Any benefit from booster after reaching 4'10"?

U

Unregistered

Guest
Hello! Is there any safety benefit to keeping a child in a booster seat after they've reached 4'9" or 4'10"?

My oldest is 4'10" in shoes. He is 9.5 years old, and a very responsible passenger - not one to mess around. He still fits in his Britax high-backed booster, and he has not yet reached the maximum height and weight allowed by the booster, though he has met the usual recommendations I see in terms of hip, knee, and foot placement.

Is it OK to move him out of a booster, or are there safety benefits to keeping him in the booster longer?

Thanks so much!
 
ADS

wendytthomas

Admin - CPST Instructor
Staff member
Hi there.

Ideally a booster is used until a child fits in the adult seatbelt properly. So yes, assuming your booster allows for use over 4'9", I'd continue to use a booster until the limits are met. Especially at 9.5 when the skeleton is still so young and nowhere near a mature age.

https://carseat.org/Boosters/630.htm

The booster can help the skeleton so much in a crash, and will help the child fit the adult belt much better.

Wendy
 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob
Staff member
As a data point, my children started fitting in SOME vehicles at 5', and didn't 5 step in the last holdout position in our van until 5'2" and 5'3.5" respectively. A lot depends on build and a lot depends on vehicle. Even after they pass the 5-Step Test in one vehicle it's imperative to test in others before you ditch the booster entirely.
 

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