What are the rules for putting a child into a boooster

I need to pass this on in a message board. they want to stick a 3 year old in a booster!

The BARE MINIMUM is four years AND 40 pounds. However, children do not have the emotional maturity to sit still, in position, and not unbuckle for an entire ride until closer to six years old.

In a harness a child is not in charge of their safety. The parent buckles them in, checks that the harness is tight, and then they can go. The harness holds a child to a solid seat which is in turn held into the car.

In a booster the child is in charge of their safety. They either buckle and unbuckle themselves, or the parent buckles them in. They can simply reach over and unbuckle. They can lean down to get a toy. They can lean over to talk to a sibling or friend. And then can slump when they sleep. In any of those instances if a collision occurs they are more likely to be injured, ejected, or killed. The only thing keeping them where they need to be is a buckle they can undo.

Do they trust their three year olds to take care of their own lives? Would they trust them to make their own food, take care of themselves around the house for a few hours? If no, then I wouldn't trust them with their lives in the face of the number one killer of children.

I trust Piper now to make herself some food and be up and about in the house for a few hours without us (we like to sleep in). We're here if she'd need us, but she can get breakfast, watch TV, and play safely, all without supervision. She can cut her own food, we trust her with real knives and real scissors. And she rides in a harness in the car and will for her primary seat for a long time yet. She knows the consequences of being out of position in a booster, she's seen the crash test footage. Even with the seatbelt locked on her she's pulled her arm free. I don't trust her yet for more than short rides in a booster.

Wendy

Many families local to me have appreciated my "Preschool -- Preteen" webpage ... HTH!