Booster for small kindergartener?

[ceadsearc03]

My daughter is 5 years, 8 months, and going into Kindergarten this fall. She's very small for her age - about 41", 35 lbs. I know she is under the recommended 40 lbs for most boosters, and she is harnessed in our cars and I'm not planning on changing that.

My question is, with her going into Kindergarten, I know there are likely to be playdates and not everyone is going to have an extra harnessed car seat, nor is giving someone her Radian to take home particularly easy (and I'm kind of worried in giving someone else a harnessed car seat and hoping they install it correctly.) So, my question - CAN she safely use a booster this fall (she'll be turning 6)? If so, which one? And if we buy her a booster, should we "train" her in our car first? I don't doubt she can sit properly, but if she's never done it I'm not sure she'd just know "how" to do so.

I realize there is still the issue of a HBB being a pain to lug around and not necessarily being able to use whatever another parent might have due to weight issues, but I'm less concerned with that - it's easier to pass off a HBB at drop off and parent can keep it in their trunk till pick up - than I am with relying on other people to correctly install a harnessed seat.

ETA: I know they make boosters starting at 30 lbs, just not sure on the safety of this at her age. She has grown so slowly that at this rate she'll probably be 7 or 8 before she hits 40 lbs.

 

[Brianna]

Her weight is not an issue, unless you're in Canada where there is a 40 pound minimum for boosters. This blog discusses high back vs backless http://carseatblog.com/8243/to-backless-or-not-to-backless-that-is-the-question/

For carpooling though, I would make sure she's capable of speaking up if she needs help/isn't buckled properly. She should know she needs a lap/shoulder belt, head support and how to route the seatbelt through the guides.