and do not need boosters.

My van is full with 6 seats, so we cannot carpool. I guess I'd put all them in boosters if they were not 4'9".
 

CTPDMom

Ambassador - CPS Technician
My son is 10 (close to 11 now) and still in an NBB. I do the 5 step test before anyone else gets in the car. If they don't pass, they get a booster. I inform parents of kids who've never been in my car of this beforehand. It's non-negotiable. It's honestly never been an issue.
 

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